Maritime Eionet workshop

26 October 2010

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New EU policy context: Ecosystem based management

Thematic Strategy for the Protection and Conservation of the

Marine Environment

Marine Protected Areas Marine Protected Areas (e.g. Natura2000)(e.g. Natura2000) Water Framework Directive

Coastal area

EU Integrated Maritime Policy, incl. CFP

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Assessments moving slowly from DPSIR framework to ecosystem services

•Better expression of impacts on human health and socio-economics

•EEA will publish a 2012 European Ecosystem Assessment (EURECA): Marine component under consideration

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Working towards producing an integrated marine/maritime assessment around 2013 - 2015• Integrated assessment means to assess the

full D-P-S-I-R framework in the context of the marine and coastal environment. • Maritime economy as a driver of human activities• The environmental consequences of these

activities• Potential of policy responses – are they enough?

What more is needed on the European level?

• Start to develop both concept and content in collaboration with ETC/W + ETC/Lusi• Develop a list of priorities of topics to cover• Scale of assessment – e.g. to which extent will it

be possible to develop a pan-European assessment?

• Can we collect enough data to implement an assessment tool?

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The purpose… Achieve Good Environmental Status within the marine ecosystems, while promoting long-term sustainable use of marine resources

The basic challenges for MSP to support ecosystem-based management:

Describe the ecosystem in a spatial context

Describe human activities in a spatial context

Link ecosystem components with human activities -> set targets

Implement Programme of Measures, (incl. spatial plan) based on an ecological understanding, to achieve GES

Keep within the framework and “guidance” of EU Maritime Policy

Ecological components and human activities only have one thing in common - They all influence place and/or exist somewhere

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Cumulative activities – difficult to maintain overview

Areas with specific sea use at the Belgian coast (source: DG MARE and HELCOM)

Power plant

Shipping intensity

Waterborne P

Heavy metal deposition

Harbour

Pelagic trawling

Operating wind farm

Source and Impact value

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Relevant examples from MESH and BALANCE projects

• Seabed map showing EUNIS habitat types

• Benthic marine landscapes – What are the dominant landscape types of seas?

Source: Source: BALANCE Interim Report No. 10Source: searchmesh.netSource: searchmesh.net

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Pressure index – illustrating cumulative pressures

Courtesy HELCOM HOLAS

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Impact index – combining pressures with ecological values

Three main elements:

Data on pressures

Expert judgment of effect upon

ecosystem component

Presence of ecosystem component in

assessed area e.g. broad scale habitat

map

Courtesy HELCOM HOLAS

10 Published by AAAS

B. S. Halpern et al., Science 319, 948 -952 (2008)

Fig. 1. Global map (A) of cumulative human impact across 20 ocean ecosystem types

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EuropeanMarine Observation Data

NETworkWise-Marine

Country data

BIG HELP: Integrated Maritime Policy – has identified Marine Observations as a need!

MSFD

Research data

Policy relevant data

Reference layers (maps)

Marine Core Service data

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Developing WISE-Marine (marine component of the Water Information System for Europe)

MSFD & WFD dataMSFD &

WFD data

UserUser

EEAinformation

services

EEAinformation

services

Data fromother

Directives

Data fromother

Directives

Geo-ref.Geo-ref.

InternationalConventionsInternationalConventions

NationalData

Centres

NationalData

Centres

Internet(Inspire)

Internet(Inspire)

Sub-national

Data Centres

Sub-national

Data Centres

GMESGMES

Research projects

EMODNET & Sea bottom mapping

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DATA

ASSESSMENTS

Decision-makers / The public / NGO’s / Researchers

INFORMATION SERVICES

ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS

Distributing information & knowledge

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In conclusion...

• Describing the maritime sector and our need to quantify pressures on the marine environment.

• Information system development /Atlases/coastal indicators and the role of spatial analysis and data integration

• Maritime spatial planning and ICZM • Role of economic activities in coastal

communities • Maritime surveillance• Climate change adaptation on the coast.

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Assessments in a global context

• EEA is contributor to The 'Assessment of Assessments' established by decision of the UN.

• Recommends a regular global process for assessing the state of the marine environment based on fundamental agreed principles – expected formaly endorsed by the general assemply on 15/9-2009.

• First cycle planned 2010-2014

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Principles to guide the Regular UN Process:

1. Viewing the oceans as part of the whole Earth system;

2. Regular evaluation of assessment products and the process itself to support adaptive management;

3. Use of sound science and the promotion of scientific excellence;

4. Regular and proactive analysis to ensure that emerging issues, significant changes and gaps in knowledge are detected at an early stage;

5. Continuous improvement in scientific and assessment capacity;

6. Effective links with policy-makers and other users;

7. Inclusiveness with respect to communication and engagement with all stakeholders through appropriate means for their participation

8. Transparency and accountability for the process and its products.”

Full report available at: http://www.unga-regular-process.org

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Thank you!