Introduction to the ecosystem approach as a framework for

management of ecosystem use

Kevern Cochrane and Warwick Sauer

CBD Definition of an CBD Definition of an Ecosystem ApproachEcosystem Approach

The ecosystem approach is a strategy for the The ecosystem approach is a strategy for the integrated management of land, water and living integrated management of land, water and living resources that promotes conservation and resources that promotes conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way. …It is … sustainable use in an equitable way. …It is … focused on levels of biological organization which focused on levels of biological organization which encompass the essential processes, functions and encompass the essential processes, functions and interactions among organisms and their interactions among organisms and their environment. It recognizes that humans, with environment. It recognizes that humans, with their cultural diversity, are an integral component their cultural diversity, are an integral component of ecosystems.of ecosystems.

http://www.cbd.int/ecosystem/

FAO Definition of FAO Definition of EAFEAF

An Ecosystem Approach to An Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries strives to Fisheries strives to balance balance diverse societal objectivesdiverse societal objectives, by , by taking account of the knowledge taking account of the knowledge and uncertainties about and uncertainties about biotic, biotic, abiotic and human componentsabiotic and human components of ecosystems and their of ecosystems and their interactionsinteractions and applying and applying an an integrated approachintegrated approach to fisheries to fisheries within within ecologically meaningful ecologically meaningful boundariesboundaries. . (FAO, 2003) (FAO, 2003)

Legal Framework - CBDLegal Framework - CBD The primary principle (Article 3, CBD 1992 ) The primary principle (Article 3, CBD 1992 )

of the CBD is that:of the CBD is that: ““States have, in accordance with the Charter States have, in accordance with the Charter

of the United Nations and the principles of of the United Nations and the principles of international law, the sovereign right to international law, the sovereign right to exploit their own resources pursuant to their exploit their own resources pursuant to their own environmental policies, and the own environmental policies, and the responsibility to ensure that activities within responsibility to ensure that activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of other States damage to the environment of other States or of areas beyond the limits of national or of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction.”jurisdiction.”

Legal Framework – CBD Legal Framework – CBD (cont.)(cont.)

Decision II/10 of the 2nd CoP to CBD, Decision II/10 of the 2nd CoP to CBD, 1995 “Encourages the use of 1995 “Encourages the use of integrated marine and coastal area integrated marine and coastal area management as the most suitable management as the most suitable framework for addressing human framework for addressing human impacts on marine and coastal impacts on marine and coastal biological diversity and for promoting biological diversity and for promoting conservation and sustainable use of conservation and sustainable use of this biodiversity.”this biodiversity.”

UN Law of the Sea: Art. 61UN Law of the Sea: Art. 61 2. The coastal State, shall ensure ... that the 2. The coastal State, shall ensure ... that the

maintenance of the living resources in the EEZ is maintenance of the living resources in the EEZ is not endangered by over-exploitation. ... the not endangered by over-exploitation. ... the coastal State and competent international coastal State and competent international organizations...shall cooperate to this end.organizations...shall cooperate to this end.

3. Such measures shall also be designed to 3. Such measures shall also be designed to maintain or restore populations of harvested maintain or restore populations of harvested species at levels which can produce the MSY, as species at levels which can produce the MSY, as qualified by......, the interdependence of stocks qualified by......, the interdependence of stocks and any generally recommended international and any generally recommended international minimum standards, whether subregional, minimum standards, whether subregional, regional or global.regional or global.

4. ....the coastal State shall take into 4. ....the coastal State shall take into consideration the effects on species associated consideration the effects on species associated with or dependent upon harvested species with a with or dependent upon harvested species with a view to maintaining or restoring populations of view to maintaining or restoring populations of such ...species above levels at which their such ...species above levels at which their reproduction may become seriously threatened.reproduction may become seriously threatened.

FAO Code of ConductFAO Code of Conduct

States and users of living aquatic States and users of living aquatic resources resources should conserve aquatic should conserve aquatic ecosystemsecosystems. The right to fish carries . The right to fish carries with it the obligation to do so in a with it the obligation to do so in a responsible manner so as to responsible manner so as to ensure ensure effective conservation and effective conservation and management of the living aquatic management of the living aquatic resourcesresources..

