Challenges in efforts to improve the marine environment
With the introduction of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, there is an increased focus on the management of the marine environment. The descriptors of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive provide an overall description of a good environmental status for different theme areas. In order to be able to assess environmental status, quality-assured tools must be developed that are based on scientific studies.
Priorities
The indicators of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive are important in the assessment of environmental status and for the planning, implementation and evaluation of measures. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management are calling for projects that focus on indicators and on the development of methods and assessment criteria within the framework of one or more of the following descriptors (D):
- D1 – Biological diversity is maintained. The quality and occurrence of habitats and the distribution and abundance of species are in line with prevailing physiographic, geographic and climatic conditions.
- D2 – Non-indigenous species introduced by human activities are at levels that do not adversely alter the ecosystems.
- D4 – All elements of the marine food webs, to the extent that they are known, occur at normal abundance and diversity at levels capable of ensuring the long-term abundance of the species and the retention of their full reproductive capacity.
- D6 – Sea-floor integrity is at a level that ensures that the structure and functions of the ecosystem are safeguarded and benthic ecosystems, in particular, are not adversely affected.
The methods/indicators that are developed must be able to be used at a reasonable cost. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management also welcome approaches that address, from a needs perspective, the connection between one or more of the above descriptors and the effects of potential climate changes.
Researchers who are awarded grants are expected to participate in the annual conference of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and to allocate resources for interacting with public agencies and other relevant actors.
Preliminary schedule
1 October 2013 – Final date for applications
December 2013 – Decision on funding
January-February 2014 – Start of project
Contact person:
Katarina Schough, Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
Telephone: +46 (0)10-698 1351
E-mail: Katarina.Schough@naturvardsverket.se