1. ICES developments Han Lindeboom, Vice Chair ACOM
2nd MSFD Descriptor 3+ meeting, Brussels, April 9-10, 2013

2. Priority issues Ecosystem based management
Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD)
Strategic initiative ACOM and SCICOM on MSFD

3. ICES Council recognised that the MSFD posed new challenges
ICES has the CSGMSFD
(reports to Council – new chair Bill Turrell)
- Steer and coordinate development within ICES
- New clients and stakeholders
- Identify gaps -new science disciplines
Role: link unbiased science with policy needs
Living document (MSFD and EGs)

4. Focus areas
Support and give advice to regional seas, harmonisation of advice
Indicator development
Indicators - science/policy interface, integrate across descriptors, link to management actions
Tool box for assessments – cumulative impacts, use MSP tools, risk assessment or integrated management strategy evaluations
Suite of models (behaviour, impact, socio/economic drivers)
Data collection and storing (interoperable, accessible)
Integrated Ecosystem Assessments

5. ICES actions

6. Development of Indicators
Operate at the science/policy interface
Transparent scoping exercise with policy developers
Clarify purpose of indicators and thresholds in management
Develop integration across descriptors

7. Descriptor
Databases existing
Databases developing
EG/ Fora
Conclusion D1
Biodiversity
ICES is developing a biodiversity risk assessment regarding species impacted by fisheries (PSA)
1.1 Species distr. (range, pattern, area)
DAT, ICH, IC, RDB
ACO
WGBIODIV
Time series can be delivered for many fish populations
1.2 Population abundance and/or biomass
DAT, FIS, IC, RDB
EcoQo for Seabirds (OSPAR)
1.3 Population demographic characteristics
Time series exist for many fish populations
Provide indices for large fish indicator (DCF)
1.4. Habitat distribution
BEWG, WGMHM
Benthic expertise combined with GIS and data are (upon request) able to provide habitat mapping at the regional sea level
1.5 Habitat extent
Expertise from Baltic WGs can be applied with regards to habitat extent across the other regional seas.
1.6 Habitat Condition of the typical species and communities
Integrated assessments/ ecosystem overviews
WGMHM, WGVHES
As part of on-going work developing ecosystem overviews ICES can provide regional descriptions of habitat condition
1.7 Ecosystem Composition
DAT, FIS, ICH, IC, RDB
WGECO, WGBIODIV
As part of on-going work developing ecosystem overviews ICES can provide regional descriptions of ecosystem structure
Descriptor
Databases existing
Databases developing
EG/ Fora
Conclusion D6
Sea floor integrity
Currently provide advice on protection for sensitive species and habitats. ICES also provides scientific support to Member Countries on the interaction of fisheries and the conservation objectives associated with MPAs including NATURA2000 (EMPAS/FIMPAS/BaltFimpa). EBSA revisions for NEAFC/OSPAR.
6.1.1 Abundance of biogenic substrate
DOME
BEWG, WGDEC
Working with EU FP7 project BENTHIS.
6.1.2 Extent of the seabed impacted
DCF, VMS
WGECO, WGDEC, WGEXT
Provide time series of two indicators (under DCF) on the extent of fisheries impact on the seabed. Aggregate extraction is annually mapped.
6.2.1 Presence of particularly sensitive and/or tolerant species
ACOM, WGDEC, WGEF
Currently provide advice to NEAFC and EC on VMEs.
6.2.2 Multi‐metric indexes assessing benthic community
WGBIODIV, BEWG
6.2.3 Proportion of macrobenthos above some specified length/size
BEWG
6.2.4 Parameters describing the size spectrum of the benthos
WGECO, BEWG

8. The MSFD is about all EU waters
The MSFD is about all EU waters. ICES expert groups are open to all interested experts

9. Environmental data
International databases - Long-term data series required for defining targets and setting thresholds for MSFD indicators
Collection and storing of data
Provision must be simple, integrated and timely.
Data from different sources must be interoperable
(issue: assessable, ownership and access rights)

10. ICES Data Portal Major thematic datasets include:
ICES provides a regional data centre service for its member countries, including data holding and disseminating capabilities, and is part of a global network of thematic data centres
Major thematic datasets include:
- Oceanographic (Temperature, salinity, oxygen, …)
- Fisheries (catches, landings, size, age, …)
- Environmental (Biological and contaminants)
Data - Ensure it, Secure it and Distribute it

