Transcript Policy Drivers For Seabed Mapping

Policy drivers for seabed mapping
Evanthia Karpouzli
Marine Ecological Adviser
Scottish Executive
Policy Drivers aquatic environment
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Natural resource mapping (broadscale habitats, features,
species). Commitments through:
 OPSPAR convention
 Habitats and Birds Directives
 Water Framework Directive
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Monitoring (achieving good environmental status, favourable
conservation status etc)
 All the above plus
 EU Marine Strategy and proposed Marine directive
 Biodiversity Action Plans
Policy Drivers aquatic environment
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Inform decision-making and planning
 The Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (specific
biodiversity duty)
 Strategic Environmental Assessments
 Environmental Impact Assessments
 Inshore Fishing Act (management and compliance)
 Marine Spatial Planning (shared framework across UK waters)
 Considering new legislation for Scotland
 Oil spill contingency, risk assessment
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Long term monitoring. Identify impacts on habitats and changes,
identify trends and change
 Scotland's Climate Change programme.
 Contribute data and evidence to the MCCIP
 Marine Environment Change Network
Policy Drivers aquatic environment
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Identifying gaps in knowledge / data. Better coordination, avoid
duplication
 Scotland committed to a coordinated UK-wide marine information
network
 Eg. Marine Data and Information Partnership (MDIP)
 The joint UK response to the Review of Marine Nature
Conservation
 UK Seamap
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Evidence based policy
 Justification for site designation
 Site management
 Justification for consents
Policy Drivers aquatic environment
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Overarching commitments through:
 Scottish Marine and Coastal Strategy
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Coastal and Marine National Park
 Scottish Biodiversity Strategy
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Possible future drivers: Potential changes to legislation in Scottish
marine environment
 Establish an ecologically coherent and representative network of
MPAs
 Identify areas important for ecosystems and biodiversity
How can we fulfil these policy drivers?
Step 1: data collection, map production
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Good quality accurate intertidal and subtidal maps of
species, habitats, that complements information on
activities on a GIS.
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Resolution fit for purpose
Collected and processed in a clear standardised way
Good metadata available
To allow for comparisons spatially and temporarily
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How can we fulfil these policy drivers?
Step 2: Data analysis
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Measuring extent (of feature and lifeform)
Measuring biomass of vegetation
Determining spatial pattern and structure
Monitoring change (spatial/qualitative)
Legacy - lasting objective records of site
condition
Conclusions
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Future opportunities:
 For MESH to inform policy, improve basis for decision making and
planning
 Key: The continuity of such projects so maps are updated in the
future
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Added value in seabed mapping products
 Input in ecosystem models
 For example fisheries stock prediction using habitat maps and other
environmental variables
 Climate change models
 Operational tool in WFD
 Integrated use of data from different sources
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Real power: detecting changes over time
Standards and protocols required for collecting and analysing data
to produce consistent results which are repeatable over time