An online workshop held on 12 February 2026 brought together regional institutions, scientific bodies, fisheries representatives, and civil society to continue deepening the Blue Connect process. This meeting followed a previous introductory session held in December and focused on reviewing progress and refining governance approaches for the Formentera Demo Site.
Participants included the Balearic Government, the Directorate for Fisheries of the Council of Formentera, IEO‑CSIC, the Fisheries Guild of Formentera, WWF Spain, SOLDECOS, and GEN‑GOB.
A key point of discussion was the validation of the co‑management and co‑ownership framework suggested by Blue Connect. Participants reviewed its evolution, as suggested by Blue Connect, and confirmed that this kind of approach has been formally implemented since 2021 by the Marine Stewardship Board, reinforcing it as a solid basis for future governance improvements.
The group agreed to organize a knowledge‑exchange workshop on marine governance during the week of April 20-30, offering space for cross‑learning and alignment across initiatives. Participants also highlighted the need to address illegal fishing and maritime surveillance in upcoming meetings and committee discussions. These decisions are complemented by ongoing follow‑up through several active initiatives – including Life Prometheus and a tourist sustainability recognition project – demonstrating sustained commitment and coordination among institutions, science partners, and local stakeholders to advance resilient, evidence‑based marine governance.
