Marine Spatial Planning Research Articles

Balancing conflict and opportunity - spatial planning of shellfish and macroalgae culture systems in a heavily trafficked maritime port

Ocean-based industries like shipping, aquaculture, and wind energy are growing at an unprecedented rate resulting in challenges related to siting and environmental management. As marine aquaculture and other ocean-based industries continue to expand, robust marine spatial planning analyses that reconcile existing ocean uses and integrate pertinent environmental and planning data are critical for identifying compatible locations. In this study, a series of geospatial analyses were used for aquaculture siting within and around a heavily trafficked and highly utilized maritime port in the San Diego Bay area of California, USA. Using a centralized geodatabase representing key aquaculture planning spatial datasets, recommendations for specific areas for aquaculture were developed based on appropriate environmental conditions for candidate shellfish and algae aquaculture species culture systems. Areas that were known constraints were first identified to determine potentially usable areas for shellfish and macroalgae (i.e., seaweed) aquaculture using an exclusion analysis, a type of multi-criteria decision analysis, to eliminate all areas without compatibility. Within the remaining usable area, we further considered shellfish and macroalgae culture system-specific factors within a ‘culture systems analysis’ to determine where different culture systems have potential for success. This analysis provides a foundation of coastal intelligence for guiding the aquaculture industry and natural resource managers towards appropriate siting decisions. This study can serve as a replicable example of aquaculture spatial planning approaches for siting sustainable aquaculture and other blue economy industries.

Bycatch-threatened seabirds disproportionally contribute to community trait composition across the world

Human pressures in the ocean are restructuring biological communities, driving non-random extinctions, and disrupting marine ecosystem functioning. In particular, fisheries bycatch, the incidental mortality of non-target species, is a major threat to seabirds worldwide. Direct bycatch data are often scarce. Instead, leveraging trait-based analyses with fine-scale fisheries data could answer fundamental questions about spatial patterns of bycatch-threatened species and facilitate targeted conservation strategies. Here, we combine a dataset of species' traits and distribution ranges for 361 seabird and sea duck species with spatially resolved fishing effort data for gillnet, longline, trawl, and purse seine gears. First, we quantify geographic patterns of seabird community traits. Second, we describe how community traits could shift under local extinction scenarios in areas where bycatch-threatened seabirds spatially overlap with fishing activities. These objectives allow us to highlight the collective contribution of species currently threatened from bycatch to ecosystem functioning. We reveal distinct spatial variation in the community weighted mean of five seabird traits (body mass, generation length, clutch size, diet guild, and foraging guild) are evident. Moreover, our results show that fisheries bycatch is selectively removing a distinct suite of traits from the community within particular oceanic regions. Specifically, fisheries bycatch is threatening species with larger body masses, slower reproductive speeds (smaller clutch sizes and longer generation lengths), and specialised diet and foraging guilds. The spatial non-uniformity of the community trait shifts suggests that within specific marine regions, communities have limited redundancy and therefore may have less insurance to buffer against declines in ecosystem functioning. Our extinction scenario warns that seabirds currently threatened from fisheries bycatch substantially contribute to community functional composition. Management actions that incorporate species’ traits and fine-scale fisheries datasets as tools for marine spatial planning will add an important dimension when evaluating the success of conservation initiatives.

First Russian experience of implementing marine spatial planning procedures in the Russian part of the Barents Sea

Marine spatial planning is widely used in coastal countries across the world. This approach is based on taking into account all current and planned marine economic activities and assessing their impact on all biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem. In 2013–2015, a pilot project involving the implementation of marine spatial planning in the Russian part of the Barents Sea was completed in Russia for the first time under the auspices of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to comply with the order of the President of the Russian Federation. The project yielded a list of environmental restrictions and proposals for each type of economic activity in the Barents Sea. These proposals were used by the Government of the Russian Federation to develop a roadmap to implementing marine spatial planning in the Russian Federation in 2015–2018 and prepare a report for the President of the Russian Federation.

