The developersof the management plan for Marine Protected Areas and project experts presented the participants of the meeting with the planners and the work already done during the development of the nature plan and the proposals received so far regarding the information to be included in the nature protection plan.

The purpose of the establishment of the Advisory Group is to ensure the involvement of State and local government institutions, landowners, associations and foundations in the process of drawing up and discussing the plan. Members of the Advisory Group have a duty to participate in meetings organised by the developer of the management plan for Marine Protected Areas, advising and examining the interests of nature conservation, exploitation of natural resources and sustainable development of the region in order to ensure the preservation of the natural values of the territory and favourable conservation status for those specially protected species and specially protected habitats of European Union importance for the protection of which this territory has been established.

Functions of the Advisory Group:
- consider proposals for conservation and biodiversity conservation measures to be taken;
- to evaluate the possibilities for the utilisation of natural resources which do not endanger specially protected species, habitats and their habitats;
- to examine and evaluate proposals regarding permissible and prohibited types of activities, taking into account the special features of the relevant protected area, as well as the objectives and tasks for the establishment and protection thereof;
- to examine questions regarding the necessity or merger of individual maps;
- to participate in the examination of the draft plan, as well as, if necessary, to propose revisions to the draft plan, changes or additions to the content and structure of the plan;
- to express an opinion regarding the necessity of drawing up draft individual protection and use regulations and the content of regulations.

Photo: Gunta Gabrāne