Department of Geology and Geoenviromment
Library of the School of Science

2024-05-20

2024

Paramana Theodora

Dassenakis Emmanouil, Emeritus Professor, Department of Chemistry, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens
Poulos Serafeim, Professor, Department of Geology & Geoenvironment, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens
Scoullos Michael, Emeritus Professor, Department of Chemistry, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens
Bakeas Evangelos, Professor, Department of Chemistry, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens
Karavoltsos Sotirios, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens
Karditsa Aikaterini, Assistant Professor, Ports, Management & Shipping Department, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens
Pagkou Kalliopi, Research Director, Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research

Integrated Marine Policy in view of Good Environmental Status (GES). Effective Management and Sustainability of the Μarine Εnvironment based on Βiogeochemical Ιndicators.

English

Integrated Marine Policy in view of Good Environmental Status (GES). Effective Management and Sustainability of the Μarine Εnvironment based on Βiogeochemical Ιndicators

The present doctoral thesis entitled “Integrated Marine Policy in view of Good Environmental Status (GES). Effective Management and Sustainability of the Marine Environment based on Biogeochemical Indicators” primarily advocates the necessity for integrated and effective management of the marine and coastal environment, and in doing so, it considers the integrated implementation of relevant legislation items as the main means, specifically the alignment of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive.
For the protection of the environment and sustainable use of marine resources, the EU has developed a rigorous environmental regulatory system including over 200 pieces of legislation and other forms of policy. Given their complexity, great effort has been made to manage the marine environment in a more holistic way based on the ecosystem approach as reflected in the EU’s overarching Integrated Maritime Policy.
To comprehend the potential for complementary implementation of the MSFD and MSPD as well as the degree of the MSFD contribution to MSP process, the thesis investigates the level of MSFD implementation in Greece, assessing the implementation of the first and second MSFD cycles using biogeochemical indicators, i.e., the biodiversity and contaminants descriptors; Descriptor 1 (biodiversity), Descriptor 4 (food webs), Descriptor 6 (seafloor integrity), Descriptor 8 (contaminants), and Descriptor 9 (contaminants in seafood). The analysis investigated the integration of the Commission Decision 2010/477/EU criteria and indicators applied to determine the adequacy of the directive implementation. Additionally, the consistency of the directive was investigated through a comparative analysis performed at the Mediterranean level for EU MS.
The potential contribution of MSFD knowledge to the MSPD implementation was examined through the second MSFD cycle, while the benefit of streamlining the two processes was supported by the analysis of measures. The ISO 31010 Risk Management Process was applied in the MSFD implementation context in Greece, focusing on the Programmes of Measures under Descriptors 6 and 8, to investigate the effectiveness of the measures. To achieve this goal, D6 and D8 relevant pressures and human activities present in the Greek marine environment were identified using an exposure-effect approach for evaluating ecosystem-wide risks from human activities, while the Bow Tie and LOPA analyses were applied.
The results revealed difficulties in addressing Biodiversity Descriptors. Data limitations as well as the absence of reference conditions and threshold values could only enable qualitative approaches, leading to the inadequate implementation of the directive. In contrast, for the contaminants descriptors, more detailed data and the use of thresholds allowed for quantitative assessments of the status of the marine environment, and thus, a partially adequate implementation of the directive was achieved.
The 2nd MSFD cycle was based on more recent data due to the operation of the national WFD Monitoring Programme, which enabled more extensive and up to date assessments of the status of the marine environment. Biodiversity descriptors inform MSP on the status of the Greek marine environment and allow MSP to decide upon the availability and use of marine space, whereas the extensive data provided by Contaminants Descriptors indicating hot spots should be considered in MSP to plan and regulate activities integrating the MSFD requirements. Τhe MSFD process provides robust knowledge and geographically positioned information that can fully support the various steps of the MSP process. Τhe extent of this support depends on the intensity of the activities taking place in the marine environment. It can be further supported that the more measures established for an activity, the higher the intensity of the activity and its impact, and therefore the higher and possibly longer standing the development of the related MSP sector.
Concerning Descriptor 6, the presence of cumulative effects and impacts is highlighted, while it was demonstrated that the established prevention measures cannot be effective in managing the pressures generated by the respective activities across the relevant sectors and in reducing the likelihood of Seafloor integrity being adversely affected. Consequently, the existing management measures are not considered effective overall.
Regarding Descriptor 8, the implementation of D8 measures can reduce the likelihood of the identified pressures generated by sectorial activities and address them individually. Nevertheless, the measures do not have the potential to reduce the collective pressures. Hence, in areas where these activities coexist and the pressures are concurrent, such as coastal areas, the suggested measures cannot be effective. Additionally, as transboundary effects can challenge the effectiveness of the measures to manage generated pressures and their impacts, measures need to be established at subregional level to face such transboundary challenges.

Science

Marine Policy, Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Maritime Spatial Planning, management measures effectiveness, Bow-Tie analysis.

Yes

3

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File access is restricted until 2025-05-21.

https://pergamos.lib.uoa.gr/uoa/dl/object/3399016