Quantitative methods of marine spatial planning (environmental aspect) in the Far North and the Arctic zone

The study identifies and analyzes the dependence of environmental and economic costs associated with marine dredging on the total volume of dredged soil for the Russian marine areas in the Far North and the Arctic zone, as well as for the other, more southern seas in Russia. The analysis was conducted using a representative sample of over 300 dredging projects from the database of Eco-Express Service LLC, an environmental design company in St. Petersburg. The total environmental and economic costs were found to be directly dependent on the total volume of dredged soil, both for the marine areas in the Far North and the Arctic zone and the other seas of the Russian Federation. However, relative environmental and economic costs arising from dredging (per volume unit of dredged soil) are virtually independent of the total dredged soil volume within its entire examined range. Of note is that the relative environmental and economic costs associated with dredging in the Far North and the Arctic are 1.6 times higher than those for the other seas in Russia. The study results can be used for the information and analytical support of scientific research and management decisions regarding the development of Russian marine areas.

The ups and downs of maritime spatial planning in Portugal

Directive 2014/89/EU provided a common framework for MSP in Europe, aiming to promote the sustainable development of maritime activities. However, its implementation has been facing various challenges in different Member States. This paper presents the evolution of MSP in Portugal and analyses how the conditions set by the directive have been addressed, particularly in the environmental domain. The analyses are mainly achieved through existing literature and the positions taken by the National Council for Environment and Sustainable Development. Portuguese efforts around MSP started before the approval of the directive and allowed a valuable learning experience. The legal diplomas later adopted provided a framework for developing marine spatial plans with a more comprehensive architecture of the MSP system. While some issues remain in terms of meeting some of the requirements of the directive, operational procedures and assessment of MSP implementation, there are positive aspects highlighted with the entire presentation of the situation of MSP in Portugal so far.

Contrasting performance of marine spatial planning for achieving multiple objectives at national and regional scales

Although spatially explicit decision support tools are widely used in marine conservation planning, only a few studies have used multi-objective approaches to explicitly achieve biodiversity conservation and sustainable use objectives. Here, we use spatial analyses of a comprehensive environment-based classification (developed using Gradient Forest modelling) that summarises spatial patterns in demersal fish composition and turnover in the oceans around New Zealand, and a 20-year record of trawl locations (representing spatial use by fishers), to identify options for biodiversity protection that vary in their relative delivery of conservation outcomes and impacts on fishers. We also compare analyses carried out at a national scale with those generated by aggregating independent regional analyses. The top-ranked 20% of sites identified using fish composition data alone would on average protect 33% of the geographic range of each fish species, but would result in a 58% loss of areas currently fished. By contrast, using the trawl locations as a cost layer reduced average fish protection by 23% in relative terms, but loss of fished areas was almost eliminated. Using different weightings to vary the influence of the trawl footprint, a range of intermediate scenarios were identified that delivered greater fish protection than the fully cost-constrained scenario. However, these intermediate scenarios resulted in greater reductions in the area retained for fishers than the biodiversity optimised scenario. Aggregated regional scenarios delivered lower conservation returns and higher impacts on fisheries than comparable single national scenarios, reflecting the constraining of opportunities for biodiversity protection whilst avoiding overlaps with trawling. While stakeholder MPA design processes often occur at regional scales, our analyses demonstrate the value of considering both regional and national analyses to identify optimal reserve configurations.

Modeling the spatiotemporal patterns and drivers of Dungeness crab fishing effort to inform whale entanglement risk mitigation on the U.S. West Coast

