Ecosystem based management: why try to herd cats? Mark Dickey-Collas @DickeyCollas
Why ecosystem based management? to promote biodiversity conservation, and explore consequences of trade-offs in the management of marine ecosystems Marshak et al. 2016 In law, e.g. USA, Russia, Canada, Norway, EU, Int. treaties etc
Ecosystem based management – key words sustainable use management of regional human activities trade-offs optimize benefits among achievement of good diverse societal goals environmental status stewardship for consideration of future generations collective pressures See Convention on Biological Diversity & FAO guidelines
Generalised process
Pragmatic Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management Balancing human activities & environmental stewardship in a multiple use context
How does ecosystem based management effect our science?
Delivery of science for management “Place your order, drive around, and pick up the answer”
Tools – Choose them carefully Impossible to achieve realism, precision, and generality in one model. Model creation requires trade-off of one of these, often conflicts with the desire of end-users. Models are often employed without consideration of their limitations, e.g. projecting into unknown space without generalism, or fitting empirical models and inferring causality. Dickey-Collas et al 2014, Hazard warning: model misuse ahead
Data – quiz time. Who knows of the Aarhus Convention? http://ec.europa.eu/environment/aarhus/
Aarhus Convention, in force 2001 • The right of everyone to receive environmental information that is held by public authorities including state assessments, policies & measures (< one month) • Authorities have to actively disseminate information • The right of everyone to participate in environmental decision-making. • The right to review procedures to challenge public decisions Europe & central Asia
Think what that does to your approach to data storage and provision when provided as evidence for decision making Open, accessible, auditable, linked, equitable
Transparency of data & decision process Example: ICES Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems http://www.ices.dk/marine-data/data-portals/Pages/vulnerable-marine-ecosystems.aspx
Boundaries EBFM EBM Holsman et al 2017 & ICES 2016
Prioritise pressures http://www.ices.dk/community/advisory-process/Pages/Ecosystem-overviews.aspx
Example: EU marine strategy framework directive Objective: Good Environmental Status • step wise process ‘normative’ values • Images: ICES
Ecosystem based management uses indicators To assess state • To monitor progress towards targets • To communicate • Rochet & Rice 2005, Jennings 2005
ICES operational indicators include… Developing • Noise birds seabed impact • Litter • Bycatch • Fish size x 2 spatial fishing • Food web –guilds status of fish spatial weight & pressure • Zooplankton stocks value of landings • Sensitive species • Fish distributions vulnerable marine eutrophication ecosystem (VME)
EBM centred on people so social indicators • Well-being • Values • Agency • Inequality UN SDG14 Hicks et al 2016
Example: Mid-Atlantic USA State of the ecosystem Alaska community profile: https://www.afsc.noaa.gov/refm/Socioeconomics/Projects/CPU.php Mid-Atlantic: http://www.mafmc.org/s/Tab02_2017-04_State-of-the-Ecosystem-and-EAFM.pdf New England: http://s3.amazonaws.com/nefmc.org/2_2016-State-of-the-Ecosystem-Report.pdf
It isn’t so simple… with ecosystem based management • solving challenges – wicked problems • normative & vague objectives – Good Environmental Status • uncertainty, values & stakes - post normal science • science speaking to society - mode 1 and 2 science • knowledge brokers - salient, credible, legitimate, social license
EBM wicked problems ...thus needing iterations & consultations Rittel & Webber 1973, Churchman 1976
Entering the consultation arena
Priorities for EBFM objectives, list of 26 Science Literature Fishing industry 1 Consider Ecosystem Connections Sustainability 2 Appropriate Spatial & Temporal Scales Develop Long -Term Objectives 3 Adaptive Management Stakeholder Involvement 4 Use of Scientific Knowledge Use of All Forms of Knowledge Long et al. 2016. Key principles of ecosystem-based management: Fishers perspective
Bounded rationality in science & policy Rationality of individuals is limited by information we have, cognitive limitations of our minds, & finite amount of time we have to make a decision. Image: tellthemisaidsomething.com/2013/
Knowledge exchange among scientists and decision makers for adaptive governance of marine resources
Co-production of knowledge Adaptive & revisiting Voinov et al. 2016
Challenges of natural scientists working with stakeholders: power dynamic, values, cost of iterations, perceived objectivity
Example: ICES economic trade-offs Spatial analysis of economic value of seabed impact Process included exploration of Value landed when 10% of lowest fished area concepts with stakeholders removed (2012-2015) http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Advice/2017/Special_requests/eu.2017.13.pdf
ICES working towards an approach • Best available knowledge, data and tools • Quality control & transparency of all data, knowledge and synthesis • Engage with the users of advice to define the issues, understand interests, ensure that advice relates to societal choices. • Inclusive scoping process with other stakeholders • Promote industry-science partnerships http://www.ices.dk/explore-us/Documents/ICES%20and%20EBM.pdf
Engaging as a scientist in EBM via co-production • It will take much longer than expected, always frustrating, may not succeed resulting in great pain. • The dialogue will challenge our academic training; and we must learn how to work deliberately with what we perceive as imperfection. • Establish equitable partnerships; listening to others underpins our capacity to connect, build trust, adapt and evolve. • The drive for simple communication may result in misleading answers but as everyone is always busy, you need to reduce the workload on partners. Inspired by Beth Fulton, CSIRO, Rosa Barciela, UK Met Office, Marta Ballesteros, CETMAR
“ We fail more often because we solve the wrong problem than because we get the wrong solution to the right problem ” (Russell Ackoff, 1950) Thank you!
Issue of ecosystem variability and change • Carrying capacity & productivity • Density effects • Shifts in distributions & behaviour
Conservation & fisheries issues bycatch mixed fisheries competition for space fleet dynamics ecosystem impacts equitable processes
Knowledge creation Framework for interdisciplinary & transdisciplinary co-creation of the knowledge castle Mauser et al 2013
8 tenets for scientists, policy-makers, and managers (i) engage with players early, often, and continually; (ii) conduct rigorous human dimensions research; (iii) recognize the importance of transparently selecting indicators; (iv) set ecosystem targets to create a system of EBM accountability; (v) establish a formal mechanism(s) for the review of science; (vi) serve current management needs, but not at the expense of more integrative ocean management; (vii) provide a venue for EBM decision-making that takes full advantage of IEA products; (viii) embrace realistic expectations about science and its implementation. Samhouri et al 2014
Why ecosystem based management? Also it’s the law... e.g. Russia Sustainable exploitation of resources that does not damage the environment or ecosystem Federal law N 166-P3 20/12/200 USA Healthy & resilient, safe & productive, understood & treasured so as to promote the well-being, prosperity, & security of present & future generations. Executive Order 13547 Norway Good ecosystem health & sustainable use, Regional MPs EU Good Environmental Status, MSFD, and ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management' means an integrated approach to managing fisheries within ecologically meaningful boundaries, Common Fisheries Policy 2014
Recommend
More recommend
