Q 58 - How to protect vulnerable species against climatic stressors?#

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Answers#

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ESE1 - Ecological toolkit#

Practices: Scoping Data collection and presentation Analysis and diagnosis Prioritisation and designation
Spatial scales: Transboundary / sea basin National Regional / local
Protection regimes: Strict protection Non-strict protection
Marine zones: Coastal zone Deep sea Offshore zone

Criteria classes: 1.1.1 Vulnerability

Criteria

Implementation details

The first step of answering the question is to define the reason why a species is called vulnerable. The identification of the main pressures and the analysis of species inner traits (Risk assessment, using Sensitivity criteria) could help you to define if the vulnerability is linked to anthropogenic, climatic stressor or both and so support you in the process of identifying potential management levers (CAMBRA et al., 2024 - 5.2 - ESE criteria Species Vulnerability to Climatic and Anthropogenic stressors). Performing the analysis at different time scales (short-, mid- and long-term) will support you in the process of defining a sequence of actions related to the expected intensity and Time of Emergence of the different stressors. For VMEs (Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems) it is presumed by the scientific community that discarding the first anthropogenic stressor (e.g., fisheries) can be sufficient to make them resist to climate change incidence.

In general, more than protected vulnerable species against climatic stressor, the human direct pressure will be decreased by the implementation of restrictions (e.g., Fishing restricted areas, marine reserves…) to avoid the multiplication of additive stressors and enhance the possibility of species resistance. Some restauration measures can also be promoted in this areas but their efficiency is site and species-dependants.

The key words of the protection of sensitive species is monitoring, anticipating and planning. We highly recommand to follow the step by step guidance developed inside the MSP4BIO project to support the answer of this type of question, especially the list of strategies and criteria defined in the chapters 5 and 6 (CAMBRA et al., 2024).

Notes

Cambra et al (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)