Understanding and characterizing the spatiotemporal dynamics of fishing fleets is crucial for ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM). EBFM must not only account for the sustainability of target species catches, but also for the collateral impacts of fishing operations on habitats and non-target species. Increased rates of large whale entanglements in commercial Dungeness crab fishing gear have made reducing whale-fishery interactions a current and pressing challenge on the U.S. West Coast. While several habitat models exist for different large whale species along the West Coast, less is known about the crab fishery and the degree to which different factors influence the intensity and distribution of aggregate fishing effort. Here, we modeled the spatiotemporal patterns of Dungeness crab fishing effort in Oregon and Washington as a function of environmental, economic, temporal, social, and management related predictor variables using generalized linear mixed effects models. We then assessed the predictive performance of such models and discussed their usefulness in informing fishery management. Our models revealed low between-year variability and consistent spatial and temporal patterns in commercial Dungeness crab fishing effort. However, fishing effort was also responsive to multiple environmental, economic and management cues, which influenced the baseline effort distribution pattern. The best predictive model, chosen through out-of-sample cross-validation, showed moderate predictive performance and relied upon environmental, economic, and social covariates. Our results help fill the current knowledge gap around Dungeness crab fleet dynamics, and support growing calls to integrate fisheries behavioral data into fisheries management and marine spatial planning.

Conceptualising Marine Biodiversity Mainstreaming as an Enabler of Regional Sustainable Blue Growth: The Case of the European Atlantic Area

After recognizing the importance of marine and coastal resources and the use of marine space for economic growth, the European Union (EU) created and implemented a long-term Blue Economy (BE) strategy that supports the development of traditional and emerging marine and maritime sectors, aiming at the enhancement of Blue Growth (BG). However, despite the existence of a robust policy framework that supports the expansion of BE sectors at both an EU Sea Basin and state level, scholars have been sceptical as to whether the pursuit of BG adequately addresses the challenges that usually come with economic development, including those of climate change and marine biodiversity loss. Various frameworks for integrating sectoral goals with each other and with environmental goals that could facilitate the transition towards Sustainable Blue Growth (SBG) already exist and have been suggested and promoted by the European Commission, such as Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) and Marine Spatial Planning (MSP). They require the consideration of marine ecosystems and biodiversity and their protection as one of the BE sectors to be integrated via planning and management, which in turn requires the estimation of the value of ecosystem services and the spatial implications thereof. Nonetheless, there is little evidence or real-world examples on whether and how ecosystems, and within them coastal and marine biodiversity, are actually integrated (i.e., mainstreamed) when developing sectoral policies and planning and implementing economic activities at sea at various scales, i.e., local, national, and regional, and what the necessary steps and actions are that would facilitate such mainstreaming. By seeking evidence in EU and Atlantic Arc (AA) member states’ sectoral policies on marine tourism, ports and shipping, marine renewable energy, and fisheries and aquaculture (as promoted by the Atlantic Maritime Strategy and its corresponding action plans) and in the outcomes of the Interreg Atlantic Funded Research Project MOSES (aiming at valuating a Sustainable Blue Economy at the national and regional scale of the EU AA), the present article focused on understanding if and how marine biodiversity is taken into consideration by EU and AA BE and/or BG policies, strategies, and sectoral developments. Τhe selected sectoral policies demonstrate a good uptake of marine-ecosystem- and biodiversity-related challenges; however, at both the EU and the AA member-state level, it is unclear whether and how marine ecosystems and biodiversity are addressed as a separate BE sector. As such, we argue why and how Marine Biodiversity Mainstreaming (MBM) could address this gap, and hence it could contribute to planning, implementing, and managing maritime economic activities towards SBG at the Sea Basin level. This is demonstrated by illustrating the central role of MBM in enabling (and being further enabled by) the above integrative frameworks (i.e., MSP and EBM) and by presenting the key elements and actions required for such facilitation.

Adopting Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) using coral health assessment as indicator: A case study in Pulau Redang Marine Park, Malaysia

