A risk-based approach to cumulative effect assessments for marine management

Marine ecosystems are increasingly threatened by the cumulative effects of multiple human pressures. Cumulative effect assessments (CEAs) are needed to inform environmental policy and guide ecosystem-based management. Yet, CEAs are inherently complex and seldom linked to real-world management proces...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Science of the total environment 2018-01, Vol.612, p.1132-1140
Main Authors: Stelzenmüller, Vanessa, Coll, Marta, Mazaris, Antonios D., Giakoumi, Sylvaine, Katsanevakis, Stelios, Portman, Michelle E., Degen, Renate, Mackelworth, Peter, Gimpel, Antje, Albano, Paolo G., Almpanidou, Vasiliki, Claudet, Joachim, Essl, Franz, Evagelopoulos, Thanasis, Heymans, Johanna J., Genov, Tilen, Kark, Salit, Micheli, Fiorenza, Pennino, Maria Grazia, Rilov, Gil, Rumes, Bob, Steenbeek, Jeroen, Ojaveer, Henn
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Risk management process
Science-policy interface
Standardized framework
Terminology
Uncertainty
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Summary:Marine ecosystems are increasingly threatened by the cumulative effects of multiple human pressures. Cumulative effect assessments (CEAs) are needed to inform environmental policy and guide ecosystem-based management. Yet, CEAs are inherently complex and seldom linked to real-world management processes. Therefore we propose entrenching CEAs in a risk management process, comprising the steps of risk identification, risk analysis and risk evaluation. We provide guidance to operationalize a risk-based approach to CEAs by describing for each step guiding principles and desired outcomes, scientific challenges and practical solutions. We reviewed the treatment of uncertainty in CEAs and the contribution of different tools and data sources to the implementation of a risk based approach to CEAs. We show that a risk-based approach to CEAs decreases complexity, allows for the transparent treatment of uncertainty and streamlines the uptake of scientific outcomes into the science-policy interface. Hence, its adoption can help bridging the gap between science and decision-making in ecosystem-based management. [Display omitted] •Cumulative effects assessments (CEAs) are inherently complex and seldom linked to real-world management processes•A risk-based CEA contains risk identification, risk analysis and risk evaluation, revealing the risk of exceeding thresholds•Embedding CEAs in a risk management process reduces complexity, streamlines scientific products, and increases transparency•CEAs can be supported in practice by standardized terminology, procedures and the recent development of integrative methods
ISSN:0048-9697
1879-1026
DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.08.289