Workshop on BioProtect, 4 November.

The Marine and Freshwater Research Institute (MFRI) is holding a workshop on identifying areas for marine protection and on how the EU-funded BioProtect project can support that process. The workshop takes place on Wednesday 4 November 2026, from 13:15 to 16:00, at MFRI’s headquarters, Fornubúðir 5, 220 Hafnarfjörður and is open to everyone interested. 

Iceland has committed to placing 30% of its marine and coastal areas under active protection, management and monitoring by 2030. MFRI has been given the task of identifying these areas and advising on them. But how should the areas to prioritise be chosen? The BioProtect project is developing and testing methods and tools to help answer this question.

A planning tool for marine conservation

One of the project’s main tools is the BioProtect Marine Planner, a web-based decision support tool for planning marine conservation and restoration. It brings together biodiversity data, human activities and conservation targets, so users can visualise the cumulative impacts of human activities on the marine environment. The tool also identifies potential priority areas for conservation measures. This makes decision-making more transparent and inclusive.

About the workshop

The workshop will highlight the importance of marine conservation, present the advisory process towards marine protection, and introduce the BioProtect project and how it can support that process. Dr Oisín Callery from the University of Galway, Ireland, will present the BioProtect Marine Planner. See the workshop programme (PDF)

About BioProtect

BioProtect is funded by the European Commission under the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030”. Its objective is to co-develop and demonstrate adaptable, ecosystem-based solutions that speed up the effective protection and restoration of biodiversity in marine and coastal ecosystems.