Technologies for a FAIRer use of Ocean Best Practices

The publication and dissemination of best practices in ocean observing is pivotal for multiple aspects of modern marine science, including cross-disciplinary interoperability, improved reproducibility of observations and analyses, and training of new practitioners. Often, best practices are not published in a scientific journal and may not even be formally documented, residing solely within the minds of individuals who pass the information along through direct instruction. Naturally, documenting best practices is essential to accelerate high-quality marine science; however, documentation in a drawer has little impact. To enhance the application and development of best practices, we must leverage contemporary document handling technologies to make best practices discoverable, accessible, and interlinked, echoing the logic of the FAIR data principles [1]

Building resilience for social-ecological sustainability in Atlantic Europe

This thesis argues that complex adaptive social–ecological systems (SES) theory has important implications for the design of integrated ocean and coastal governance in the EU. Traditional systems of governance have struggled to deal with the global changes, complexity and uncertainties that challenge a transition towards sustainability in Europe’s maritime macro-regions. There is an apparent disconnect between governance strategies for sustainability in Europe’s maritime macro-regions and a sound theoretical basis for them. My premise is that the design of governance architecture for maritime regional sustainability should be informed by SES theory. Therefore, the aim of this research was to gain insight into a multilevel adaptive governance architecture that combines notions of sustainability and development in the context of the Atlantic Europe maritime macro-region. The central research question asked whether it is possible to achieve this insight by using a SES as a framework and analytical tool. This research adopted social ecology and sustainability science as a foundation for understanding society–nature relations. Concepts from complex adaptive systems, SES and resilience theories were integrated into a conceptual framework that guided the investigation and analysis. A study was conducted to conceptualise the European Atlantic social–ecological system (EASES). This was used to represent and understand the Atlantic Europe macro-region as a SES. The study examined the proposition that governance can be focused on building SES resilience to help achieve maritime regional sustainability. A workbook method was developed and used to elicit expert opinion regarding EASES. The study identified sources of resilience and resilience dynamics that require management in the context of multilevel adaptive governance. This research found that the Atlantic Europe macro-region is a key focal level for multilevel adaptive governance architecture. The majority of the findings are specific to Atlantic Europe and not generalisable to other maritime macro-regions in Europe

From DPSIR the DAPSI(W)R(M) Emerges… a Butterfly – ‘protecting the natural stuff and delivering the human stuff’

The complexity of interactions and feedbacks between human activities and ecosystems can make the analysis of such social-ecological systems intractable. In order to provide a common means to understand and analyse the links between social and ecological process within these systems, a range of analytical frameworks have been developed and adopted. Following decades of practical experience in implementation, the Driver Pressure State Impact Response (DPSIR) conceptual framework has been adapted and re-developed to become the D(A)PSI(W)R(M). This paper describes in detail the D(A)PSI(W)R(M) and its development from the original DPSIR conceptual frame. Despite its diverse application and demonstrated utility, a number of inherent shortcomings are identified. In particular the DPSIR model family tend to be best suited to individual environmental pressures and human activities and their resulting environmental problems, having a limited focus on the supply and demand of benefits from nature. We present a derived framework, the “Butterfly”, a more holistic approach designed to expand the concept. The “Butterfly” model, moves away from the centralised accounting framework approach while more-fully incorporating the complexity of social and ecological systems, and the supply and demand of ecosystem services, which are central to human-environment interactions

Ecosystem-Based Management, Ecosystem Services and Aquatic Biodiversity: Theory, Tools and Applications

The complexity of interactions and feedbacks between human activities and ecosystems can make the analysis of such social-ecological systems intractable. In order to provide a common means to understand and analyse the links between social and ecological process within these systems, a range of analytical frameworks have been developed and adopted. Following decades of practical experience in implementation, the Driver Pressure State Impact Response (DPSIR) conceptual framework has been adapted and re-developed to become the D(A)PSI(W)R(M). This paper describes in detail the D(A)PSI(W)R(M) and its development from the original DPSIR conceptual frame. Despite its diverse application and demonstrated utility, a number of inherent shortcomings are identified. In particular the DPSIR model family tend to be best suited to individual environmental pressures and human activities and their resulting environmental problems, having a limited focus on the supply and demand of benefits from nature. We present a derived framework, the “Butterfly”, a more holistic approach designed to expand the concept. The “Butterfly” model, moves away from the centralised accounting framework approach while more-fully incorporating the complexity of social and ecological systems, and the supply and demand of ecosystem services, which are central to human-environment interactions

