Proposed approaches for indicator integration. EcApRHA Deliverable WP 4.1
Elliott, S.A.M.; Arroyo, N.L.; Safi, G.; Ostle, C.; Guérin, L.; McQuatters-Gollop, A.; Aubert, A.; Artigas, F.; Budria, A.; Rombouts, I.; Pesch, R.; Schmitt, P.; Vina-Herbon, C.; Meakins, B.; González-Irusta, J.M.; Preciado, I.; López-López, L.; Punzón, A.; Torriente, A.; Serrano, A.; Haraldsson, M.; Capuzzo, E.; Claquin, P.; Kromkamp, J.; Niquil, N.; Judd, A.; Padegimas, B.; Corcoran, E. (2017). Proposed approaches for indicator integration. EcApRHA Deliverable WP 4.1. EcApRHA/European Union: [s.l.]. ISBN 9781911458296. 43 pp. |  |
| Authors | | Top | - Elliott, S.A.M.
- Arroyo, N.L.
- Safi, G.
- Ostle, C.
- Guérin, L.
- McQuatters-Gollop, A.
- Aubert, A., more
- Artigas, F.
- Budria, A.
- Rombouts, I., more
| - Pesch, R.
- Schmitt, P.
- Vina-Herbon, C.
- Meakins, B.
- González-Irusta, J.M.
- Preciado, I.
- López-López, L.
- Punzón, A.
- Torriente, A.
| - Serrano, A.
- Haraldsson, M.
- Capuzzo, E.
- Claquin, P.
- Kromkamp, J.
- Niquil, N.
- Judd, A.
- Padegimas, B.
- Corcoran, E.
|
| Abstract | Executive SummaryThe Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) aims to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) withinEuropean Commission waters through an ecosystem‐based approach. The MSFD requires Member Statessharing a marine region or sub‐region to cooperate to ensure that the Directive’s objectives are achievedWorking towards an ecosystem perspective: Proposals for the integration of pelagic, benthic and food web indicatorsand to coordinate their actions through Regional Seas Conventions e.g. the OSPAR Commission for theNorth‐East Atlantic. As part of the ‘applying an Ecosystem Approach to (sub) Regional Habitat Assessments’(EcApRHA) project, integration of indicators under Descriptor 1 (biodiversity), 4 (food webs) and 6 (seafloorintegrity), relating to pelagic and benthic habitats and food webs have been forwarded to work towards anecosystem’s approach in assessing habitats regionally. The content of this report covers differentapproaches developed to integrate indicators forwarded within the project.Five methods are described, four of which were developed to integrate indicators developed under theEcApRHA project. The fifth, OSPAR’s cumulative effect approach has also been summarised as an additionalapproach to integrate indicators. For each method, management implications; the advantages anddisadvantages in relation to being able to work toward assessment of GES; and the confidence in theassessments, are highlighted. The time it would take for the approach to become fully operational, itsfeasibility and costs are also discussed.From the five methods described, three main approaches are discussed:I. A quantitative method to draw links between indicators to assess pressures that have effectson the different aspects of the marine ecosystem (Chapters 3‐4).II. Use of the Nested Environmental status Assessment Tool (NEAT) to integrate differentindicators to provide an overall assessment (Chapters 5 and 6).III. Use of an industry led risk assessment tool (Bow‐Ties) to assess cumulative effects (Chapter 7).The integration approaches outlined within this document demonstrate the developments made within theEcApRHA project to ensure the various indicators under the different descriptors are not only operational,but also integrated in a way which permits a more holistic assessment of the marine environment. Usingsuch a two‐tiered approach of individual indicator and integrated analysis, will enable an understanding ofwhy certain aspects of the marine environment may not be in good condition, and thereby recommendspecific management measures to ameliorate them. Although the approaches forwarded have been initiallytrialled in the North‐East Atlantic, they are able to be applied to other MSFD Regional seas areas. Eachmethod addresses different levels of integration (indicator, habitat or ecosystem) and requires furtherdevelopment and testing. They should be thus considered as complementary and gaps should beprogressed in parallel to ensure coherent progress towards an overall ecosystem approach. In addition,with some further comparative testing between the different methods outlined within this document,options to continue forwarding integrated assessment of OSPAR indicators could be proposed. Themethods outlined within this document are a first step in applying an ecosystem’s approach to assessingthe state of our seas. |
|
