Marine Strategy Framework Directive: Innovative and participatory decision-making method for the identification of common measures in the Mediterranean

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) is the European Commission's flagship initiative for the protection of the European Seas, and the first holistic approach to ensuring that European Seas reach and are maintained at what is called a ‘Good Environmental Status’ by the year 2020. Regional cooperation, especially between neighbouring countries, and involvement of all interested parties, are horizontal principles of the MSFD, and particularly apply to the definition of programmes of measures, the principal instrument through which each Member State will implement its marine strategy. This paper presents the results from a dedicated, participatory, structured decision-making process that was implemented within the framework of the ActionMed project, which aimed to bring experts and policy/decision-makers from Mediterranean neighbouring countries together, to discuss and agree upon common measures for implementation in their sub-regions. It shows that a participatory approach, supported by customised, case specific intelligent tools, that follows expertly facilitated, structured workshops can be a successful way to enhance sub-regional collaboration. The paper also presents the top ranking measures, selected by experts and decision-makers for common implementation in two Mediterranean sub-regions.     

From Scotland to New Scotland: Constructing a sectoral marine plan for tidal energy for Nova Scotia

Competing usage of marine space has prompted several coastal nations to implement marine spatial planning (MSP). While progressive governments promote the deployment of renewable energy technologies (RETs) in order to meet renewable energy capacity and greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets, offshore RETs become another player operating within a finite and already stressed marine environment. This paper applies the sectoral MSP process employed by Scotland to the Nova Scotia context in order to draft a MSP for the province's tidal energy sector. Applicable legislation is reviewed in order to establish the regulatory authorities with powers to plan for both the marine development and ecosystem protection agendas. The scoping process identifies suitable resource areas based on the operational parameters of commercially viable tidal current turbines (TCTs), while the sustainability appraisal identifies areas of cultural, industry, ecological, and socioeconomic constraint and exclusion. Plan option areas emanating from the applied methodology demonstrated a 238.345 km² (98.1%) increase in suitable TCT deployment area than the marine renewable energy areas identified in Nova Scotia's Marine Renewable Energy Act which did not undertake such a methodology.     

Benefits and impediments for the integrated and coordinated management of European seas

New multi-sectoral policies with a regional implementation are developed when maritime states recognise the importance of managing the marine environment under an ecosystem-perspective rather than a use-perspective. In Europe, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) is the first attempt to promote an integrated management of the seas from the coastline to the limit of the Exclusive Economic Zone. This paper shows that, nine years from the MSFD adoption, there remain several ecological, economic, social and governance challenges. Using information gathered in a dedicated survey of the European Union Marine Strategy Coordination Group and in the recent literature the paper identifies the obstacles preventing a successful regional cooperation and policy integration. The survey indicates that the MSFD coordination structures are, in general, well-developed but there is an apparent lack of political will to coordinate actions at the regional level. Member States request greater flexibility to implement the Directive but they put their national interests before the benefit of a coherent and integrated approach for the entire region. Differences in budget, economic sector predominance, lack of staff and the MSFD short time-scale are identified as the factors that can hamper cooperation. These have produced recommendations of possible strategies for optimising regional coordination structures which respect the subsidiarity principle underpinning the MSFD.     

Purpose,policy, and practice: Intent and reality for on-ground management and outcomes of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

Notwithstanding a complex array of international, national, and local policies designed to protect biodiversity and manage human activities, the condition of Australia's Great Barrier Reef has been deteriorating. This trend indicates that policy settings are inadequate or the right policies have been prescribed but not effectively implemented. This study aimed to determine which policies influenced on-ground management of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and Marine Park, how they were implemented, and the challenges encountered by practitioners in applying policies. The research required content analysis of policy instruments relevant to various jurisdictional levels, and surveys and interviews with 19 key informants across jurisdictions and agencies. This study found that policy intent is not automatically translated into practice: international agreements are interpreted and reinterpreted along the policy pathway to on-ground management and, consequently, the aspirations of these agreements can be frustrated and their effectiveness diluted. Due to limits of jurisdictional responsibility, practitioners within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority are constrained in influencing key factors that impact on their capacity to address threats and manage outcomes. The major policy gap affecting management outcomes was the absence of a mechanism with which to manage cumulative impacts responsible for deterioration of key ecosystem processes and biodiversity. These findings highlight that effective policy implementation is a challenging task, limited by gaps between intentions and outcomes, inconsistencies, and conflicting agendas. An improved understanding of the policy implementation process and the policy-practitioner relationship is essential to enhancing links between policy and on-ground management.     

