TOWARDS THE DESIRED STATE: Good Environmental Status for Europe’s Seas and Oceans Michael Scott European Environmental & Sustainable Development Advisory Councils

www.EEAC-network.org

STRONG SUPPORT FOR VISION:- “to protect and restore Europe’s oceans and seas and ensure that human activities are carried out in a sustainable manner, so that current and future generations enjoy and benefit from biologically diverse and dynamic oceans and seas that are safe, clean, healthy and productive”

FIRST PRINCIPLES:- Subsidiarity is key – lets MSs define their own priorities, guided by need to address pressures at Regional Sea level. Light touch needed – let’s concentrate resources on managing the seas, not a reporting bureaucracy! Make measures compliant from the start with unavoidable pressures – eg climate change and ocean acidification. Recognise that some MSs have a very large area of deep sea area out to the EEZ – will require very significant investment. Seek an incremental approach. Basically, we all know what we mean by GES!

SEQUENCE OF PHOTOS (removed for copyright reasons), showing range of biodiversity that could be used as evidence of ‘Good Environmental Status’ (GEnS) (all from one site beside Loch Carron, the author’s home in north-west Scotland). These include species of commercial importance, such as cod, lobsters, Nephrops and scallops, which in turn help to support the local inshore fishermen. GEnS is also essential for the continuation of the local fishfarm, and is thus critical to the continuing wellbeing of communities in these areas. GEnS cannot therefore be separated from social and economic factors, and this should be taken fully into account in defining GEnS. GEnS for Loch Carron is therefore also critical to the people in London and Madrid who consume the produce of the loch, and the company in Norway which owns the local fishfarm. It is thus a European concern requiring concerted European action!

Why does Good Environmental Status matter??? We want seas/oceans around the coasts of the EU:- …that continue to support coastal/marine industries, now and in the future; …that continue to support vibrant coastal communities; …that provide safe and healthy places for all of us to enjoy our recreation; …that support and encourage further coastal tourism; …that continue to provide the ‘ecosystem services’ on which society relies; …that support their full capacity of biodiversity; …and in which all Europeans can be justifiably proud. Good Environmental Status needs to reflect all of that!

or Good Environmental Status? Desired State or Good Environmental Status? The ‘Desired State’ in the EEAC paper (deliberately) mixes ‘state’ and ‘process’ factors. One group about components of the ecosystem (eg ‘natural diversity between regional seas maintained’; ‘fish populations are within safe biological limits’). One group about scale of human activities (eg ‘fishfarm escapes no longer impact on ecosystems’; ‘recreational activities have increased without damaging impact’). Many about management/delivery mechanisms to achieve the above (eg integrated coastal zone management system). Some about supporting work (education, research).

or Good Environmental Status? Desired State or Good Environmental Status? The first two are the relevant groups of ‘Desired State’ issues which are also relevant to GEnS:- One group about components of the ecosystem (eg ‘natural diversity between regional seas maintained’; ‘fish populations are within safe biological limits’). One group about scale of human activities (eg ‘fishfarm escapes no longer impact on ecosystems’; ‘recreational activities have increased without damaging impact’). Many about management/delivery mechanisms to achieve the above (eg integrated coastal zone management system). Some about supporting work (education, research).

or Good Environmental Status? Desired State or Good Environmental Status? Current State Irreversibly Damaged Desired State Good Environmental Status Good Environmental Status Good Environmental Status Current state 0% Hospital Survival Rate 100% 95%

or Good Environmental Status? Desired State or Good Environmental Status? If we go with ‘Good Environmental Status’ is it:- good? very good, but possibly far too expensive? fairly good – definitely achievable but undemanding? why not aim ultimately for ‘excellent’? Important thing is that targets are:- set at regional sea level, with full national subsidiarity; cover components of structure, function and process; based on sound scientific understanding where we have it; build on what we already monitor for other purposes, but fit for purpose (need to ensure we include all relevant factors); challenging, but achievable.

or Good Environmental Status? Desired State or Good Environmental Status? NB: Need to add additional circle for physical functioning (‘dynamic seas’).