Working Group on

Ecosystem Approach to Ocean Health and Stressors

The Working Group on Ecosystem Approach to

Ocean Health and Stressors (EA2OHS)

in support of the Galway Statement

Vision

To promote research to understand the North Atlantic Ocean in support of

ecosystem-based management (EBM)

Recognizing that the Atlantic Ocean is a shared resource and responsibility,

this working group seeks to advance our understanding of the Atlantic Ocean

and its dynamic systems to:

• improve ocean health

• improve ocean stewardship

• promote the sustainable management of its resources

Mutual benefits

• improved environmental and ecosystem assessments

• improved understanding of stressors, vulnerabilities and risk

• new tools to achieve EBM objectives such as:

increased ecosystem resilience

conserve biodiversity

manage risk

determine social, economic, and environmental priorities

Events so far

2 major workshops:

• Jan 2016 Copenhagen - Science for operationalizing the ecosystem

approach - joint with FAO

http://www.ices.dk/explore-us/projects/Pages/Making-the-ecosystem-

approach-operational.aspx

• Jan 2017 Reykjavik – Preparing a roadmap for EA2OHS, report due

Additional meetings associated with other events, including MSEAS, Brest 2016

18 month programme

1. Vocabulary: Establish common vocabulary as a basis for collaboration, terms

and tools.

Ongoing throughout working group

2. Stakeholders: Engage all ocean-use stakeholders, and cross-pollinate across

sectors, to ascertain what needs are from all stakeholders.

Develop strategy with partners

3. Mandates: Enhance the uptake of science for EBM through characterization of

relevant mandates and governance structures; relate them to one another and

compare across jurisdictions.

Workshop end 2017

18 month programme

4. Link sectors and ecosystem: Characterize all ocean-use sectors;

characterize stressors, and ecosystem characteristics; and relate them to one

another, as well as mandates above.

Workshop beginning 2018

5. Identify gaps: Establish means to use existing information and identify

knowledge gaps and support the mechanisms to address them.

Work by correspondence

6. Tools for EBM: Identify and recommend tools, or tools for development and

application, to address trade-offs across ocean-use sectors

Large international workshop using operational examples 2018

18 month programme

7. Communication: Establish training and communications materials

Work with AORA ocean literacy group

8. Research Priorities Document: Synthesise recommendations for research

priorities to implement EBM

Working group end 2018

Thank you!