"Implementation of the Ecosystem Approach in the Mediterranean: strengthening the science-policy, 15-16 Dec. 2015 Sophia-Antipolis
Vangelis Papathanassiou
Research Director Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR)
& Coordinator of PERSEUS EU project
EU PERSEUS Project Activities to Strengthen Marine Environmental SPI in the Mediterranean
"Implementation of the Ecosystem Approach in the Mediterranean: strengthening the science-policy, 15-16 Dec. 2015 Sophia-Antipolis
•Develop a “Smart Monitoring” strategy •Develop awareness groups & increase capacity building •Support non-EU countries
•Design an innovative, small R/V for shallow areas •Provide science-based recommendations for protection and management
PERSEUS Policy-oriented marine Environmental Research for the Southern EUropean Seas
Key Figures •21 countries •53 partners (>300 scientists)
65 Institutes & Universities •48 months (Jan ‘12-Dec ’15)
• Help and support the EU countries on MSFD implementation
AIMS
"Implementation of the Ecosystem Approach in the Mediterranean: strengthening the science-policy, 15-16 Dec. 2015 Sophia-Antipolis
Field work on pressures and processes
Changes in environmental parameters and impacts on plankton
Pelagic fish
Food web interactions (including jellyfish)
Mapping habitat types with emphasis on sea grass meadows
Impact of coastal development and urbanization on shallow water habitats Demersal fish aggregations; analysing functional community changes
Pollution - Contaminants
Pollution - Bioaccumulation
Litter
Noise
Non-indigenous Species
Primary productivity - planktonic biomass
Pollution - Contaminants
Non-indigenous Species
Impacts of environmental parameters on food web AlborEX
LionEX
AegEX
LevEX
MarEX
BSEX
• Plastic makes most of the floating and the sea bottom litter (av. >80%) • NIS have been increasing at all coastal study areas after 2000 • Eutrophication assessment methodology has been developed in coastal areas • Nutrients and phytoplankton biomass in a decrease trend in most areas • Ocean acidification trend in the Mediterranean Sea has been identified
"Implementation of the Ecosystem Approach in the Mediterranean: strengthening the science-policy, 15-16 Dec. 2015 Sophia-Antipolis
Tools developed in PERSEUS
• Ecoregions (biogeochemical, species distribution and pressures & impacts) in the Mediterranean Sea
• TEAP Tool, assisting on-line to port managers in their daily environmental tasks (Applicable to all EU ports - and beyond)
• VMS Improvement of methodologies for data analysis; construction of maps with spatial distribution of fishing effort
• “Early Warning System for Managing Oil Spills” prototype, for national, regional and local authorities
• Vessel: Concept of an innovative small research and survey vessel for the coastal areas estuaries, port areas shallow channels
Caretta caretta
Noctiluca scintillans
Monachus monachus
Pelagia nocticula
Calanus helgolandicus
Epinephelus marginatus
"Implementation of the Ecosystem Approach in the Mediterranean: strengthening the science-policy, 15-16 Dec. 2015 Sophia-Antipolis
12 PERSEUS Argo Floats increase information New: Extension of biogeochemical sensors
Petrolina Tanker
CPR Line
A Strategy for an Integrated System of Systems was developed to define the principles and key components for the future…..
Gaps & needs for 17 Mooring Platforms in the SES
Upgrade & Expand
Expansion of glider monitoring in the south Mediterranean
Repeated Cruises and SES coverage
Manual of Data submission from different platforms
"Implementation of the Ecosystem Approach in the Mediterranean: strengthening the science-policy, 15-16 Dec. 2015 Sophia-Antipolis
Εισαγωγή
Assessment of the state of Marine ecosystems
…An ecosystem “end to end” approach
Model Satellite
GP
P
Dia
tom
s
Model
Satellite
Gross primary production
Phytoplankton Population structure
From phytoplankton to fish with a fully coupled
(Physics + Biogeochemistry) approach
Scenaria for hypoxia Development in the Coastal Black Sea
Model-based assessments
Spawning areas
Anchovies
Blue Tuna
"Implementation of the Ecosystem Approach in the Mediterranean: strengthening the science-policy, 15-16 Dec. 2015 Sophia-Antipolis
Activities for demonstration of the MSFD principles - Harmonisation
Overview of methods for assessment of environmental status for MSFD Support harmonization of assessments using compatible methodologies across Basins
"Implementation of the Ecosystem Approach in the Mediterranean: strengthening the science-policy, 15-16 Dec. 2015 Sophia-Antipolis
INTERACTION WITH STAKEHOLDERS
PERSEUS Workshops: Key Highlights
Split (Croatia): 4-5 May 2015
Attendees: 35 participants (Administrative bodies, Academia , NGOs)
Tangiers (Morocco): 29-30 September 2015
Attendees: 31 participants (Administrative bodies, Academia)
Tbilisi (Georgia): 8-9 October 2015
Attendees: 25 participants (Administrative bodies, Academia, NGOs)
Odessa (Ukraine): 24 November 2015
Attendees: 30 participants (Administrative bodies, Academia)
Tunis (Tunisia): 4 September 2015
Attendees: 21 participants (Public environmental agencies, Private environmental agencies, Academia)
Ankara (Turkey): 9-10 September 2015
Attendees: 31 participants (Administrative bodies, TUBITAK (National Research Council), Academia, NGOs)
