Marine Protected Areas are essential tools for enhancing population persistence and supporting fisheries through larval dispersal. In the NW Mediterranean, where the Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus (Linnaeus, 1758) is both ecologically and economically important, we assessed the larval connectivity of the existing network of Fishery No-Take Zones using a 12-year Lagrangian simulation informed by species-specific habitat models. Results showed that the current MPA network protects only a small fraction of larval settlement, with connectivity being weak and highly variable across years. Two out of 10 MPAs overlapping with the species habitat emerged as key larval recipients and potential sources, suggesting localised benefits but limited network coherence. To explore improvement strategies, we applied Eigen Perturbation Theory to identify new MPA network configurations based on dispersal dynamics. Both a redesigned and an expanded network significantly enhanced larval settlement and connection persistence, while improving potential recruitment by 8.1% and 4.5% to fishing grounds, respectively. Furthermore, warming trends in the region shortened pelagic larval duration, underscoring the need to integrate climate resilience into MPA design. Our findings highlight the utility of connectivity analyses to guide adaptive spatial planning and highlight the potential to optimise MPA networks for conservation, fisheries management, and climate adaptation.
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