The importance of the ecosystem approach in the management of the marine environment

Abstract

The present paper focuses on the importance of the ecosystem approach (EA) for the preservation and conservation of the marine environment. Marine ecosystems are complex entities that contribute significantly to the sustainable well being of people by providing a wide range of goods and services. The economic benefits of these goods and services are enormous and to a large extent impossible to estimate. Thus, due to the extensive and irrational use and overexploitation of marine resources, there is a need for an integrated, holistic, sustainable approach to marine environmental management. The EA requires a deep understanding of ecological, economic, societal, and cultural interactions and is the ultimate tool for implementing and achieving sustainable development. It is the key to balancing the number of users of marine resources and stakeholders in order to promote the roles of the green economy and (sustainable) blue growth (e.g., maritime activities, fisheries, renewable energy, and blue biotechnology). The aim is to use the EA to optimize the benefits provided by the oceans while simultaneously minimizing the pressures exerted by human activities on marine ecosystems.