"Implementation of the Ecosystem Approach in the Mediterranean: strengthening the science-policy, 15-16 Dec. 2015 Sophia-Antipolis
Overall Remarks from the 6 Stakeholder Workshops (173 non-EU Stakeholders were involved)
PERSEUS enhanced the interface between policy and science
Contribution to harmonized methodologies for basin-wide
assessments & improved knowledge on environmental pressures
& impacts
Very positive reaction in using the PERSEUS tools
Capacity building, knowledge sharing and training is very
important need for transnational collaboration
Receiving stakeholders’ feedback & exchange of ideas is of
crucial importance
Important role of the RSCs in connecting with projects like PERSEUS - providing a networking platform and
- ensuring harmonization of scientific and policy approaches related to
environmental issues (e.g. MSFD & EcAp)
"Implementation of the Ecosystem Approach in the Mediterranean: strengthening the science-policy, 15-16 Dec. 2015 Sophia-Antipolis
Areas for demonstration of the
MSFD principles
Adaptive Marine Policy (AMP) Framework & Tool Box
Absence of a set of tools for policy-makers to implement marine
policies
Difficult to identify & develop new reference points for the GES in
the European Seas
Little progress is being observed
PERSEUS: shifts from a traditional, linear model to a to a 5-step cyclical, Adaptive Marine Policy (AMP) model
• The strategy: 4 Stakeholders’ Platforms, one for each Case + basin
• The structure: AMP has been defined as a five steps policy cycle
• The 2 Components: The AMP Toolbox and the Stakeholder platforms
• The platforms: Forums of negotiation of ~100 persons, who have
contributed to specify the AMP Toolbox and tested it
Rational:
• AMP, AMP Toolbox & 5 Stakeholders Platforms have been developed to assist achieving/maintaining GES in the SES
• A “living” DB, to help developing marine environment policies, with information online
www.perseus-net.eu
"Implementation of the Ecosystem Approach in the Mediterranean: strengthening the science-policy, 15-16 Dec. 2015 Sophia-Antipolis
PERSEUS Policy Brief
Translating findings to policy recommendations
• Target audience: Medium-level Policy / Decision makers
• Presents only the policy-relevant findings of PERSEUS
• Set of 24 specific recommendations and 6 overarching take-away messages
"Implementation of the Ecosystem Approach in the Mediterranean: strengthening the science-policy, 15-16 Dec. 2015 Sophia-Antipolis
UNEP-MAP connection with Projects
"Implementation of the Ecosystem Approach in the Mediterranean: strengthening the science-policy, 15-16 Dec. 2015 Sophia-Antipolis
The need for scientific knowledge
• A major challenge: attain the necessary scientific knowledge of the elements that define the state of the marine environment in the SES (e.g. processes, biodiversity, food web….)
• A substantial need: develop additional scientific understanding (mentioned also in policy documents e.g. MSFD)
• Scientific Wisdom: Needs to be increased on the marine environment, especially for the SES, and turn the Knowledge to “Wisdom”
(Data Information Knowledge “Wisdom”)
• R & I projects: can provide the scientific support needed at regional & EU level.
"Implementation of the Ecosystem Approach in the Mediterranean: strengthening the science-policy, 15-16 Dec. 2015 Sophia-Antipolis
When Science meets Policy….. Necessity! Some Progress was made
Knowledge at basin level is required (gradually there…)
Prerequisites: +
“Translate” the
Scientific results
for Society;
Public
awareness
Compromises and
understanding
"Implementation of the Ecosystem Approach in the Mediterranean: strengthening the science-policy, 15-16 Dec. 2015 Sophia-Antipolis
Lessons learned after PERSEUS ….
• Involve stakeholders from the inception of the project; open
forum discussions with all groups involved. Co-design, co-
ownership principle should apply.
• Decision makers should receive the tool/answers they need.
Concrete answers are not always possible from the scientists.
It is happening but …. only some good examples
• Scientists need to hear the policy makers and provide their
knowledge (or better their “wisdom”)
• “Scientific diplomacy” for getting all countries involved.
Scientific Projects can do that!
• Scientists need to explain the implications of their research
and not their actual research!
"Implementation of the Ecosystem Approach in the Mediterranean: strengthening the science-policy, 15-16 Dec. 2015 Sophia-Antipolis
• A lot of effort into communicating scientific work but still need
to talk to society. Some results need translation!
• Need trust between and within groups….
• Policy Makers need to understand the results of their actions.
Valuation & Responsibility should govern their actions.
• Up to now weak connection of projects at national level
• International policy is done with more transparent way. This is
why projects mainly go for the international decision makers….
• Conduct “Useful” research and address problems; connection
with jobs and society needs to be improved
• Do not have to change the things we do; we have to change the
way we do them and adapt!
Lessons learned after PERSEUS ….(cont.)
Need to understand and work for the:
• Complexity of the system in the Med, • Integration • Participatory approach including dedicated issues
Thank you!