We have analyzed the development of “Broad-Scale Seabed Habitat Maps” (BSHM) and their potential use in a European context with regard to the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) implementation, MPA designation and network assessment as well as other applications of BSHMs. The analyses are anchored in BSHMs developed by a series of interlinked EU projects (e.g. UKSeaMap, BALANCE, MESH, Mesh Atlantic, EUSeaMap 2012, and EUSeaMap 2016) and all maps are based on environmental data. Some EU Member States have used BSHMs as part of their MSFD Initial Assessments published in 2012. However, we conclude that BSHMs are a prerequisite for another key MSFD activity, i.e. mapping of potentially cumulative effects of multiple human stressors. Further, BSHMs seem to play a growing role with regard to evidence-based assessments of MPAs. With the upcoming second round of MSFD Initial Assessments due in 2018, including assessment of potentially cumulative pressures, there seems to be an increasing need for more BSHMs nationally, regionally and on a European scale.
References
[1]
Halpern, B.S., Walbridge, S., Selkoe, K.A., Kappel, C.V., Micheli, F., D’Agrosa, C., Bruno, J.F., Casey, K.S., Ebert, C., Fox, H.E., Fujita, R., Heinemann, D., Lenihan, H.S., Madin, E.M.P., Perry, M.T., Selig, E.R., Spalding, M., Steneck, R. and Watson, R. (2008) A Global Map of Human Impact on Marine Ecosystems. Science, 319, 948-952. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1149345
[2]
UN Rio Convention on Biodiversity. https://www.cbd.int/
[3]
Roff, J.C. and Taylor, M.E. (2000) National Frameworks for Marine Conservation—A Hierarchical Geophysical Approach. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 10, 209-223. https://doi.org/10.1002/1099-0755(200005/06)10:3<209::AID-AQC408>3.0.CO;2-J
[4]
Roff, J.C., Taylor, M.E. and Laughren, J. (2003) Geophysical Approaches to the Classification, Delineation and Monitoring of Marine Habitats and Their Communities. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 13, 77-90. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.525
[5]
Brown, C.J., Smith, S.J., Lawton, P. and Anderson, J.T. (2011) Benthic Habitat Mapping: A Review of Progress towards Improved Understanding of the Spatial Ecology of the Seafloor Using Acoustic Techniques. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 92, 502-520. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2011.02.007
[6]
Vasquez, M., Mata Chacón, D., Tempera, F., O’Keeffe, E., Galparsoro, I., Sanz Alonso, J.L., Gonçalves, J.M.S., Bentes, L., Amorim, P., Henriques, V., McGrath, F., Monteiro, P., Mendes, B., Freitas, R., Martins, R. and Populus, J. (2015) Broad-Scale Mapping of Seafloor Habitats in the North-East Atlantic Using Existing Environmental Data. Journal of Sea Research, 100, 120-132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seares.2014.09.011
[7]
Vincent, M.A., Atkins, S.M., Lumb, C.M., Golding, N., Lieberknecht, L.M. and Webster, M. (2004) Marine Nature Conservation and Sustainable Development—The Irish Sea Pilot. Report to Defra by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough. http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-2767
[8]
Golding, N., Vincent, M.A. and Connor, D.W. (2004) Irish Sea Pilot—Report on the Development of a Marine Landscape Classification for the Irish Sea. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough. http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-2834
[9]
Connor, D.W., Gilliland, P.M., Golding, N, Robinson, P., Todd, D. and Verling, E. (2006) UKSeaMap: The Mapping of Seabed and Water Column Features of UK Seas. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough. http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/PDF/UKSeaMap_2006.pdf
[10]
Al-Hamdani, Z. and Reker, J. (2007) Towards Marine Landscapes in the Baltic Sea Ecoregion. BALANCE Interim Report 117, 115.
[11]
Coltman, N., Golding, N. and Verling, E. (2008) Developing a Broadscale Predictive EUNIS Habitat Map for the MESH Study Area. 16 p. http://www.searchmesh.net/pdf/MESH%20EUNIS%20model.pdf
[12]
Cameron, A. and Askew, N. (2011) EUSeaMap—Preparatory Action for Development and Assessment of a European Broad-Scale Seabed Habitat Map. Final Report. http://www.emodnet-seabedhabitats.eu/outputs
[13]
Hamdi, A., Vasquez, M. and Populus, J. (2010) Cartographie des habitats physiques Eunis-Côtes de France. http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00026/13751/
[14]
McBreen, F., Askew, N., Cameron, A., Connor, D., Ellwood, H. and Carter, A. (2011) UKSeaMap 2010: Predictive Mapping of Seabed Habitats in UK Waters. JNCC Report, No. 446. http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-5955
[15]
McLeod, K.L., Lubchenco, J., Palumbi, S.R. and Rosenberg, A.A. (2005) Scientific Consensus Statement on Marine Ecosystem-Based Management. http://compassonline.org/?q=EBM
[16]
Christensen, N.L., Bartuska, A., Brown, J.H., Carpenter, S., D’Antonio, C., Francis, R., Franklin, J.F., MacMahon, J.A., Noss, R.F., Parsons, D.J., Peterson, C.H., Turner, M.G. and Mood-mansee, R.G. (1996) The Report of the Ecological Society of America Committee on the Scientific Basis for Ecosystem Management. Ecological Applications, 6, 665-691. https://doi.org/10.2307/2269460
[17]
McLeod, H.M. and Leslie, K.L. (2007) Confronting the Challenges of Implementing Marine Ecosystem-Based Management. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 5, 540-548. https://doi.org/10.1890/060093
[18]
Populus, J., Vasquez, M., Albrecht, J., Manca, E., Agnesi, S., Al Hamdani, Z., Andersen, J., Annunziatellis, A., Bekkby, T., Bruschi, A., Doncheva, V., Drakopoulou, V., Duncan, G., Inghilesi, R., Kyriakidou, C., Lalli, F., Lillis, H., Mo, G., Muresan, M., Salomidi, M., Sakellariou, D., Simboura, M., Teaca, A., Tezcan, D., Todorova, V. and Tunesi, L. (2017) EUSeaMap, a European Broad-Scale Seabed Habitat Map. 174 p. http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00388/49975/50583.pdf
[19]
Korpinen, S., Meski, L., Andersen, J.H. and Laamanen, M. (2012) Human Pressures and Their Potential Impact on the Baltic Sea Ecosystem. Ecological Indicators, 15, 105-114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2011.09.023
[20]
Korpinen, S. and Andersen, J.H. (2016) A Global Review of Cumulative Pressure and Effects Assessments in Marine Environments. Frontiers in Marine Science, 3, 153. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2016.00153
[21]
Anon (2010) Commission Decision of 1 September 2010 on Criteria and Methodological Standards on Good Environmental Status of Marine Waters. Official Journal of the European Union, 232, 14-24.
