MAREPOLIS is working on the protection of the seabed with the “Deep Sea Lebanon” project. During a week-long mission to Lebanon in early December, Bertrand CAZALET and Rita SAHYOUN met Ziad SAMAHA of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources), representative of the Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation and based in Beirut. As part of its “DEEP SEA LEBANON” project, IUCN has asked Bertrand CAZALET, in collaboration with Prof. Georges SAAD, to carry out a study on the legal and institutional framework for the protection of marine ecosystems in Lebanon. This project aims to establish the necessary legal bases for the development of future projects for the protection of deep marine sites of remarkable interest, and their associated species, located in Lebanese territorial waters and sub-jurisdiction. The purpose of this project is therefore to define standards of good practice around an appropriate and effective governance framework in the long term. The Lebanese public authorities and stakeholders/users of the sea are also involved in this approach. A second completion mission is scheduled for February 2018.