A Sectoral Example - A Sectoral Example - the Rationale for EAFthe Rationale for EAF

The purpose of an ecosystem approach to fisheries is to plan, develop and manage fisheries in a manner that addresses the multiplicity of societal needs and desires, without jeopardising the options for future generations to benefit from marine ecosystems.the full range of goods and services provided by

The underlying rationale of single-The underlying rationale of single-species approaches: the Schaefer species approaches: the Schaefer

ModelModel

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0 200 400 600 800 1000

Stock size

Su

rplu

s p

rod

uct

ion

BMSY

B0

MSY

The ecological reality:The ecological reality:

Ecosystem approaches to Ecosystem approaches to sectors in the broader EA sectors in the broader EA

frameworkframeworkAuthority for

Management of Marine zoneCoastal zone

development

Managementagencyfor EAF

Conservation & environmental

interests

Large-scalesector

Small-scalesector

Offshore oil, gasand mining

Agencies forland-based impacts

Authority for Management of

Marine zoneCoastal zonedevelopment

Managementagencyfor EAF

Conservation & environmental

interests

Large-scalesector

Small-scalesector

Offshore oil, gasand mining

Agencies forland-based impacts

Interim Agreement on the Interim Agreement on the Establishment of the Benguela Current Establishment of the Benguela Current

CommissionCommissionPREAMBLE

“Contracting Parties”: Recognising the unique character of the

Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem, the threats to it, and its significance for their socio-economic development and for the wellbeing of their people;

Conscious of their joint responsibility as custodians of this globally significant large marine ecosystem to conserve it for the benefit of present and future generations;

Recognising that effective long-term cooperation between them in implementing an ecosystem approach to the management of human activities affecting the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem requires the establishment of stable institutional arrangements;

Article 1.Use of TermsArticle 1.Use of Terms For the purposes of this Interim Agreement -“Adverse impact” (a) includes any actual or potential detrimental

effect on the BCLME that results directly or indirectly from human conduct originating wholly or partly within the territory of a Contracting Party or from a vessel or aircraft under its jurisdiction or control; and

(b) includes any actual or potential detrimental effect on legitimate uses of the BCLME, on the health of people in the Contracting Parties or on their ability to provide for their health, safety and cultural and economic wellbeing, which occurs or may occur as a consequence of a detrimental effect referred to in (a); but

(c) does not include any actual or potential detrimental effect that is negligible or which has been assessed and determined to be acceptable under this Interim Agreement;

ARTICLE 9. ECOSYSTEM ADVISORY COMMITTEE

1. The Ecosystem Advisory Committee shall consist of experts ...... supervised by the Management Board.

2. The role of Ecosystem Advisory Committee is – (a) to support decision-making by the BCC and the

Contracting Parties by providing them with the best available scientific, management, legal and other information, and expert advice concerning the conservation and ecologically sustainable use and development of the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem; and

(b) to build capacity within the Contracting Parties to generate and provide the information and expert advice referred to in (a) on a sustainable basis.

Recognising and Acknowledging the Recognising and Acknowledging the Impacts and InteractionsImpacts and Interactions

Sector or Subsector

Ecological wellbeing

Human Wellbeing (Social, economic, cultural)

Ability to achieve

Commercially important species or

habitat

Species of conservation

concern

General Ecosystem

Local/Community

Sector/Subsector

Governance in Same Sector

Governance in Other Sectors

Impact of the environment

Other Sectors

National

Health

Some examples of “EAF Some examples of “EAF Issues” from the Benguela Issues” from the Benguela

