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3. Definition of operational criteria for the site selection process

In this Section of the document we first examine a number of marine protected area selection
criteria (3.1), most notably the SPAMI selection criteria of the SPA/BD Protocol to the Barcelona
Convention (3.1.1), but also the CBD criteria for the identification of ecologically or biologically
significant areas (3.1.2) as well as other criteria such as those developed by IMO for Particularly
Sensitive Sea Areas, natural criteria for the identification of marine sites having outstanding
universal value developed within the framework of the World Heritage Convention, and standard
selection criteria specified in the EU ‘Habitats Directive’ (3.1.3).

Secondly, we present an adaptation of the SPAMI selection criteria to Mediterranean ABNJ site
selection (3.2), with a combination of useful elements from other sets of criteria, in particular those
developed with the CBD.

3.1 Currently existing marine protected area selection criteria

3.1.1 SPAMI selection criteria (Annex I of the SPA/BD Protocol to the Barcelona Convention)

The SPAMI criteria (Common criteria for the choice of protected marine and coastal areas that
could be included in the SPAMI List), are included in Annex I of the Protocol to the Barcelona
Convention “concerning Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean”
(also known as the “SPA/BD Protocol”). The SPA/BD Protocol subdivides the criteria into: a)
general principles; b) general features of the areas that could be included in the SPAMI List , c)
legal status, and d) protection, planning and management measures.

A. The general principles include a description of the basic aim characterizing the SPAMIs, state
the need for a scientific basis in the selection, the need for representativeness, require the creation
of a network of protected areas based on international cooperation, and emphasize the model role
of SPAMIs for the region’s marine conservation efforts.

B. Among the general features of the areas that could be included in the SPAMI List, a
requirement is that any area, to qualify for SPAMI status, must fulfil at least one of the following
fundamental criteria (as stated in Art. 8, paragraph 2 of the Protocol):

1. the area must be of importance for conserving the components of biological diversity in the
Mediterranean;

2. the area must contain ecosystems specific to the Mediterranean area or the habitats of
endangered species;

3. the area is of special interest at the scientific, aesthetic, cultural or educational levels.
To support assessment of the regional value of the area, the Annex lists the following criteria:

• Uniqueness. The area contains unique or rare ecosystems, or rare or endemic species.
• Natural representativeness. The area has highly representative ecological processes, or

community or habitat types or other natural characteristics. Representativeness is the