Q 12 - How to evaluate cumulative impacts in MSP and MPA?#

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Answers#

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Operational approaches

ESE1 - Ecological toolkit#

Practices: Analysis and diagnosis
Spatial scales: Transboundary / sea basin National Regional / local
Protection regimes: Strict protection Non-strict protection
Marine zones: Coastal zone Deep sea Offshore zone
Applications: Application of the HELCOM SPIA Tool for HELCOM MPAs Integration of CEA in MSP by utilising PlanWise4Blue (ESE 1) - Bulgarian Black Sea test site

Criteria classes: 1.1.1 Vulnerability 1.1.3 Functional hotspots 1.1.4. Life cycle critical areas

Criteria

Operational approaches: (Method) Dispersion and connectivity modelling (Tool) Pressure assessment of MARine activities (PMAR) module (Tool) Tools4MSP CEA (Tool) HELCOM SPIA Tool (Tool) PlanWise4Blue

Implementation details

The identification and analysis of potential conflict areas arising from the expansion of Marine Protected Areas can be strengthened through the integration of Cumulative Effects Assessment (CEA) and area prioritization and optimization analyses. CEA offers critical insights into the spatial and temporal distribution of human-induced impacts under both current and future scenarios. This information is essential for identifying areas that are either currently experiencing high pressure or are projected to be heavily impacted, informing planning and management strategies.

When combined with CEA, area prioritization analysis can help guide the selection of zones for conservation in a way that minimizes potential conflicts between the expansion of MPAs and existing human activities. This integrated approach ensures that conservation efforts are both ecologically effective and socioeconomically coherent. Tools for addressing both types of analyses have been provided in D3.4 (ESE1).

Some tips for the vulnerability analysis:

Step1: Identify anthropogenic activities in the area of interest as far as targeted and key areas/species of conservation interest. Make a first selection of pressures based on the distribution of species and human activities/pressures and their co-occurrence.

Step 2: Perform a vulnerability analysis for the selected stressors for the list of species/areas defined as of prior interest to identify conservation priorities. With the support of specific tools for CEA, sensitivity or effect matrix can be generated. As a first approach, pressure are considered as additive and a vulnerability assessment is prepared per each per pressure. Again, with the support of the tools, results can be summed up on a map, eventually introducing a weighting system on human stressors linked to pressure intensity.

Prospection (eventually): In general, the risk assessment is analyzed into defined boundaries (such as those of an MPA) which can lead to underestimation of the impacts on the whole marine system (e.g., basin scale). If possible, consider adjacent areas (e.g., connected areas) and future climatic projections to perform a better risk analysis. To go more in depth in the potential interactions of stressors, you can have a look at the following paper: Nogues et al., 2021.

MSPdF Classification: Marine & Coastal Environment -> Ecosystem: Species Marine & Coastal Environment -> Ecosystem: Habitat Marine & Coastal Environment -> Ecosystem: Ecosystems, including food webs Marine & Coastal Environment: Pressure Maritime Activities and MSP

Notes

Cumulative effects of marine renewable energy and climate change properties: sensitivity of ecological network analysis; Q. Nogues, A. Raoux, E. Araignous, A. Chaalali, T. Hattab, B. Leroy, F. Ben Rais Lasram, V. David, F. Le Loc’h, J. Dauvin, N. Niquil; Ecological Indicators, Volume 121, 2021, 107128, ISSN 1470-160X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.107128.

References

  • Cambra E., Conversi A., Whatley L., Menegon S., Beckaert M., Bongiorni L., Calado H., Pinarbasi K., Barboza F., Lauri K., Sciascia R., Cristina A., Marasovic T, Boudy C., Alloncle N., Gissi E. (2024). Guidance for including climate change scenarios in protection and prioritization strategies for Marine Protected Areas development. Deliverable D3.3, under the WP3 of MSP4BIO project (GA n°101060707)

  • Ecological toolkit (ESE1) for MPAs prioritization and networking. Deliverable – D3.4., under the WP3 of MSP4BIO project (GA n° 101060707).

