Show simple item record

dc.contributor.authorAlexander, KA
dc.contributor.authorKershaw, P
dc.contributor.authorCooper, P
dc.contributor.authorGilbert, AJ
dc.contributor.authorHall-Spencer, Jason
dc.contributor.authorHeymans, JJ
dc.contributor.authorKannen, A
dc.contributor.authorLos, HJ
dc.contributor.authorO'Higgins, T
dc.contributor.authorO'Mahony, C
dc.contributor.authorTett, P
dc.contributor.authorTroost, TA
dc.contributor.authorvan Beusekom, J
dc.date.accessioned2015-12-09T16:26:57Z
dc.date.available2015-12-09T16:26:57Z
dc.date.issued2015
dc.identifier.issn1708-3087
dc.identifier.issn1708-3087
dc.identifier.otherart49
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10026.1/3900
dc.description.abstract

The sustainable exploitation of marine ecosystem services is dependent on achieving and maintaining an adequate ecosystem state to prevent undue deterioration. Within the European Union, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) requires member states to achieve Good Environmental Status (GEnS), specified in terms of 11 descriptors. We analyzed the complexity of social-ecological factors to identify common critical issues that are likely to influence the achievement of GEnS in the Northeast Atlantic (NEA) more broadly, using three case studies. A conceptual model developed using a soft systems approach highlights the complexity of social and ecological phenomena that influence, and are likely to continue to influence, the state of ecosystems in the NEA. The development of the conceptual model raised four issues that complicate the implementation of the MSFD, the majority of which arose in the Pressures and State sections of the model: variability in the system, cumulative effects, ecosystem resilience, and conflicting policy targets. The achievement of GEnS targets for the marine environment requires the recognition and negotiation of trade-offs across a broad policy landscape involving a wide variety of stakeholders in the public and private sectors. Furthermore, potential cumulative effects may introduce uncertainty, particularly in selecting appropriate management measures. There also are endogenous pressures that society cannot control. This uncertainty is even more obvious when variability within the system, e.g., climate change, is accounted for. Also, questions related to the resilience of the affected ecosystem to specific pressures must be raised, despite a lack of current knowledge. Achieving good management and reaching GEnS require multidisciplinary assessments. The soft systems approach provides one mechanism for bringing multidisciplinary information together to look at the problems in a different light.

dc.languageen
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherResilience Alliance, Inc.
dc.subjectecosystem-based management
dc.subjectGood Environmental Status
dc.subjectNortheast Atlantic
dc.subjectsoft systems methodology
dc.subjecttrade-offs
dc.titleChallenges of achieving Good Environmental Status in the Northeast Atlantic
dc.typejournal-article
dc.typeJournal Article
plymouth.author-urlhttps://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000353293900064&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=11bb513d99f797142bcfeffcc58ea008
plymouth.issue1
plymouth.volume20
plymouth.publication-statusPublished online
plymouth.journalEcology and Society
dc.identifier.doi10.5751/es-07394-200149
plymouth.organisational-group/Plymouth
plymouth.organisational-group/Plymouth/Faculty of Science and Engineering
plymouth.organisational-group/Plymouth/Faculty of Science and Engineering/School of Biological and Marine Sciences
plymouth.organisational-group/Plymouth/PRIMaRE Publications
plymouth.organisational-group/Plymouth/REF 2021 Researchers by UoA
plymouth.organisational-group/Plymouth/REF 2021 Researchers by UoA/UoA07 Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences
plymouth.organisational-group/Plymouth/Research Groups
plymouth.organisational-group/Plymouth/Research Groups/Marine Institute
plymouth.organisational-group/Plymouth/Users by role
plymouth.organisational-group/Plymouth/Users by role/Academics
dc.identifier.eissn1708-3087
dc.rights.embargoperiodNot known
rioxxterms.versionofrecord10.5751/es-07394-200149
rioxxterms.licenseref.urihttp://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved
rioxxterms.typeJournal Article/Review


Files in this item

Thumbnail
Thumbnail

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record


All items in PEARL are protected by copyright law.
Author manuscripts deposited to comply with open access mandates are made available in accordance with publisher policies. Please cite only the published version using the details provided on the item record or document. In the absence of an open licence (e.g. Creative Commons), permissions for further reuse of content should be sought from the publisher or author.
Theme by 
Atmire NV