Incentive policy for reduction of emission from ships: A case study of China

Particulate matter (PM) emissions from ships in ports are a major contributor to air pollution and smog in port cities. The issue of how to reduce PM emissions has become a critical concern for port city residents and governments. This paper establishes an incentive policy to reduce PM emissions from ships in ports. Using a Panamax bulk carrier as a case study, eight alternative approaches that could be adopted by shipping companies are compared and their operational benefits are estimated. By restricting the analysis to emission control areas (ECAs), the net present value (NPV) model shows that the diesel particulate filter (DPF) is the most advantageous approach with the highest NPV, while the exhaust gas scrubber (EGS) approach is the most economically inefficient. Meanwhile, due to DPF's excellent performance in PM abatement, it is suggested that governments should prioritize the DPF approach when promoting the application of emission reduction technologies. From the perspective of social welfare, a positive social benefit of about US $20,000 will be generated over the life cycle of a ship. However, a low government pricing in China will reduce shipping companies’ operational performance as the emission control zone (ECZ) gradually expands. As a result, an appropriate subsidy scheme is necessary to encourage shipping companies to apply emission reduction technologies.     

绿色发展理念下区域建设用海规划工作的几点思考

区域建设用海规划制度是我国海域管理一项重要的创新制度,该制度实施对促进沿海地方经济发展发挥了重要作用。党的十八届五中全会提出了创新、协调、绿色、开放和共享五大发展理念,将生态文明建设提到了前所未有的战略高度。在海洋领域落实绿色发展理念,是实现海洋生态文明建设的必然选择,也是实现海洋强国战略的必然要求。文章认为,区域建设用海规划实施过程中主要存在海域资源利用率低,部分用海存在盲目性;总体布局和平面设计不科学;功能定位不合理,产业特色不鲜明等3个问题。为全面落实绿色发展理念,文章建议从建立用海面积控制指标、完善区域建设用海规划编制技术体系、加强自然岸线保护、优化海洋产业布局、强化规划论证和审批工作、建立规划实施监管制度等6个方面做好区域建设用海规划工作。     

海洋中汞甲基化机理研究进展

甲基汞是一种剧毒物质,它的生物富集性和生物放大性引起人们的广泛关注。文章综述了甲基汞在海洋中的来源和去除、转化途径,着重对甲基汞的生成机理做了论述,并讨论影响甲基汞生成的(甲基汞反应场所、甲基化细菌、硫酸盐浓度、营养程度等)条件的具体影响机理。     

宁波市旅游娱乐用海适宜性评价和海洋功能区划完善研究

文章通过构建评价指标体系、确定指标权重、数据标准化处理和加权叠加分析,对宁波市旅游娱乐用海进行适宜性评价,将宁波市海域划为适宜区、较适宜区和一般适宜区3个等级;通过对比,宁波市海洋功能区划基本上对旅游资源进行较完善的利用但仍有不足;结合适宜性评价结果,提出完善海洋功能区划的建议,即提出应被划为旅游区的海域、可作为自然保护区和旅游区共同开发的海域以及可作为后备旅游区的海域。     

韩国京畿湾示范工程海洋空间规划的经验与启示

文章在介绍韩国海洋空间规划的发展沿革和编制流程的基础上,以京畿湾示范工程为例,研究海洋空间规划的编制方法,重点包括建立海洋空间调查和信息体系、开发并应用基于海洋生态系统的管理方法、设定示范海域的核心价值和目标以及促进利害关系人的参与等方面,为完善我国海洋功能区划制度提供借鉴和参考。     

山东省海洋经济发展前景展望

文章分析山东省海洋与渔业工作在海洋经济综合实力、海洋综合管理能力、海洋生态文明建设、渔业转型升级等方面有良好的基础,但也面临着海洋与渔业很多优势尚未发挥、新旧动能转换任重道远、体制机制亟待完善等问题。强调山东各级海洋部门要深入贯彻落实习近平总书记重要指示精神,把发展海洋经济、建设海洋强省作为牢固树立"四个意识"的现实检验,查找不足,补齐短板,勇于担当,积极作为,努力实现海洋经济发展走在前列。