Policy drivers for seabed mapping

Evanthia Karpouzli

Marine Ecological Adviser

Scottish Executive

Policy Drivers aquatic environmentPolicy Drivers aquatic environmentPolicy Drivers aquatic environmentPolicy Drivers aquatic environment

Natural resource mapping (broadscale habitats, features, species). Commitments through:

OPSPAR convention Habitats and Birds Directives Water Framework Directive

Monitoring (achieving good environmental status, favourable conservation status etc)

All the above plus EU Marine Strategy and proposed Marine directive Biodiversity Action Plans

Policy Drivers aquatic environmentPolicy Drivers aquatic environmentPolicy Drivers aquatic environmentPolicy Drivers aquatic environment

Inform decision-making and planning The Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (specific

biodiversity duty) Strategic Environmental Assessments Environmental Impact Assessments Inshore Fishing Act (management and compliance) Marine Spatial Planning (shared framework across UK waters) Considering new legislation for Scotland Oil spill contingency, risk assessment

Long term monitoring. Identify impacts on habitats and changes, identify trends and change Scotland's Climate Change programme. Contribute data and evidence to the MCCIP Marine Environment Change Network

Policy Drivers aquatic environmentPolicy Drivers aquatic environmentPolicy Drivers aquatic environmentPolicy Drivers aquatic environment

Identifying gaps in knowledge / data. Better coordination, avoid duplication Scotland committed to a coordinated UK-wide marine information

network Eg. Marine Data and Information Partnership (MDIP) The joint UK response to the Review of Marine Nature

Conservation UK Seamap

Evidence based policy Justification for site designation Site management Justification for consents

Policy Drivers aquatic environmentPolicy Drivers aquatic environmentPolicy Drivers aquatic environmentPolicy Drivers aquatic environment

Overarching commitments through:

Scottish Marine and Coastal Strategy Coastal and Marine National Park

Scottish Biodiversity Strategy

Possible future drivers: Potential changes to legislation in Scottish marine environment

Establish an ecologically coherent and representative network of MPAs

Identify areas important for ecosystems and biodiversity

How can we fulfil these policy drivers?How can we fulfil these policy drivers?Step 1: data collection, map productionStep 1: data collection, map productionHow can we fulfil these policy drivers?How can we fulfil these policy drivers?Step 1: data collection, map productionStep 1: data collection, map production

Good quality accurate intertidal and subtidal maps of species, habitats, that complements information on activities on a GIS.

Resolution fit for purpose Collected and processed in a clear standardised way Good metadata available To allow for comparisons spatially and temporarily

How can we fulfil these policy drivers?How can we fulfil these policy drivers?Step 2: Data analysisStep 2: Data analysisHow can we fulfil these policy drivers?How can we fulfil these policy drivers?Step 2: Data analysisStep 2: Data analysis

Measuring extent (of feature and lifeform)Measuring biomass of vegetationDetermining spatial pattern and structureMonitoring change (spatial/qualitative)Legacy - lasting objective records of site

condition

ConclusionsConclusionsConclusionsConclusions Future opportunities:

For MESH to inform policy, improve basis for decision making and planning

Key: The continuity of such projects so maps are updated in the future Added value in seabed mapping products

Input in ecosystem models For example fisheries stock prediction using habitat maps and other

environmental variables Climate change models Operational tool in WFD Integrated use of data from different sources

Real power: detecting changes over time Standards and protocols required for collecting and analysing data to

produce consistent results which are repeatable over time