A hierarchical framework for assessing cumulative impacts for management; an alternative to large scale end-to-end models
Piers Dunstan
CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research
One of the forces that drives much of marine research is improving the management of marine systems. While there are clear examples of single sector management successes (eg fisheries in some areas), success in a multi-sector context remains elusive. This can be demonstrated through the general decline of many marine systems worldwide. There is an undoubted desire on the part of scientists to develop more complex models that better describe the dynamics of whole ecosystems with the stated purpose of improving management, building fisheries or conserving the environment. While these large scale models have a valuable scientific role, it is not clear that they are being used across multiple sectors or whether they fit the national and international policy frameworks which would allow their use in management. Research for management only works when there are discrete policy questions that can be addressed with clearly defined research and aligned with clearly defined objectives. Setting objectives has been less successful for conservation/biodiversity management where objectives are typically very broad. An alternative is a series of small, well described models to address simpler objectives that fit within a broader framework which allows a hierarchical approach to incorporating science into policy & decision making. We demonstrate this with a framework designed to address the cumulative impacts and potential risk within the Australian EEZ with examples to show how different models can contribute to an end-to-end approach to management. We show how this approach could be applied internationally within the CBD EBSA process.