Development of innovative tools for understanding marine biodiversity and assessing good environmental status: the progress of the EU project DEVOTES

Development of innovative tools for understanding marine biodiversity and assessing good environmental status: the progress of the EU project DEVOTES Angel Borja Scientific Symposium 2015, 6-7 May, Malmö, Sweden

Introduction

Challenges and objectives Challenges Objectives Interaction pressure-impactclimate change Cost-benefit measures Role of indicators GEnS meaning Reduce monitoring costs New assessment tools Integration of data Participation of stakeholders Public awareness Work Packages Improve our understanding of the impact of human activities and climate change on marine biodiversity. Identify barriers and bottlenecks that prevent Good Environmental Status (GEnS) from being achieved Test indicators and develop new, innovative ones to assess biodiversity in a harmonized way throughout the 4 regional seas. WP3: Indicator testing and development. Develop, test and validate innovative integrative modelling and monitoring tools to improve our understanding of ecosystem and biodiversity changes, for integration into a unique and holistic assessment WP4: Innovative modelling tools. WP5: Innovative monitoring techniques WP6: Integrative assessment Propose and disseminate strategies and measures for ecosystems adaptive management, including the active role of industry and relevant stakeholders WP7: Outreach, stakeholder engagement and product dissemination. WP1: Human pressures and climate change. WP2: Socio-economic implications of GEnS. 3

WP1: Human pressures Deliverable 1.1 Conceptual models on DPSIR http://www.devotes-project.eu/deliverables-and-milestones/

WP1: Human pressures Deliverable 1.3 Deliverable 1.4 http://www.devotes-project.eu/deliverables-and-milestones/

Catalogue of Monitoring Networks Interactive maps, with information on monitoring are available at: http://www.devotes-project.eu/deliverables-and-milestones/

Collaborating in MSFD implementation Deliverable 1.5 http://www.devotes-project.eu/deliverables-and-milestones/

WP2: Socio-economy International Obligations International Bodies Bathing beaches Environmental Standards Sensitive area Nitrate Vulnerable Zones EC Directives, Policies and Strategies Good Chemical Status & Good Ecological Status Bathing Waters Protection Afforded Dir IPPC Dir Flood Risk Assessment UWWTD Nitrates Dir WFD (*) 20% renewable energy target LONDON CONV. & PROTOCOL Renewable Energy Dir KYOTO PROTOCOL Safer shipping navigation, pollution control and operation Various EU Regs to control shipping & pollution from ships MARPOL UNCLOS BERN CONV. Sustainable fisheries & safeguarding the marine environment ESPOO CONV. Birds Dir CITES (*) In 2013 the WFD replaced the Dangerous Sub. Dir.; Freshwater Fish Dir.; Shellfish Waters Dir. & Groundwater Dir. EU Biodiversity Strategy Proposed IAS Reg EIA Dir Environmental Impact Assessments & Environmental Statements Various Regulations to control CITES fauna & flora Endangered species protection Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Habitats & Species Dir RAMSAR CONV. SEA Dir Strategic Environmental Assessments Good Environmental Status MSFD UN CONV. on BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY ASCOBAN CFP EU Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP) OSPAR UNEP -MAP ICES Basic Fish Regs Framework Dir for MSP & Coastal Man (proposed) HELCOM IMO BALLAST WATER CONV. Control of harmful aquatic organisms / alien species FRMD UN FRAMEWORK CONV. ON CLIMATE CHANGE (UNFCCC) 3 other climate & energy directives Sustainable use of maritime areas and resources EU Strategy on Invasive Alien Species (IAS) Prevention & Management Best practice to deal with IAS Favourable Conservation Status Natura 2000 sites (SAC/SPA) International Law & EU Directives

WP3: indicators Deliverable 3.1 DEVOTool software version 0.64 (for Mac and Windows) http://www.devotes-project.eu/devotool/ http://www.devotes-project.eu/deliverables-and-milestones/

WP3: indicators Deliverable 3.2 - - Criteria for good indicators (based on ICES) Regional seas: Baltic, Atlantic Sea, Mediterranean, Black Sea Components and nr indicators tested: phytoplankton (4), zooplankton (3), macroalgae (8), seagrasses (7), benthic invertebrates (11), fish (1), marine mammals (1) and a biological value indicator, which includes several ecosystem components in its calculation; Pressures tested: Aggregate extraction, Fishery, Nutrient/organic pressure (Eutrophication) and sediment disposal http://www.devotes-project.eu/deliverables-and-milestones/

WP4: Modelling Deliverable 4.1 http://www.devotes-project.eu/deliverables-and-milestones/

WP5: Innovative monitoring Deliverable 5.1 12

WP5: Innovative monitoring Deliverable 5.3 13

WP6: Integration Deliverable 6.1 http://www.devotes-project.eu/deliverables-and-milestones/

WP6: Integration Deliverable 6.2 http://www.devotes-project.eu/deliverables-and-milestones/

WP6: Integration Deliverable 6.4 http://www.devotes-project.eu/deliverables-and-milestones/

WP6: Integration: DEVOTES Biodiversity Assessment Tool x Jesper H. Andersen 05/11/2014 HELCOM WG STATE Pärnu, Estonia 17

What else? WP2 (socio-economy): Analysis of monitoring cost-effectiveness (2015) Ecosystem management and measures (2015) WP3 (indicators): Setting up targets (2015) WP4 (modelling): Modelling connectivity patterns and Biological Traits (2015) Report describing spatial ecosystem models (August 2015) WP5 (monitoring): Application of acoustic and visual devices in assessment (October 2015) Protocols on molecular analysis (October 2015) WP6 (integration): Biodiversity Assessment Tool developments (2015) Application of the Biodiversity Assessment Tool to pilot areas (2015)

http://www.azti.es/mailings/devotes/ devotes_2015.html

Dr Ángel Borja (aborja@azti.es) Twitter: @AngelBorjaYerro ResearchGate Profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/angel_borja/ Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=245091062&trk=tab_pro 6th-7th May 2015, Malmö