[22]
Piekäinen, H. and Korpinen, S. (2008) Towards an Assessment of Ecological Coherence of the Marine Protected Areas Network in the Baltic Sea Region. Balance Interim Report No. 25, 140 p.
[23]
HELCOM (2010) Towards an Ecologically Coherent Network of Well-Managed Marine Protected Areas—Implementation Report on the Status and Ecological Coherence of the HELCOM BSPA Network. Balt. Sea Environ. Proc. No. 124B.
[24]
HELCOM (2016) Draft HELCOM Ecological Coherence Assessment of the Marine Protected Areas Network in the Baltic Sea. Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission.
[25]
Johnson, D., Ardron, J., Billett, D., Hooper, T. and Mullier, T. (2013) An Assessment of the Ecological Coherence of the OSPAR Network of Marine Protected Areas in 2012. Seascape Consultants Ltd., 65 p.
[26]
OSPAR (2013) A Matrix Approach to Assessing the Ecological Coherence of the OSPAR MPA Network: A Trial of Methodology in the Channel. OSPAR Meeting of the Intersessional Correspondence Group on Marine Protected Areas (ICG-MPA) OSPAR ICG-MPA 13/3/3-E, 31 p.
[27]
Foster, N.L., Sciberras, M., Jackson, E.L., Ponge, B., Toison, V., Carrier, S., Christiansen, S., Lemasson, A., Wort, E. and Attrill, M. (2014) Assessing the Ecological Coherence of the Channel MPA Network. Report Prepared by the Marine Institute for the Protected Area Network across the Channel Ecosystem (PANACHE) Project, INTERREG Programme France (Channel) England Funded Project, 156 p.
[28]
Lieberknecht, L.M., Mullier, T.W. and Ardron, J.A. (2014) Assessment of the Ecological Coherence of the UK’s Marine Protected Area Network. A Report Prepared for the Joint Links, 88 p.
[29]
Ridgeway, A., Cornthwaite, A., Wright, H. and Davies, J. (2014) Identifying the Remaining MCZ Site Options That Would Fill Big Gaps in the Existing MPA Network around England and Offshore Waters of Wales & Northern Ireland. http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-6658
[30]
Rees, S., Foster, N., Langmead, O. and Griffiths, C. (2015) Assessment of the Ecological Coherence of the MPA Network in the Celtic Seas. A Report for WWF-UK by the Marine Institute, Plymouth University and The Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 165.
[31]
Gabrié, C., Lagabrielle, E., Bissery, C., Crochelet, E., Meola, B., Webster, C., Claudet, J., Chassanite, A., Marinesque, S., Robert, P., Goutx, M. and Quod, C. (2012) The Status of Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean Sea. MedPAN & RAC/SPA, 256 p.
[32]
Andersen, J.H., Stock, A., Heinänen, S., Mannerla, M. and Vinther, M. (2013) Human Uses, Pressures and Impacts in the Eastern North Sea. Technical Report No. 18, Aarhus University, DCE—Danish Centre for Environment and Energy, 134 p. http://www2.dmu.dk/Pub/TR18.pdf
[33]
Gilliland, P.M. and Laffoley, D. (2008) Key Elements and Steps in the Process of Developing Ecosystem-Based Marine Spatial Planning. Marine Policy, 32, 787-796. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2008.03.022
[34]
DEFRA (2014) East Inshore and East Offshore Marine Plans. Annex 1: Supporting Information on the Production of Maps. 23 p. http://www.marinemanagement.org.uk/marineplanning/areas/east_plans.htm
[35]
DEFRA (2014) South Inshore and South Offshore Marine Plan Areas: South Plans Analytical Report (SPAR) June 2014. 170 p.
[36]
Galparsoro, I., Borja, A. and Uyarra, M.C. (2014) Mapping Ecosystem Services Provided by Benthic Habitats in the European North Atlantic Ocean. Frontiers in Marine Science, 1, 1-14.
[37]
Kröger, K. and Johnston, C. (2016) The UK Marine Biodiversity Monitoring Strategy. Version 4.1, JNCC Report. http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=7198