Applications

ESE2 - Criteria for the representation of the social and economic dimension of MPAs#

Practices: Analysis and diagnosis
Spatial scales: National Regional / local
Protection regimes: Non-strict protection
Marine zones: Coastal zone Offshore zone

Criteria classes: 5.1 Socio–economic criteria 5.1.1 Blue Economy 5.1.3 Human wellbeing

Criteria

Notes

More information at:

Pegorelli et al. (2023). Criteria for the representation of the social and economic dimension of MPAs (Deliverable – D4.1., under the WP4 of MSP4BIO project (GA n° 101060707)).

ESE3 - Nature-inclusive operation of blue economy sectors#

Practices: Data collection and presentation Analysis and diagnosis Prioritisation and designation Monitoring and evaluation
Spatial scales: Transboundary / sea basin National Regional / local
Protection regimes: Strict protection Non-strict protection

Criteria classes: 5.2 Governance criteria

Criteria

References

  • Pegorelli Camila, Silvia Rayo Luego, Javier Garcia Sanabria, Javier Garcia Onetti, Maria de Andres, Ivana Stojanovic (2024). Guideline for the strategic and spatial measures for the nature-inclusive operation of blue economy sectors – ESE 3 (Deliverable – D4.2., under the WP4 of MSP4BIO project (GA n° 101060707)).

ESE3 - Trade-offs method for protections and restoration in MSP#

Practices: Prioritisation and designation
Spatial scales: Transboundary / sea basin National Regional / local
Protection regimes: Strict protection Non-strict protection

Criteria classes: 5.2 Governance criteria

Criteria

Operational approaches: (Method) Trade-off for MPA Design (Method) Participatory mapping

Implementation details

Mainly through stakeholder engagement and Participatory Mapping to collect data for cumulative impact analysis.

Use of Annexe 5 - Table Participatory Mapping Tool. From Deliverable 4.3 “Trade-offs method for protection and restoration in MSP”

References

  • Trade-offs method for protection and restoration in MSP (ESE3). Deliverable – D4.3., under the WP4 of MSP4BIO project (GA n° 101060707)).

    This report presents the participatory creation of integrated trade-off scenarios within the MSP4BIO project, aiming to improve the management of marine spaces and safeguard ecosystem services.

    The outcomes of this deliverable provide detailed Guidelines for applying trade-off methodology for MPA design. 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 is comprehending how various human activities influence and are influenced by the ecosystem’s services and exploring potential ways for negotiating solutions. The outcomes, particularly the trade-off scenarios, will be integrated into practical tools and frameworks, aiding decision-making processes related to marine resource management.

    This method was designed by the MSP4BIO team members and experts and developed collaboratively with stakeholders to understand the perspectives linked to protected marine areas and potential trade-offs in which specific actions may positively or negatively impact ecosystems and human well-being.

    It was tested by the different test sites of the MSP4BIO project, and the outcomes will be integrated into the ESE 3, more specifically by the Task 4.4 MPAs and MSP Ecological-Socio-Economic integrated management

Measures#

ESE3 - Nature-inclusive operation of blue economy sectors#

Practices: Analysis and diagnosis
Spatial scales: National Regional / local
Protection regimes: Strict protection Non-strict protection
Marine zones: Coastal zone Deep sea

Measures details

For cumulative impact assessment, check the pressures on Ecosystem Services of each activity for the sector (Aquaculture, Fishery, Tourism, Non-living Marine Resources, Renewables) (Pegorelli et al. 2024)

Notes

More information at:

Pegorelli et al. (2024). Guideline for the strategic and spatial measures for the nature inclusive operation of blue economy sectors – ESE 3 (Deliverable – D4.2., under the WP4 of MSP4BIO project (GA n° 101060707)).

ESE3 - Trade-offs method for protections and restoration in MSP#

Practices: Data collection and presentation Analysis and diagnosis Prioritisation and designation Monitoring and evaluation
Spatial scales: Transboundary / sea basin National Regional / local

Measures details

Mainly through stakeholder engagement and Participatory Mapping to collect data for cumulative impact analysis.

Notes

Use of Annexe 5 - Table Participatory Mapping Tool. From Deliverable 4.3