Pulau Redang is a marine park island that serves as one of Malaysian tourism hot spots harbouring clear underwater scenery of coral reef ecosystem. Apart from providing ecological services to marine organisms, this ecosystem appeal has contributed significantly to tourism development in Pulau Redang. Nonetheless, despite being gazetted as a marine protected area (MPA), the coral reef ecosystem surrounding the island is being threatened by natural and anthropogenic disturbances leading to coral degradation most predominantly in areas close to tourism development. Hence, this paper aims to identify the status of coral health in Pulau Redang as an indicator in supporting management decision to adopt Marine Spatial Planning as a tool for the conservation of reefs in the island. The coral reef datasets were obtained from published articles and a report as well as in-situ data collection through Coral Video Transect at two different areas classified as “near to tourism development” and “far from human activities”. Overall, based on published data and the present coral reef survey from 33 surveyed sites indicated that majority of the reefs can be classified as in ‘fair’ condition. However, reefs located in areas where there are intense human disturbances are found to be in ‘poor’ condition. It can be deduced that natural disturbances, such as the tropical storm in 2019, and anthropogenic activities from nearby tourism area are potentially threatening the coral reef. Therefore, an ecosystem-based and integrated management approach of Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is recommended in order to conserve the environment, promote ecosystem recovery while maintaining the socio-economic development on the island.

Making knowledge matter: Understanding and improving knowledge-integration in Dutch marine spatial planning policy

Lacking knowledge concerning the North-Sea's socio-ecological system causes the rapid increase of Offshore Wind Farm (OWF) development to occur under serious uncertainty. Optimising OWF development while minimizing negative effects on the socio-ecological system of the North-Sea thus requires holistic knowledge and its appropriate use in policy. Together with the pressure for OWF development, the subsequently rapid development of an array of scientific knowledge results in a dynamic and multidisciplinary knowledge situation, challenging the integration of knowledge, particularly between research and policy. To ensure policy is based on the latest holistic understanding, knowledge requires integration in strategic Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) policy. While the need for better knowledge processes is widely mentioned as a challenge for MSP, knowledge-integration in MSP remains understudied. This paper responds by studying the role of OWF-related knowledge in MSP while formulating a framework of conditions for knowledge-integration between research and policy in MSP policy and OWF development. These conditions are formulated based on knowledge management and MSP literature and subsequently applied in semi-structured interviews, document research, consortium observations, and focus groups. The case study used for acquiring data is knowledge-integration in Dutch MSP and OWF development. The Dutch maritime area is intensively used and faces important tensions over space due to conflicting stakeholder interests. In addition, while being an early adopter of MSP, the Netherlands also faces serious challenges due to high political pressure promoting Offshore Wind Farm development and a related need for maritime knowledge production. Together with the array of knowledge programs aiming to inform Dutch MSP, this provides a useful case to analyse knowledge-integration in MSP.The framework developed in this paper includes conditions for knowledge-integration ranging from the acceptance of differences between researchers and policymakers, to the need to employ interface managers who can develop a structural and effective knowledge-integration process. Fundamental differences between researchers and policymakers, such as differing timeframes, and differing views on uncertainty were found to form significant risks for knowledge-integration, as such influencing conditions. Additionally, the dynamic, long-term, area specific, and multidisciplinary context of MSP and OWF development was found to significantly influence the knowledge-integration process, underlining the importance of context for knowledge processes.

Hydrodynamic coefficients of mussel dropper lines derived from large-scale experiments and structural dynamics

The expansion of marine aquaculture production is driven by a high market demand for marine proteins and a stagnation of wild catch of fish. Bivalve farming, i.e., the cultivation of oysters, mussels and scallops, is an important part of the ongoing market dynamics and production expansion. As marine spatial planning is considering various use purposes, available space for near-shore aquaculture is already becoming scarce; this has fueled research and development initiatives to enable production installations further offshore. The highly energetic conditions at more exposed offshore marine sites lead to increased loads on aquaculture systems and their components and it is still not sufficiently understood how the load transfer from oceanic environmental conditions onto shellfish-encrusted surfaces attached to elastic ropes may be appropriately quantified. This study data gathered large-scale data sets in a wave tank facility, which are used to validate a novel, numerical model, building on the dynamics of rope structures which allows for the determination of the hydrodynamic loads transferred to the dropper lines. The forces and hydrodynamic parameters are measured and numerically analyzed. Based on the results, drag and inertia coefficients are determined. A drag coefficient of CD=1.1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$C_\ extrm{D} = 1.1$$\\end{document} and an inertia coefficient of CM=1.7\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$C_\ extrm{M} = 1.7$$\\end{document} are recommended to model shellfish-encrusted dropper lines exposed to oscillatory flows with KC =\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$=$$\\end{document} 40–90. The numerical model for the determination of wave-induced forces on mussel dropper lines is developed and validated using the experimental data. It employs a modified Morison equation, which takes into account the displacement of the mussel dropper line. The influence of varying aquaculture-related parameters is discussed by applying the numerical model. Based on the gathered insights, recommendations can be given from an engineering point of view concerning the optimal placement of mussel aquaculture within the water column.

