Abstract
Human activities at sea have increased, causing subsequent degradation of ocean
health and affecting ecosystem services and societal goods and benefits. Climate
change further exacerbates the cumulative effects of these activities and their
associated pressures. Hence, effective management of these multiple activities
is imperative to ensure the sustainable use of the ocean. In response to these
challenges, we have developed a comprehensive conceptual framework model
within an ecosystem-based approach. This framework encompasses a versatile
toolbox designed to assess cumulative pressures effects and the environmental
status under the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive, in compliance
with the Birds and Habitats Directives requirements and the need to secure the
maintenance of ecosystem services and provision of societal benefits. Although
we use European examples in the current discussion, we consider that there
are similar challenges in many seas worldwide and so the recommendations
here are widely applicable. Our aim is to facilitate the validation, harmonization,
and demonstration of this toolbox across European regional seas and several
countries, at different scales, from local to regional, including overseas territories.
This approach aims to foster comparability in environmental status assessments.
We anticipate that the proposed methodologies will serve as a foundational
benchmark against which progress can be assessed in line with expectations
and policy requirements. Additionally, this work prepares the groundwork for the
forthcoming evaluation of the suitability, robustness, and applicability of these
solutions and tools, thereby assisting managers in achieving Good Environmental
Status (GES), both in European and wider global contexts, to address challenges
which are common worldwide.
health and affecting ecosystem services and societal goods and benefits. Climate
change further exacerbates the cumulative effects of these activities and their
associated pressures. Hence, effective management of these multiple activities
is imperative to ensure the sustainable use of the ocean. In response to these
challenges, we have developed a comprehensive conceptual framework model
within an ecosystem-based approach. This framework encompasses a versatile
toolbox designed to assess cumulative pressures effects and the environmental
status under the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive, in compliance
with the Birds and Habitats Directives requirements and the need to secure the
maintenance of ecosystem services and provision of societal benefits. Although
we use European examples in the current discussion, we consider that there
are similar challenges in many seas worldwide and so the recommendations
here are widely applicable. Our aim is to facilitate the validation, harmonization,
and demonstration of this toolbox across European regional seas and several
countries, at different scales, from local to regional, including overseas territories.
This approach aims to foster comparability in environmental status assessments.
We anticipate that the proposed methodologies will serve as a foundational
benchmark against which progress can be assessed in line with expectations
and policy requirements. Additionally, this work prepares the groundwork for the
forthcoming evaluation of the suitability, robustness, and applicability of these
solutions and tools, thereby assisting managers in achieving Good Environmental
Status (GES), both in European and wider global contexts, to address challenges
which are common worldwide.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Frontiers in Ocean Sustainability |
| Volume | 1 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| ISSN | 2813-8287 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2024 |
Keywords
- Cumulative effect
- Risk management
- Ecological status
- environmental status
- assessment tools
- Ecosystem-based management
- POLICY SUPPORT