The establishment of marine protected areas (MPA) is one of the most important instruments for the protection of marine ecosystems. Bearing in mind that Montenegro, besides Bosnia and Herzegovina, is the only Mediterranean country that does not have an established marine protected area, this project will contribute to the establishment of MCR through support and capacity building of local communities that gravitate to potential MCR, promotion of MCR and strengthening of institutional capacities in this area.

The project is divided into three components:

Capacity building and networking of key actors in order to protect and promote the potential marine protected area – MPA;
Promotion of the future marine protected area – Katič and snorkeling -;
Public advocacy for the establishment of a marine protected area in Montenegro.

Field work – includes the collection of data related to the state of seagrass meadows – Posidonia oceanica, as well as the state of the population of mullet and fur seals.

The main results of the project are reflected in the contribution to the establishment of the first marine protected area in Montenegro, equipping the info center of the future MZP Katič, strengthening the capacity of local communities in the promotion and protection of the MPA, collecting data on the condition of sea grass, the population of herring and fur seals, improving the herring population, establishment of ecological links in MZP. The project will be implemented over the next 36 months.

The project is implemented in cooperation with the Montenegrin Society of Ecologists and the Mediterranean Center for Ecological Monitoring – MedCEM, and is financially supported by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – CEPF.