Co-location of fisheries and offshore wind farms: Current practices and enabling conditions in the North Sea

Current expansion in offshore wind farm (OWF) development is resulting in increased spatial conflicts with other uses. In the North Sea, marine spatial planning (MSP) processes include co-existence strategies, with co-location between fisheries and offshore wind farms often discussed. However, current legal regulations and the lack of adequate scientific evidence to document economic viability of proposed passive gears, coupled with uncertainties regarding the implementation approach, continue to limit progress in developing co-location solutions. We synthesized current regulations and practices relevant to offshore wind farms and fisheries and conducted spatial-temporal overlap analysis of pot and trap fisheries targeting crustaceans in offshore wind farms to understand their potential for co-location. Our results showed the largest potential for co-location of pot and trap fisheries targeting crustaceans is located in OWFs that already exist or will be constructed until 2030. We also identified 1) gaps in fisheries and (OWF) regulations and 2) sector challenges that hindered the successful implementation of fisheries and offshore wind farm co-location. We discuss and recommend enabling conditions, including more science-based evidence on socio-economic and ecological viability of passive fisheries in offshore areas. Experiments on pot and trap gear safety and spillover evidence of artificial reef effects (AREs) are needed to inform the implementation of new safety distances and economically beneficial passive fisheries. Finally, we highlight needs for new insurance regimes and straightforward funding provision to support transitions to co-location and absorb the shocks from mobile fisheries displacement.

Stability Analysis and Environmental Influence Evaluation on a Hybrid Mooring System for a Floating Offshore Wind Turbine

Floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) are one of the innovative solutions to achieve net-zero emissions. Given that Taiwan has abundant wind power resources in its western waters and wind farms are evaluated as potential sites, a strategic emphasis on the extensive expansion of wind power is imperative. This paper chooses four different designs of hybrid mooring systems, comparing them with the conventional pure chain mooring arrangement in shallow water regions in Taiwan through integrated numerical simulations, ANSYS AQWA, and Orcina OrcaFlex. The use of synthetic fiber ropes in hybrid moorings provides substantial economic and operational advantages, making them the preferred alternative to traditional chains in deepwater offshore renewable energy (ORE) mooring configurations. Hybrid mooring enables the FOWT to survive in extreme sea conditions and is presented as the ultimate limit state (ULS) and fatigue limit state (FLS). In addition, hybrid mooring not only reduces mooring line costs but also minimizes the footprint area on the seabed, enhancing economic competitiveness and optimizing marine space utilization. However, it increases the entanglement risk that may pose a potential threat to marine mammals. Building on prior research, this paper proposes a unique approach to calculate the mooring line swept volume, which is essential for entanglement assessment and marine spatial planning.

Land-Sea-Interactions in MSP and ICZM: A regional perspective from the Mediterranean and the Black Sea

Land-sea interactions are relevant for marine spatial planning. Natural processes at the land-sea interface shape the terrestrial and the marine environment, influencing coastal and maritime activities in the area. Coastal and sea uses also hold numerous land-sea interactions, calling for infrastructures and services both on the land and the sea side. The concept of land-sea interactions has been elaborated and applied already in several studies. Notwithstanding this, application of land-sea interaction analysis within Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and Integrated Coastal (Zone) Management (ICM/ICZM) is far to be operationalized and still challenges the planning processes, with different countries approaching it differently, at different level of analysis. In this paper the Guidelines for LSI in MSP proposed by UNEP/MAP PAP/RAC to provide practical support to land-sea interaction analysis within MSP are applied in four case studies: Bulgaria, Italy, Malta and Montenegro, within formal and informal marine spatial planning processes. The Guidelines have proved to be flexible, scalable and suitable to tiered approaches. They were adapted to the specificities of different planning, geographic, governance contexts, responding to the state and the needs of MSP development in the different countries, including non-EU ones.

