On the occasion of the MedFund Board of Directors meeting held on July 04, 2023 at the Ministry of the Environment in Tunis, the Agence de Protection et d’Aménagement du Littoral (APAL), the NGO Kraten and The Medfund officially signed a partnership agreement designed to enhance the preservation of the Kerkennah Northern Islets Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Tunisia.
This agreement marks a strong commitment to the preservation of Tunisia’s marine ecosystems, as it is the fifth marine protected area supported by The MedFund in Tunisia since 2020.
Located off the Tunisian coast, the 1091.5 km2 Kerkennah MPA is home to unique marine biodiversity, including seagrass beds, coastal habitats and crucial breeding grounds for numerous marine species. Over a 5-year period, MedFund will allocate funding of USD 286,000 to APAL and the NGO KRATEN, and will also provide technical expertise and capacity building to implement the management plan and improve the long-term sustainability of the MPA. The activities supported include setting up a competent on-site team responsible for management, raising awareness among visitors and the local population, site surveillance, scientific monitoring of ecosystems and the establishment of active governance including fishermen.
This funding is part of a global project entitled “Build back a blue and stronger Mediterranean”, financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and supported by Conservation International, aimed at improving marine and coastal conservation in the Mediterranean.