Current countriesCurrent countries Bycatch of species that are important target Bycatch of species that are important target

species for other fisheries.species for other fisheries. Mortality to threatened sharks, seabirds and other Mortality to threatened sharks, seabirds and other

species of conservation concernspecies of conservation concern Limited knowledge of true biodoiversity and Limited knowledge of true biodoiversity and

impacts of fishery on biodiversityimpacts of fishery on biodiversity Conflicts between industrial and small-scale Conflicts between industrial and small-scale

fisheriesfisheries Impacts of trawls on the benthic fauna and floraImpacts of trawls on the benthic fauna and flora Increasing impacts on fisheries of offshore mining Increasing impacts on fisheries of offshore mining

and oil exploration and extractionand oil exploration and extraction Environmental impacts (e.g. Benguela Niño and Environmental impacts (e.g. Benguela Niño and

deoxygenation events)deoxygenation events)

EA Management and EA Management and Institutions – Responding at Institutions – Responding at

Different ScalesDifferent Scales

ManagemenManagement Processest Processesi) Developing i) Developing

a a management management

planplan

4.1.2 Scoping[Fishery & area,

Stakeholders,Broad issues]

4.1.3 Background information & analysis

4.1.5 Formulating rules

Implementation &enforcement

4.1.4 Setting objectives[Broad objectives,

Operational objectives,Indicators & performance

measures]

4.1.6 Monitoring

4.1.6 Long-term review

4.1.6 Short-term review

Con

sult

atio

n w

ith s

take

hold

ers

C

Multi-scale Requirements of EBM Multi-scale Requirements of EBM

Governance StructureGovernance Structure

Fanning et al. 2007. A large marine ecosystem governance framework

Challenges to Application of EA:Institutional Needs in the BCLME*

Management structures Stakeholder participation Access rights Management plans Inter-agency cooperation International (outside BCLME)

Information and research Data Research staff Science and decision-making Information dissemination

LegalMonitoring, control and surveillance

Enforcement Observer coverage *From the BCLME/FAO Project on EAF

Implementation 2004-2006

Priority Issues for Priority Issues for Implementation of EAF the Implementation of EAF the

BCLMEBCLME Lack of capacity is a major constraint in the attempt to Lack of capacity is a major constraint in the attempt to implement EAF.implement EAF.

All countries need a resource management structure that:All countries need a resource management structure that: is suitable for EAF;is suitable for EAF; includes the main stakeholders; and includes the main stakeholders; and encompasses direct involvement of stakeholders in the encompasses direct involvement of stakeholders in the

decision-making process.decision-making process. In Angola and Namibia communications with the oil industry In Angola and Namibia communications with the oil industry

and marine diamond mining respectively must be improved. and marine diamond mining respectively must be improved. Improved capacity for long-term ecosystem monitoring, Improved capacity for long-term ecosystem monitoring,

placement of scientific observers and improved data placement of scientific observers and improved data management are required.management are required.

Angola requires:Angola requires: improved surveillance and compliance;improved surveillance and compliance; a suitable system of access rights for the artisanal fisheries a suitable system of access rights for the artisanal fisheries

Inadequate capacity should not preclude the implementation Inadequate capacity should not preclude the implementation of EAF measures.of EAF measures.

Single species approaches are an essential component of the Single species approaches are an essential component of the fisheries management but need to be broadened for EAF. fisheries management but need to be broadened for EAF.

ConclusionsConclusions The recent awareness of importance of EA recognises The recent awareness of importance of EA recognises

interactions and impacts between different human sectors interactions and impacts between different human sectors and ecosystemand ecosystem

Implementation of EA builds on sectoral approaches but Implementation of EA builds on sectoral approaches but requires addition of wider knowledge and encompassing requires addition of wider knowledge and encompassing institutions institutions

Optimal use of natural resources requires that negative Optimal use of natural resources requires that negative impacts and conflicts are addressed and resolved: this impacts and conflicts are addressed and resolved: this requires compromises and trade-offsrequires compromises and trade-offs

Best-available information on ecological, social and Best-available information on ecological, social and economic costs and benefits of activities and decisions economic costs and benefits of activities and decisions affecting activities important for wise decision-making. affecting activities important for wise decision-making. Economic valuations contribute to that information.Economic valuations contribute to that information.