Ecosystem-Based Management in Marine Environments

Sustainable Marine Management

• Aim is to manage human actions, rather than the marine environment, and to account for changing baselines, like climate change, on a global scale.
• A multidisciplinary approach is needed for effective management, some disciplines may require exiting their comfort zones.
• Ecosystem approach = protect natural characteristics, ecological processes and conservation features, and also deliver ecosystem services. This is a "triple win" for ecology, society, and economy.
• Six critical management elements for integrated marine management: environmental, social, legal, economic, administrative, and technological.

10 Tenets for Integrated, Successful, and Sustainable Marine Management

• 1st Tenet (environmentally/ecologically sustainable): Maintain the natural system by protecting ecological carrying capacity and ecosystem structure/functioning to benefit the ecosystem itself and maintain health. Focus on ecosystem functioning and marine physics, rather than just abundance.
• 2nd Tenet (economically viable): Secure funding for preventing and remediating environmental damage. The "polluter pays" principle is relevant.
• 3rd Tenet (technologically feasible): Have appropriate technologies for preventing and remediating environmental harm.
• 4th Tenet (socially desirable/tolerable): Society must accept the management measures, considering societal carrying capacity.
• 5th Tenet (legally permissible): Management must be within internationally recognised legal frameworks.
• 6th Tenet (administratively achievable): Effective integration via appropriate governmental structure (e.g., international, regional, and national levels, as well as integration between various sectors).
• 7th Tenet (politically expedient): Implementing and supporting actions that are politically practical.
• 8th Tenet (ethically defensible): Ensure management solutions are seen as ethical and moral.
• 9th Tenet (culturally inclusive): Marine management must respect and engage with the values of the society. Engage stakeholders.
• 10th Tenet (effectively communicable): Demonstrate effectiveness in management for the marine environment and engage with all stakeholders (both vertically and horizontally).

Distinguishing Marine Habitat Classification Concepts

• Different habitats require specific sampling methods.
• Standardised classifications and terminology are beneficial for consistent mapping and comparisons.
• Classifications are helpful for designating suitable Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), considering regional needs.
• Separate classifications are often recommended for nekton, plankton, and benthos, as well as for regions, seascapes, biotopes, and guilds.
• Context-dependent methods are often necessary, due to differing study locations and sampling methods.
• Habitat is defined as the physical and chemical environment where species inhabit.
• Methods for defining habitats include various remote sensing techniques (satellite, aerial, acoustic) and in-situ sampling (e.g., scuba, photography, lab work).
• Biotope = the physical habitat and its biological community.
• Ecotone = a transition zone or interface between habitats (e.g., estuary, reef edge).
• Ecosystem= a combination of habitats.

Data Management Issues and Vocabulary

• Interoperability refers to standardized fields, terminology, and methods for data exchange.
• Use of proper terminology and descriptions enhances communication and reduces ambiguity.

Role of Primary Data and Metrics

• Primary data includes basic biotope features (depth, temperature, etc.) important for classification.
• This allows others to use the data and classify the habitats appropriately for their needs.

Graham 2016: New Approaches to Marine Conservation Through Scaling Up of Ecological Data

• Crucial to understand the distribution and abundance of marine organisms for better marine ecology management.
• Historical data: encompasses observations on marine life and its interactions with people and the climate, but stored in various formats that require handling.
• Quantitative global-scale data: OBIS and GBIF serve as major data providers for marine biodiversity.
• Citizen science: citizen scientists can achieve large-scale coordinated observations of species.
• Systematic quantitative data: examples include the Reef Life Survey, gathering valuable baseline data for reassessing changes in global marine biodiversity.
• New approaches to analyze statistical ecological data are needed to include complex data types like video and acoustic sensing.

Morf 2019: Transboundary Sustainable Governance in the Baltic

• Key to marine governance is stakeholder integration (SI), involving all stakeholder groups in order to achieve sustainable development.
• Timing considerations and planning stages for MSP (maritime spatial planning) may vary widely across countries.
• Difference in governance structures and priorities can influence stakeholder engagement
• Lack of communication channels and capacity often hinder effective stakeholder integration.
• Addressing language and knowledge barriers is crucial for transboundary SI.
• Identifying and empowering stakeholder groups is essential.
• Facilitating processes for cross-border interactions and promoting learning between stakeholders is necessary.
• Raise awareness of importance of cross-border stakeholder engagement & mobilise stakeholders.

Leslie 2018: Value of Ecosystem-Based Management

• Ecosystem-based management approaches consider the interconnection among different elements and recognize diverse benefits of marine systems.

Long 2015: Key Principles of Marine Ecosystem-Based Management

• EBM focuses on managing human activities that impact ecosystems, rather than directly managing the ecosystems themselves.
• EBM principles have evolved over time, focusing on ecological and governance objectives.
• EBM needs a combination of ecological, social, and governance aspects.
• Acknowledgement of dynamic nature of ecosystems is key, as well as interdisciplinarity across diverse fields.