Exploring barriers to the implementation of geospatial technologies in marine spatial planning: Reports from practitioners

This paper aims to contribute to the current discourse regarding the incorporation of geospatial technology in marine spatial planning (MSP) by drawing lessons from some existing initiatives. MSP is a continuously growing policy field under extensive research, and geospatial technologies (e.g., remote sensing, GPS, and GIS) are well-suited for acquiring and analyzing location-based data for marine planning needs. However, the role, extent, and nature of geospatial technology in the MSP process remain relatively underexplored. Here, we draw insights from interviews with seventeen global marine practitioners involved in developing or implementing eleven marine spatial plans worldwide to understand how extensively geospatial technology-derived data is utilized in existing practices. We briefly discuss the potential benefits of enhancing this type of data in MSP and then highlight some issues that need to be considered when shaping geospatial technology's input into the process. Based on the interviews, these considerations suggest that we need to develop a more critical and deeper understanding of how various interests frame the underutilization of geospatial technologies in some regions of the world. Additionally, we explore how the interviewed practitioners view their role in shaping the practices of geospatial technology use in the planning process. These findings highlight the importance of several key issues raised in the interviews as barriers to enhancing the use of geospatial technology. We conclude with suggestions for what priorities that could support the future enhancement of geospatial technology in MSP.

Analysis of the Implementation of Marine Spatial Plans

The increasing pressure on marine ecosystems by various economic, social, and ecological activities has led to conflicts and a decline in the ecosystem's ability to provide marine goods. Marine spatial planning has become necessary for the coastal states to establish a more rational organization of marine space that integrates economic exploitation, social benefits, and marine environment protection. The beginnings of marine spatial planning date back to the 1970s, with successful initiatives in countries such as Australia, Ireland, Norway, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Portugal. In southern Europe, initiatives like SHAPE in the Adriatic Sea discuss maritime boundaries and national jurisdictions, whereas in northern and central Europe, licensing requirements for wind energy and other marine activities play a significant role. Conflicts with maritime traffic, fisheries, and protected areas have prompted the initiation of marine spatial planning in Belgium and Germany. The multidisciplinary nature of marine spatial planning allows for the sustainable use of marine resources and the reduction of negative impacts on the environment. Conflicts can be minimized by considering the specific interests and spatial needs of various stakeholders, and the marine space can be utilized more efficiently. This paper examines the implementation of marine spatial plans across various levels, ranging from small national jurisdictions to large areas like Australia. The authors emphasize the significance of utilizing marine spatial plans as a basis for the development of marine spaces. By analysing the factors that define marine spaces and their activities, both present and future, conflicts can be prevented, and incompatible activities can be avoided in the same area. The findings highlight the importance of proactive planning to ensure the sustainable use of marine resources and the protection of marine ecosystems.

The digital turn of marine planning: a global analysis of ocean geoportals

ABSTRACT Recent research highlighted the use and role played by digital technologies supporting marine spatial planning (MSP), especially geoportals. This research seldom considers to study an overview of the role of digital technologies and examines the digitalization of marine governance in planning. Employing a critical cartography framework and assemblage theory, we elaborate on the use of geoportal and public involvement in the digital turn of MSP. We show how the digital turn in marine planning is taking place at different levels depending on: the functionalities present on geoportals, the political support for MSP implementation, the regions of the world, and the level of plan development. According to the three dimensions of digital (marine) governance (Kloppenburg et al., 2022), we reveal that the role of geoportal in MSP is a part of the first dimension by seeing and knowing, sometimes the second dimension by self-engagement and in the most advanced forms of geoportal part of the third dimension by leading actions and interventions. In general, we find that the geoportal is more of a facade than a tool for doing MSP. The digital turn in marine planning is real but does not yet allow the public to be a real stakeholder in the process.

