The International Seabed Authority (ISA), in collaboration with the Atlantic Regional Environmental Management Plan (REMP) Project (funded by European Union) and the Government of Portugal, will convene the First Workshop on REMP for the Area of the Northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR), at the University of Évora, Évora, Portugal, from 25-29 November 2019.
The workshop aims (i) to review and analyze seafloor and water column ecosystem data from the northern mid-Atlantic ridge (MAR), (ii) to synthesize environmental data, faunal distribution, faunal dispersal capabilities and distances, genetic connectivity, patterns of biodiversity, community structure, ecosystem function, and ecological proxy variables along and across the northern MAR, (iii) to review current exploration activity within contract areas and distribution of resources (polymetallic sulfides) along the northern MAR, (iv) to describe potential areas that could be vulnerable to exploitation of mineral resources in the Area and would require enhanced management measures, and (v) to describe potential areas in the Area that could be reserved from exploitation in order to achieve effective protection of the marine environment, including through the designation of areas of particular environmental interests (APEIs).
The results of this first workshop will provide scientific inputs to the second workshop on the regional environmental plan for Area of the northern MAR to be held in St. Petersburg, Russia, in June 2020, which will focus on identifying specific management measures for developing draft elements for inclusion in the REMP.