KnowSeas

Client:	EC Environment, FP 7

assignment/short description

Knowledge-based sustainable management for Europe's seas (KnowSeas)

Europe’s four regional seas (Baltic, Black, Mediterranean and NE Atlantic) have suffered severe environmental degradation due to human pressure. Existing measures to manage pressures have proven inadequate and the EC has responded by proposing a new policy (Maritime Strategy Blue Book) and environmental legislation (Marine Strategy Framework Directive). These instruments rely on the ecosystem approach, a management paradigm that encompasses humans and the supporting ecosystem. The sciencific base for this approach needs strengthening and practical tools must be developed and tested for policy implementation. In particular, criteria for assessing costs and benefits of management actions are poorly developed, particularly in the complex marine environment where multiple uses and management conflicts are common. The KNOWSEAS project strengthens the sciencific base for managing Europe’s seas through the practical application of system analysis. The project operates at the two scales envisaged for emergent EU policy: the regional sea scale and Member State Economic Exclusive Zones. A new approach of decision space analysis is developed to investigate mismatches of scale.

Deltares participates in the Work package on modelling methods. Its contribution focuses on the relation between riverine inputs and coastal pollution impacts and provides a sound scientific basis for the management of such impacts. On top Deltares contributes to the development of the Ecosystem-Based Management System (EBMS). All KNOWSEAS tools are developed during the early project stages, tested for practical use in the regional seas and finally evaluated and if necessary adapted to the needs of water management practice.