Both Ocean Commissions called for ecosystem-based management … but offered few details

Core elements of ecosystem-based management (1)Place-based approach (2) Interactive and cumulative effects of human activities (3) Explicit tradeoffs so as to maintain ecosystem services The first book of its kind! Published by Island Press, 5/09

Marine EBM in practice Many places are implementing elements of EBM Few (if any) are implementing all elements Many are in planning phases of EBM Fewer have moved to implementation phases Few success stories (measured as a positive change in ecosystem health) From McLeod and Leslie 2009 Ecosystem-Based Management of the Oceans

Science is vital to EBM implementation but not sufficient 1.Create incentives for stewardship & collaboration 2.Build on small successes 3.Employ area-based management tools 4.Make trade-offs explicit 5.Develop a new mandate Morro Bay, CA Puget Sound, WA Chesapeake Bay

Concluding thoughts 1.There are many ways to move forward with EBM now. 2.EBM is not something extra, but rather a new way of managing human interactions with the sea. 3.EBM needs to be implemented over a range of spatial scales, from local to regional.

Land, coast, and ocean-based activities & impacts are changing marine systems Aquaculture Climate change Coastal development Energy development Fishing Habitat alteration Invasive species Marine debris Pollution Shipping No corner of the oceans remains untouched, and 40% affected by multiple drivers (Halpern et al. 2008)