Objectives
SEA-UNICORN was designed to foster multidisciplinary interactions among the different research communities studying Marine Functional Connectivity (MFC) to improve predictions of the ecological and economic consequences of MFC. The Action also facilitated the interaction of MFC scientists with stakeholders involved in environmental governance and sustainable exploitation for the seas, in Europe and beyond.
The Action’s participants shared their complementary expertise over the four-year course of the project and worked together to:
1
Advance concepts and methods in MFC science to improve our ability to anticipate the responses of marine species and ecosystems to the ongoing environmental changes.
2
Design and apply MFC research that effectively addresses current societal issues.
3
Facilitate the incorporation of MFC knowledge into marine policy and management strategies for the seas.
Specific objectives
1.
Gather and share multidisciplinary scientific and methodological expertise among the diverse types of MFC scientists to allow collating existing data, advancing methods and integrating disciplines.
2.
Trigger interdisciplinary interactions among scientists investigating the causes, evolution and consequences of MFC, to facilitate the incorporation of MFC data into projection models for species and ecosystems.
3.
Forge strong working links between marine scientists, policy-makers and stakeholders to promote the integration of MFC knowledge into decision tools for marine management and environmental policies.
4.
Strengthen Europe’s research and innovation capacities by facilitating worldwide international cooperation and spreading scientific excellence in the field of MFC (in Europe and beyond)
5.
Promote geographic, age and gender balance in the MFC research field and contribute to the emergence of the ‘next generation’ of scientists with robust expertise in varied disciplines to foster holistic MFC assessments.
6.
Initiate MFC scientists to the specific needs of policymakers, regulatory bodies and managers to provide relevant MFC knowledge for the sustainable management of the seas.
7.
Familiarize marine stakeholders and the public with the central role played by MFC in the resilience of marine biodiversity and with the urgent need to incorporate MFC knowledge into management strategies for the seas.