Evaluating Performance of Portuguese Marine Spatial Planning

Marine spatial planning (MSP), a public process of analysing and allocating the spatial and temporal distribution of human activities in marine areas to achieve ecological, economic, and social objectives, is today generally accepted as the preferred tool to promote sustainable development of our increasingly degrading marine environment. However, as implementation of MSP grows worldwide, so does the realisation of the importance of effectively assessing performance of that implementation, to ensure that MSP delivers its maximum potential. While some evaluation initiatives are already in place, dedicated research on the evaluation component of MSP is a pressing need. Portugal is one of Europe’s and the world’s largest maritime nations, and, in line with EU policy and guidelines, has just completed its legal framework for MSP. As the spatial plan for the c. 4 M km2 of Portugal’s national maritime space (NMS) is being developed, it is critical that it is coupled from the onset with the discussion on how its performance (the success of those actions) will be evaluated. This study aimed to assist the emerging Portuguese MSP system, in the development of an evaluation mechanism to assess its performance, based on a set of national, strategic level indicators scoped out through a participatory approach. The methodology used was based on a combination of secondary research (literature review) and primary research (data production). The latter included two components both involving MSP stakeholders: i) an analysis of the Portuguese legal framework for MSP; ii) the development of an indicator system to evaluate MSP performance designed as a five-step iterative process and based on legally stated objectives of MSP. A framework for evaluating performance of Portuguese MSP is proposed. Indicators selected are related to the EU’s eleven principles for MSP and the legally stated objectives of Portuguese MSP. They cover key aspects of MSP: the ecosystem-approach to management, data and knowledge base, transparency, stakeholder participation, improved coordination, legal certainty, and articulation at the boundaries of MSP (landsea integration, and cross-border cooperation). This research constituted a first approach to a mechanism to evaluate MSP performance for the entire Portuguese NMS from the outset of the planning process. It was unique in Portugal in fully engaging a diversity of MSP practitioners and stakeholders in this stage of planning evaluation, a burgeoning approach at the international level. As such, while the proposed mechanism was focused on the Portuguese case, it has the potential to be useful, relevant and adaptable to other coastal nations in Europe and beyond.O Ordenamento do Espaço Marítimo (OEM), um processo público de analisar e alocar a distribuição especial e temporal das actividades humanas em áreas marinhas para alcançar objectivos ecológicos, económicos e sociais, é hoje globalmente aceite como a ferramenta preferencial para promover o desenvolvimento sustentável do nosso ambiente marinho, em crescente estado de degradação. Porém, à medida que a implementação do OEM aumenta a nível mundial, também cresce a consciência da importância de uma avaliação concreta dessa implementação, de forma a assegurar que o desempenho do OEM maximiza o seu potencial. Embora algumas iniciativas de avaliação estejam já em curso, há uma necessidade premente de desenvolver investigação dedicada sobre a componente de avaliação em OEM. Portugal é uma das maiores nações marítimas da União Europeia (UE) e do mundo e, em linha com as políticas e directrizes da UE, acabou de completar o seu quadro legal para o OEM. Enquanto o plano de situação para os c. de 4 M km2 do espaço marítimo nacional (EMN) está a ser desenvolvido, é crítico que, desde o início, ele seja acompanhado por uma discussão de como o seu desempenho (o sucesso das acções efectuadas no seu âmbito) será avaliado. Este estudo pretendeu contribuir para o OEM português, através da proposta de um mecanismo de avaliação para avaliar o seu desempenho, baseado num conjunto de indicadores nacionais de nível estratégico. A metodologia usada foi baseada numa combinação de fontes secundárias (revisão bibliográfica) e primárias (produção de dados), esta última envolvendo agentes de OEM: i) uma análise do quadro legal português de OEM; ii) o desenvolvimento de um sistema de indicadores para avaliar o desempenho do OEM nacional, concebido como um processo iterativo, com cinco passos, e baseado nos objectivos de OEM legalmente estabelecidos. Os indicadores seleccionados estão relacionados com os onze princípios da UE para o OEM e com os objectivos de OEM português legalmente estabelecidos, e cobrem aspectos chave do OEM: abordagem ecossistémica, base de informação, transparência, participação dos agentes, melhorias na coordenação, segurança legal e articulação nas fronteiras do OEM (integração mar-terra e cooperação transfronteiriça). Este estudo constituiu uma primeira abordagem a um mecanismo de avaliação do desempenho do OEM em todo o EMN, desde o arranque do processo de planeamento. Tratou-se de uma abordagem única em Portugal no que diz respeito ao envolvimento de um conjunto alargado de agentes nesta fase do planeamento da avaliação em OEM, uma metodologia que inicia a sua implementação ao nível internacional. Assim, embora o mecanismo proposto tenha sido focado no caso português, tem o potential de ser útil, relevante e adaptável a outras nações costeiras europeias e no resto do mundo

Ocean Modelling in Support of Operational Ocean and Coastal Services

Operational oceanography is maturing rapidly. Its capabilities are being noticeably enhanced in response to a growing demand for regularly updated ocean information. Today, several core forecasting and monitoring services, such as the Copernicus Marine ones focused on global and regional scales, are well-stablished. The sustained availability of oceanography products has favored the proliferation of specific downstream services devoted to coastal monitoring and forecasting. Ocean models are a key component of these operational oceanographic systems (especially in a context marked by the extensive application of dynamical downscaling approaches), and progress in ocean modeling is certainly a driver for the evolution of these services. The goal of this Special Issue is to publish research papers on ocean modeling that benefit model applications that support existing operational oceanographic services. This Special Issue is addressed to an audience with interests in physical oceanography and especially on its operational applications. There is a focus on the numerical modeling needed for a better forecasts in marine environments and using seamless modeling approaches to simulate global to coastal processes

Maritime Spatial Planning

This open access book is the first comprehensive overview of maritime or marine spatial planning. Countries across the globe are beginning to implement maritime spatial plans; however the authors of this collection have identified several key questions that are emerging from this growing body of MSP experience. How can maritime spatial planning deal with a complex and dynamic environment such as the sea? How can MSP be embedded in multiple levels of governance across regional and national borders – and how far does the environment benefit from this new approach? This book actively engages with the problems encapsulated in these questions, and explores possible solutions. Situated at the intersection between theory and practice, the volume draws together several strands of interdisciplinary research, reflecting on the history of MSP as well as examining current practice and looking towards the future. The authors and contributors examine MSP from disciplines as diverse as geography, urban planning, political science, natural science, sociology and education; reflecting the growing critical engagement with MSP in many academic fields. This innovative and pioneering volume will be of interest and value to students and scholars of maritime spatial planning, as well as planners and practitioners