knowledge for ecosystem based management

@DickeyCollas

Providing the knowledge forecosystem based management.

Mark Dickey-Collas

Names & definitions

Inspired by Jason Link

EM

IEAIM

IOM

MSP

CMSP

CZM

EBFM

EBM

EAM

EAFM

EA

Balancing humanactivities & environmentalstewardship in a multiple use context

Pragmatic Ecosystem Based Management

Knowledge a familiarity, awareness or understanding

Assessment of everything? Understand everything?

Reality - assessment of priorities

Adrian Judd, OSPAR Intersessional Correspondence Group Cumulative Effects Assessment

Adapted from Voss & Schmidt

Applied science - wicked problems

Rittel & Webber 1973, Churchman 1976

Super wicked problems

1. Time is running out2. No central authority3. Those seeking to solve the

problem are also causing it4. Policies discount the future

irrationally

Why use ecosystem approach?

• Political need – international and national commitments• Operational benefits - trade-offs explicit, ownership of

process, spectrum of approaches able to adapt to complex challenges

Image: ICES

Higher order objectives for the marine system?

Icelandon route: Preservation of ecosystems & sustainable exploitation of resources

NorwayGood ecosystem health & sustainable use Regional MPs

EUGood EnvironmentalStatus, MSFD

CanadaNone

USANo butmany mandates Foran et al 2016

Envisioning objectives

Trenkel et al. 2015. Identifying marine pelagic ecosystem management objectives and indicators.

Partnership: fishing industry, scientists, eNGOs, policy developers

Trade offs & objectives – conservation & resource management

Conceptual model of the Pacific herring social–ecological system.

Levin et al 2016. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ehs2.1213/full#ehs21213-fig-0001

Just and safeoperating space

Scoping stakeholders

The clearer the scope, the better the outcome

Voinov et al. 2016

Adaptive & revisiting

Co-production of knowledge

How best to provide knowledge to reach/reconcile objectives?

I’ve got a tool, and I’m going to use it!

What’s the question?

Are we geared up to address applied questions?

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.

Veracity of evidence

Mixing evidence of differing integrity, sources & certainty

MORE THAN

Uusitalo et al. 2016. Exploring methods for predicting multiple pressures on ecosystem recovery.

Knowledge creation

Framework for interdisciplinary & transdisciplinary co-creation of the knowledge castle

Mauser et al. 2013

Engaging with society

Resource greedy &

messy

Society sets objectives…

Rice 2011

EU marine strategy framework directive

Images: EU & ICES

Indicators for management

Miloslavich, et al., GOOS Biol EOV http://ioc-goos.org/biology

Strong causal links between human activity creating pressures & changes in ecosystem state

DPSIR / APSR

Gimpel et al., 2013; Knights et al., 2013Greenstreet et al., 2009; Reiss et al., 2010

Setting reference points

Pressure indicatorStat

e in

dica

tor

good

bad0 high

maximum

?

other information needed to define acceptable pressure→metric

max change of slope

unsuitable indicator

From Trenkel et al., and similar to Samhouri et al 2010

Not always so clear …

Policy objective set but:

1. insufficient evidence to define targets & formal state assessment

2. links to anthropogenic pressures are either weak or not sufficiently

understood to underpin specific management advice

Shephard et al 2015

Photo: Icelandic Wilderness

Survelliance indicators

Shephard et al. 2015. Surveillance indicators and their use in implementation of the MSFD

take actioncheck pressuresreview knowledge

take actioncheck pressuresreview knowledge

Priorities for EBFM, 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

5 Stakeholder Involvement Use of Incentives

6 Integrated Management Consider Economic Context

7 Sustainability Acknowledge Uncertainty

Long et al. 2016. Key principles of ecosystem-based management: Fishers perspective

Researchers are people too

Bounded rationality in decision making

rationality of individuals is limited by information they have, cognitive limitations of their minds, & finite amount oftime they have to make a decision.

Image: tellthemisaidsomething.com/2013/

Reconciling objectivesNatural scientists nearly always suggest to use weighting

Dynamics of power & locations of decision making

What is ICES?

• Intergovernmental science organization• 20 countries collaborating to improve

marine science• Network of over 4000 active research

scientists• North Atlantic focus

ICES provides the knowledge/evidence for decision making.

“information, knowledge, and advice on the sustainable management of human activities affecting, and affected by, marine ecosystems.”

Building knowledge for advice

InformationICES data centre

UnderstandingICES science

Advice for managementICES advice

Application of evidence base

Consequences of catching fish on its own stock &management targets

Impacts of fishing on ecosystem,descriptions and targets

Consideration of priority pressureson ecosystem structure & function and consequences for societyICES Advice

CATC

H OP

PORT

UNIT

IES

Eastern Baltic cod

recr

uitm

ent c

hang

es

North East Atlantic mackerel

↘weight, ↗ maturity

North Sea herring productivity

FISH

ERIE

S OV

ERVI

EWS

Worm et al 2009

Conservation & fisheries objectives

FISH

ERIE

S OV

ERVI

EWS Conservation & fisheries objectives

bycatch mixed fisheries

fleet descriptions ecosystem impacts

ECOS

YSTE

M O

VERV

IEW

http://www.ices.dk/community/advisory-process/Pages/Ecosystem-overviews.aspx

Workshop January 2016Explored strengths & weaknesses of recent implementation of Ecosystem Based Management, focused on challengesfor cross sectoral approaches.

Marshak et al. 2016. International perceptions of an integrated, multi-sectoral EAM.

Ingredients for success in EBM

• Develop frameworks for implementation • Acknowledge power of/ownership between sectors • Trade-offs • Use whatever governance mandate exist • Find a honest champion• Use momentum but temper expectations

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 IEA 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 IEA science and its implementation.

Photo: Icelandic Wilderness

Samhouri et al 2014

For EBM, how we develop & provide the knowledge is as important as the knowledge itself.

As they leave the science closet, knowledge brokers need to be aware &empathetic to the arena they are entering.

Providing the knowledge for ecosystem based management

Thank you!

Picture: Icelandic Wilderness