Abstract
Our oceans are heavily utilized by a wide variety of human activities that exert pressures which negatively impact marine ecosystems, occasionally leading to unsustainable rates of exploitation. A linkage framework approach can be used to make independent associations between sectors, activities, and the pressures they introduce. However, in reality, many different sectors and their associated activities overlap in time and space, potentially changing the severity of their impact as pressures combine, and undermine the efforts of environmental managers to mitigate the harmful effects of those activities. Here, we present a spatially resolved approach to assess the potential for combined effects using a linkage framework assessment. Using illustrative examples from the Northeast Atlantic, we show the likelihood of changes in pressure severity as a result of multiple overlapping activities. Management options to limit pressure introduction are explored and their benefit—measured as a reduction in the area of seabed impacted—assessed. In its simplest form, the approach can be used to develop potential precautionary management options in areas where data availability is poor and more comprehensive management measures where data are more widely available
Publication Date
2014-12-01
Publication Title
ICES Journal of Marine Science
Volume
72
Issue
8
Publisher
ICES
Embargo Period
2024-11-22
First Page
2245
Last Page
2256
Recommended Citation
Goodsir, F., Bloomfield, H., Judd, A., & et al. (2014) 'A spatially resolved pressure-based approach to evaluate combined effects of human activities and management in marine ecosystems', ICES Journal of Marine Science, 72(8), pp. 2245-2256. ICES: Retrieved from https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/bms-research/1951
