The Ministry of agriculture and rural development organized a meeting in cooperation with the Blue land project partner, University of Montenegro – Institute for marine biology, to focus on “The importance of local communities in the Blue Land management process”.
The meeting was held in Ulcinj, as part of the various MARD’s initiatives aimed at involving local stakeholders in the project activities.
Fishermen and NGO representatives could discuss the results of the questionnaire on the identification of ecosystem services and focus on how to implement possible management measures. 
This initial exchange of views on the Blue Land area management plan was considered to be a preliminary step forward for any further development.
The meeting was intended to identify local community needs and stimulate ideas for small pilot projects on ecosystem services in the Blue Land area and involvement of the local community in the Blue Land management process.
Moreover, the Italian colleagues in charge of shooting the Blue Land project film and keeping a record of the project development through photographs, attended the meeting to reproduce the highlights of the event.
The Blue Land project is funded by the Interreg IPA CBC Italy-Albania-Montenegro and jointly implemented by CIHEAMBari, the National Agency for Protected Areas – Napa (Albania); INCA Albania Ministarstvo poljoprivrede i ruralnog razvoja University of Montenegro Ministry of agriculture and rural development – MARD (Montenegro); the University of Montenegro – Institute for Marine Biology – IMBK, the Cooperative Research Institute – ICR, AICS Tirana, Regione Puglia Puglia Puglia Region, Department of Agriculture, Rural and Environmental.