The European Platform for Biodiversity Research Strategies (EPBRS) recently held a meeting that focused on the marine biodiversity research and policy issues that are required for Europe’s future.

Life on the Blue Planet: Biodiversity research and the new EU marine policies, which met under the Portuguese Presidency of the EU, aimed at identifying the key knowledge required to effectively protect marine biodiversity while ensuring the efficient and sustainable use of marine resources. The meeting reviewed existing knowledge and identified strategic research needed for the marine environment, particularly in the light of new EU policies including the Marine Strategy Directive, the proposed EU Maritime Policy, the implementation of the Habitats Directive (Natura 2000 for the marine environment), the action plan associated with the communication on “Halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 and beyond”, research needs for the protection of biodiversity in the framework of the Common Fisheries Policy and the Water Framework Directive and also allowed for discussion on Integrated Coastal Zone Management requirements.

As is usual after any EPBRS meeting, recommendations were listed for the benefit of all member states of the EU to consider and adopt. Among these recommendations was the need to:

• assess variability within species among populations to identify unique populations and barriers to gene-flow in the marine environment;

• assess and, where possible, improve the effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas as a management tool for biodiversity conservation, including Natura 2000 sites and MPAs in the high seas;

• develop mechanisms to better incorporate key actors and stakeholders in the discussions about marine biodiversity conservation.

Many other equally interesting and relevant recommendations may be viewed by visiting the website: http://www.epbrs.org/PDF/EPBRS-Porto2007_Final.pdf http://www.maltabioplatform.org (on the Events page).

With the current developments in EU maritime policy, such discussions among and within various EU countries are vital for improving future prospects for our blue planet and marine biodiversity. Equally important is the promotion of developing expertise and research in the areas that can assist the sustainable use and management of our natural resources. Dr Adriana Vella, PhD (Cantab), EPBRS steering committee member and conservation biologist at the University of Malta focusing on Maltese research in biodiversity conservation, regularly promotes the latest projects in her field of expertise and explains how these research projects may help towards upgrading local species and habitats conservation needs.

Interesting projects that have developed in line with the needs of molecular genetics for conservation includes work on the common octopus (octopus vulgaris) by Matthew Borg and on the sea cucumber (holothuria polii) by David Spiteri. Such pioneer studies into the local population genetics of wild species are increasing our local knowledge on sub species level genetic diversity and status, an important basis for long-term assessment for our planning and management of habitats and species conservation. The results clearly indicate that the genetic diversity within these marine creatures is low and may thus limit the ability of the species to cope with the increasing diversity of environmental changes with which they are faced.

Equally challenging and relevant to conservation is the research on the use of DNA integrity assessment (SCGE, COMET Assays) towards comparing the condition of species situated in different locations in Malta undertaken by Charmaine Zahra. Such research techniques allow us to investigate the origin of potential genetic disorders and problems in local natural populations and distinguish between the biological qualities of various natural locations. This project used the sea urchin, paracentrotus lividus and sea cucumber, holothuria polii) two species’ DNA integrity assessment as bio-indicators of habitat quality. Indeed, significant differences in the levels of DNA damage in both species were found between three sampling locations in Malta.

Just as conservation genetics develops in aid of population and habitat evaluations, scientific biodiversity measures also remain important tools to address current conservation needs. Such biodiversity conservation work has been carried out at Wied Ghasri in Gozo by Clayton Axiak, providing new and interesting insights into a location of unique biological and aesthetic beauty. Such locations, which remain jewels for tourism and potential locations for the conservation of biodiversity, need to be monitored and effectively managed in order to contribute their valuable qualities to future generations. Endemic plants such as the Maltese sea lavender (limonium melitensis) and sea purslane (halimione portulacoides – restricted distribution to the Maltese Islands) and animals like the Sicilian shrew (crocidura sicula) were also found in this location.