Environmental coastal research: a systematic review for Azores and Cabo Verde, two peripherical Macaronesian archipelagos

There is a strong link between humans and the coastal zone, as it provides important services and resources. This paper aims to determine the existing environmental coastal research status in the Azores and Cabo Verde since research is essential for any decision support system. Some tools are fundamental to ensure the viability of the marine environments, such as Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM), Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), which rely on existing knowledge. Effective implementation of marine plans can increase by developing a multi-perspective knowledge approach. This paper presents a systematic review of the archipelagos of the Azores and Cabo Verde through a comparative meta-analysis of the literature based on the PRISMA report to better understand the focus and status of research related to coastal zones, within and outside MPAs, along with marine spatial planning and management in the two socio-economic contexts. This will help to identify common issues, trends over the years, successes, and challenges, highlighting the specific interests of each country, identifying the knowledge gaps, promoting mutual learning, and pointing out possible paths for future convergence toward sustainable use of the ecosystems and conservation goals. Differences were found between the research made in both archipelagos, lacking research on important disciplines (reproduction, behavior, population dynamics, climate change, etc.), in Cabo Verde, compared to the Azores. This study also reveals that some research fields still need to be pushed forward to have broader knowledge in both areas.

Framing future trajectories of human activities in the German North Sea to inform cumulative effects assessments and marine spatial planning

The global industrialization of seascapes and climate change leads to an increased risk of severe impacts on marine ecosystem functioning. While broad scale spatio-temporal assessments of human pressures on marine ecosystems become more available, future trajectories of human activities at regional and local scales remain often speculative. Here we introduce a stepwise process to integrate bottom-up and expert-driven approaches for scenario development to inform cumulative effects assessments and related marine spatial planning (MSP). Following this guidance, we developed optimistic, realistic, and pessimistic scenarios for major human pressures in the German North Sea such as bottom trawling, offshore wind, nutrient discharge, and aggregate extraction. The forecasts comprise quantitative estimates in relation to spatial footprint, intensity, and technological advancements of those pressures for the years 2030 and 2060. Using network analyses, we assessed interactions of the current and future trajectories of pressures thereby accounting for climate change and the growing need for marine conservation. Our results show that future scenarios of spatial distributions could be developed for activities that are spatially refined and included in the current MSP process. Further our detailed analyses of interdependencies of development components revealed that forecasts regarding specific targets and intensities of human activities depend also strongly on future technological advances. For fisheries and nutrient discharge estimates were less certain due to critical socio-ecological interactions in the marine and terrestrial realm. Overall, our approach unraveled such trade-offs and sources of uncertainties. Yet, our quantitative predictive scenarios were built under a sustainability narrative on a profound knowledge of interactions with other sectors and components in and outside the management boundaries. We advocate that they enable a better preparedness for future changes of cumulative pressure on marine ecosystems.

Patterns and potential drivers of mesophotic communities of the warm-temperate Amathole shelf of South Africa

Temperate mesophotic ecosystems are generally poorly understood and in South Africa, few studies have analysed imagery from benthic assemblages in this depth range. This study used a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to survey and describe benthic communities off the Kei River in the Amathole Region of South Africa's Indian Ocean. The CATAMI classification scheme was used to annotate 215 images from 14 sites in the 30–100 m depth range. Multivariate analyses (Cluster and MDS) produced eight benthic communities and nine corresponding environmental variables were investigated as potential drivers of observed patterns in epifauna. LINKTREE analysis identified depth and substratum as the best distinguishing environmental variables and generated three groups that represent rhodolith beds, macroalgal reefs and animal forests. A major depth break was evident at 74 m that separated rhodolith beds and macroalgal reefs into the upper mesophotic and animal forests into the lower mesophotic zones. Information from this study is important for marine spatial planning and management and contributed directly to the delineation and zonation of the Amathole Offshore Marine Protected Area.