LIFE REEF experts are actively continuing this year with the preparation of the content of the nature protection plan. The January seminar focused on 1110 sand banks at sea and 1170 stone banks at sea for habitat conservation status of marine habitats of European Union importance.

The protection of habitat of European Union importance shall be considered favourable if:

• its natural range and areas where it is found are stable or expanding;

• it has the inherent structure and functions necessary for the long-term existence of habitat and is expected to exist in the near future;

• favourable protection of its characteristic species is ensured.

The following criteria are assessed for habitats: natural range, total area occupied, specific structures and functions (including characterising species), as well as future prospects for the above criteria.

The February seminar focused on three species of fish and all species of seabirds. For the purpose of defining conservation objectives for species, the best scientific information is used at this moment and is based on observations, facts and their analysis rather than emotional or practical (economic) considerations. Everywhere in the world, the rate of information collection on biodiversity lags behind its rate of reduction and the need for information under changing environmental conditions.

The protection of a species shall be considered favourable if it:

• population dynamics data show that the species sustains its existence as a viable component of the inherent habitat;

• the natural range is not decreasing and is not expected to decrease in the near future;

• the dimensions of habitats are large enough and are likely to remain so as to ensure an optimal number of specimens in populations over a long period of time.

At the end of the seminar cycle, a summary of the tasks for further work was prepared.