The Natura 2000 site of the Western Seine Bay awarded for its good management

The Western Seine Bay is the first French marine Natura 2000 site to join the IUCN Green List of protected and conserved areas.

Located in the east of the Cotentin Peninsula (Normandy), the Natura 2000 site of the Western Seine Bay covers an area of 45,566 hectares. It is frequented by more than thirty species of migratory birds and several marine mammals such as the Harbor seal or the Grey seal. Remarkable habitats such as sandy-muddy bottoms or kelp forests are essential for the reproduction, feeding and young’s development of many species.

The Ceremony for the Green List Label was organized by the IUCN during the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity. At this occasion, the Western Seine Bay site became the first French marine Natura 2000 site to be included in the Green List. The candidacy of this site is one of the key actions of the Life MarHa project.

This labeling is a real recognition of the quality of management and governance of the site. The joint management between the OFB and the Normandy Regional Committee for Maritime Fisheries and Marine Farming allows the main local stakeholders concerned to better appropriate the issues and management measures of the site.
It also constitutes a guarantee for the implementation of management and monitoring measures, particularly on professional and recreational fishing activities as well as navigation.

In two years, the effective implementation of the measures concerning fishing activities will be examined. This marine Natura 2000 site paves the way for the entire network to urgently match the objectives of nature conservation and the transition to sustainable fishing activities.