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CBD selection criteria PSSA criteria relating to the Notes
a. Uniqueness or rarity
b. Biological productivity corresponding CBD criteria
c. Biological diversity
1. Uniqueness or rarity
11. Bio-geographic importance

3. Dependency
6. Productivity

5. Diversity

d. Special importance for life history 3. Dependency
of species 7. Spawning or breeding

e. Naturalness grounds

f. Importance for threatened, 8. Naturalness
endangered or declining species 9. Integrity

and/or habitats 2. Critical habitat

g. Vulnerability, fragility, sensitivity, 10. Fragility
slow recovery 4. Representativeness

Relevant in the case of MPA
networks

Table 3-1. Commonalities CBD EBSAs and PSSA criteria.

3.2 Criteria adapted for Mediterranean ABNJ site selection

In a recent report on the creation of representative networks of MPAs in the Mediterranean Sea
(Notarbartolo di Sciara and Agardy 2008), the adoption of a three-step hierarchical planning
approach was recommended, which begins at the large scale and focuses in on ever-smaller
scales:

1. At the widest scale, in this case that of the Mediterranean Basin, the baseline for designing
an ecological network involves the identification of large scale ecological units. The purpose
of this is to recognize ecological distinctions between different parts of the sea, and ensure
that something that is called a “Mediterranean Network of MPAs” is truly comprehensive
and representative of all of its sub-regions. Such subdivision should be considered in very
general terms, as a broad indication of areas where planning attention should be focused,
without necessarily separating subregions through well-defined borders (“lines on a map”)
which may easily lead to endless and irrelevant controversy.

2. At the next scale, priority conservation areas, or EBSAs, are identified within each
ecological unit. These areas do not correspond to what would become MPAs in the future,
but would be focal areas for individual MPA networks.

3. Once such priority conservation areas are identified, the task of identifying sites to develop
true ecological networks can be initiated. Individual MPAs within these networks should
protect what is ecologically most important – i.e., they should focus on habitats where a
concentration of ecological processes results in a high diversity of species. To become a
network, it will be important not only to establish MPAs to protect these key areas, but also
to maintain the ecological linkages between these areas (Notarbartolo di Sciara and Agardy
2008).