11. Uses
Measures
Indicators

12. Integrated monitoring - towards integration of fisheries surveys and environmental monitoring
ICES SG on Ecosystem Surveys, Science and Technology works to:
• Develop, maintain, standardize, consolidate and advance assessment surveys
• Encourage and support applications of advanced technologies for observing, monitoring and surveying marine ecosystems
• Improve and advance survey capabilities in support of the Ecosystem Approach

13. Integrated ecosystem assessment and advice at regional scale
ICES works in all "eco-regions" and in the western Atlantic. It develops methods for integrated ecosystem assessments (IEA) and provides the regional focus for others in the ICES network that want to apply the ecosystem approach.
Regional integrated assessment groups

14. The Functioning of Marine Ecosystems Four major Determinants
Anthropocene
Energy
Man
11-year cycle
Natural driver of change
Man-made drivers of change
Temperate
18-year cycle
N,P,Si
Setting the stage
Determines reaction
Habitat
Intrinsic properties
living nature
(Intrinsic properties
non-living nature)
Info:

15. The Functioning of Marine Ecosystems Four major Determinants
Man
Fisheries
Hunting
Aquaculture
Eutrophication
Pollution
Mining
Noise
River inputs
Waterworks/Polders/Embankments
Hard substrate
Rotor blades
Management
CO2 emissions
Invasive species
Energy
Anthropocene
Light/heat/kinetic
Climate
Temperature
Wind
Precipitation
Tides/Currents
Nutrient availability
Tectonics
Volcanism
Earth quakes
Tsunamis
18-year cycle
11-year cycle +
Temperate
N,P,Si
Intrinsic properties
living nature
Habitat
(Intrinsic properties
non-living nature)
Biodiversity
Behaviour
Production
Recruitment
Predation
Diseases
Reef building
Evolution
Regime shifts/sudden changes
Resilience/sensitivity
Feedbacks
Match/mismatch
Complexity/chaos
Depth
Bottom type
Currents
Salinity
Intertidal
Waves (splash zone)
Thermal vents
Gas seeps
Ice
Biogenic structures
Man-made structures
Info:

16. The Functioning of Marine Ecosystems Four major Determinants
Man
Fisheries
Hunting
Aquaculture
Eutrophication
Pollution
Mining
Noise
River inputs
Waterworks/Polders/Embankments
Hard substrate
Rotor blades
Management
CO2 emissions
Invasive species
Energy
Anthropocene
Light/heat/kinetic
Climate
Temperature
Wind
Precipitation
Tides/Currents
Nutrient availability
Tectonics
Volcanism
Earth quakes
Tsunamis
18-year cycle
11-year cycle +
Temperate
N,P,Si
Intrinsic properties
living nature
Habitat
(Intrinsic properties
non-living nature)
Biodiversity
Behaviour
Production
Recruitment
Predation
Diseases
Reef building
Evolution
Regime shifts/sudden changes
Resilience/sensitivity
Feedbacks
Match/mismatch
Complexity/chaos
Depth
Bottom type
Currents
Salinity
Intertidal
Waves (splash zone)
Thermal vents
Gas seeps
Ice
Biogenic structures
Man-made structures
Info:

17. Towards integrated ecosystem assessments and advice
ICES has taken a multi-disciplinary view of regional ecosystems
ICES runs training programs to build capacity for scientific advice
Step-wise including ecosystem drivers, ecosystem impacts, and interactions with other issues /sectors
Considerations of environmental drivers on specific issue
Considerations of wider ecosystem impacts of options for societal action
Considerations of interactions with other human activities
If requested – trade off between losses and gains for relevant stakeholder groups
Marine Eco-regions
Overviews

18. New activities Updating ICES New ways of working?
- New Strategic Plan (EU will be asked to comment)
- New Science Plan and Advice Plan
- Integrated Ecosystem Assessments (and hence MSFD) as one
core focus
New ways of working?
- How to use ICES structures in best way for MSFD
- SCICOM route too slow and ACOM route too formal ?
- Consideration of National Resources - we can not afford
duplication

19. Workshop topics
MSFD descriptor 3 (commercially exploited fish and shellfish)
Status of Stocks
Fisheries related descriptors
D1 Biodiversity
D4 Food webs
D6 Sea floor integrity
Integrated assessment and Ecosystem Overviews

20. Thank you
Questions?