ESE3 - Trade-offs method for protections and restoration in MSP#
Description#
ESE3 provides a guideline for the participatory creation of integrated trade-off scenarios. Scenario-building to explore trade-offs can help to improve the management of marine spaces and safeguard ecosystem services. These scenarios aim to assess and negotiate the consequences of diverse actions and strategies regarding the spatial and strategic management of marine areas.
The key element of the approach is to understand how various human activities can influence and are influenced by the ecosystem’s services and find potential ways for negotiating solutions. The outcomes, particularly the trade-off scenario guidelines, can be integrated into practical tools and frameworks, aiding decision-making processes related to marine resource management.
Effective management of trade-offs involves stakeholder engagement, scientific analysis, and the utilisation of decision-support tools (DST) to pinpoint optimal solutions that minimise negative impacts while maximising overall benefits. Trade-offs manifest in close association with specific goals, interests, and activities.
Various types of trade-offs can be categorised:
1. Trade-off between conservation and economic development objectives: MSP necessitates a delicate equilibrium between safeguarding marine ecosystems and supporting economic activities such as fishing, shipping, and tourism. For instance, the designation of MPAs can restrict opportunities for fishing and tourism, affecting the monetary revenue generated from these activities.
Trade-off between short-term and long-term benefits: MSP must balance the immediate gains of specific activities and the long-term benefits of preserving marine ecosystems. For instance, permitting oil and gas exploration and drilling may offer short-term economic benefits but could produce irreversible impacts the environment and marine life.
Trade-off between exclusive uses and shared uses: Decision-making on allocating marine space may involve trade-offs between exclusive use for a specific activity or multiple shared uses. This requires considering diverse stakeholder interests and balancing activities like fishing,, recreational zones, shipping lanes and conservation activities.
Trade-off between specific stakeholder interests: Divergent priorities and objectives among stakeholders, including commercial fishermen, local communities, conservation organisations, researchers, maritime tour operators, and non-governmental organisations, necessitate trade-offs to accommodate varied perspectives.
Trade-offs between local and regional interests: While MSP can benefit local communities through economic development and job creation, it must also account for the impact of human activities on the global ocean ecosystem.
Gutierrez D., Calado H., De Bruyn A., et al., (2024). Trade-offs method for protection and restoration in MSP – ESE3 (Deliverable – D4.3., under the WP4 of MSP4BIO project (GA n° 101060707)).