For the first time, about 300 key players coming from 21 Mediterranean countries -representatives of national agencies for the environment, fisheries, tourism and the economy, Marine Protected Areas managers, scientists, non-governmental organizations, regional and international partners, as well as local economic actors- gathered to share their experiences and develop a joint program of work to advance the network of Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean.

During the Forum 2012, the Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas (MPA) community reviewed the status of MPAs in the region and identified the actions needed to establish an ecological network of MPAs which is effectively and sustainably managed.

A Roadmap towards 2020
They elaborated a roadmap calling for urgent action and aimed at achieving, by 2020, the objectives set by international commitments.
The Forum achieved its ambition to develop a common vision and set a new strategic roadmap to achieve the goals set forth in the Barcelona Convention, to establish by 2020 a comprehensive, effectively-managed and ecologically representative network of Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean.

The 2012 Forum of Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean, held in Antalya (Turkey) from 25 to 28 November, was organised by the network of Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas (MedPAN) and its partners, the Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (RAC/SPA), the General Directorate of Natural Assets Protection (Turkey) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Turkey and in partnership with the MedPartnership programme, WWF France and WWF Mediterranean, IUCN-Med, ACCOBAMS, Conservatoire du Littoral, the GFCM and the French MPA Agency. The Turkish partners who will support the event are WWF Turkey, Turkish marine Research Foundation (TUDAV) and SAD-AFAG (Underwater Research Society - Mediterranean Seal Research Group).