PP1 is a public research institute in Greece directed by the General Secretariat of Research and Technology. It has expertise on ecosystem functioning, genetic diversity, marine ecosystem management, biodiversity and marine resources. It has been selected as the Leading Partner since it has a long track on the management and implementation of EU, international and national projects (LifeWatchGreece, EUBON, EMODNET, MAPMED, ViBRANT, VECTORS, EMBOS, etc.). It has developed tools for Citizen Science initiatives (COMBER, CIGESMED) and has experience in educational activities, in collaboration with Thalassocosmos (Cretaquarium). LP1 had a consultative role to the assessment of Marine Ecosystems quality and to the development of WFD and MSFD (IRIS, ActionMed).
PP2 is the Management Agency of Karpathos and Saria, responsible for the conservation of the Greek case study site and of raising public awareness on Posidonia meadows, fish stocks, monk seal population etc. PP2 participates in MEDPAN and MEET networks. It is financed by the Ministry of Environment & Energy and has 5 permanent employees. The Management Board consists of 10 members representing national and regional authorities. PP2 has the power to directly influence local policies by allowing, supporting and enforcing specific regulations (Legislation on Protected area Management Boards) and works in close collaboration with all relevant ministries.
PP3 is a research institute with 132 staff members in Bulgaria funded by state and EU projects. It has expertise on functional ecology, ecosystem management and monitoring, biogeochemistry, bacterial and macrophyte communities, fisheries and MPAs evaluation. PP3 has been involved in relevant EU projects (EUROCEANS, KNOWSEAS, BS-SCENE, WETLANET, PERSEUS, COCONET) and has participated in the implementation of the HD, WFD and MSFD in Bulgaria and in the Marine Natura 2000 establishment.
PP4 is an academic establishment in Cyprus with 14 staff members. It has experience in immunology, cell biology, developmental biology, bioinformatics, genetics, virology, neurobiology, as well as in ecology and biodiversity.
PP5 belongs to the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment and has 80 staff members. It aims on sustainable management, fisheries development, aquaculture and marine environment protection. DFMR is the competent authority for the implementation of MSFD, HD, and WFD in Cyprus. It is responsible for the monk seal, the Posidonia oceanica and conservation projects.
PP6 is an educational institution in Albania with 181 members of academic staff (32 in Biology Department. Its financial capacity derives from state funding, student fees and project implementation. It works on ecosystems and biodiversity, taxonomy of flora and fauna, ecology, monitoring, conservation and management. Studies on marine ecosystems have mainly focused on Posidonia oceanica meadows and benthos of hard and soft bottoms in the existing MPAs. It has been involved in projects in European and Mediterranean level (e.g. WAITT, ClimBioMedNet, CISM, CADSES). It works closely with the Ministry of Environment, the National Agency of Protected Areas, the National Environmental Agency and the Fishery Directorate, contributing to policies implementation (e.g. WFD, Natura 2000).
PP7 is a non-profit research institute consisting of 5 departments, mainly funded through EU projects, offering leading expertise on socio-economic management of marine, ocean, coastal and groundwater resources and on policy implementation of economic and environmental issues. Its research expertise includes socio-economic and econometric analysis, environmental valuation, political and institutional analysis, cost-benefit analysis, risk analysis, game theory, decision making tools development etc. ICRE8 has participated in the working groups of the WFD, EU Floods Directive and MSFD and is Member of the World Bank Groundwater Management Advisory Team.