Response by Dauvin to correspondence by Christophe Luczak and Nicolas Spilmont on ‘Are the Eastern and Western Basins of the English Channel two separate ecosystems? Get back in line with some cautionary comments’

Abstract

The English Channel is part of the ''Greater North Sea'' sub-region in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. However, the Channel is characterized by hydrologic, oceanographic and biogeographic fea- tures that support its division into two main entities: the western basin and the eastern basin. This paper summarizes the Channel's main natural features and principal human activities to examine the similar- ities and differences between both basins. The differences between the basins support an ecosystem- based management approach at the combined basin scale, rather than the present approach of separating the France and UK sides.