Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Marine Conservation Landscape in Europe: Knowledge Support to Policy Implementation and Conservation Action

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Closing the Knowledge-Implementation Gap in Conservation Science

Part of the book series: Wildlife Research Monographs ((WIREMO,volume 4))

Abstract

The conservation of the marine environment is an important topic worldwide and in Europe alike. Marine habitats cover a considerable area of the European territory and offer a variety of ecosystem services for food, human health and livelihoods that are to be explored in a sustainable way. To adequately support initiatives to preserve the marine environment at the European level, a robust, geographically representative and reliable knowledge base is needed. In this chapter, we describe the general framework of governance bodies, regulation and knowledge support, production and dissemination initiatives influencing and informing marine conservation action in Europe. Although several constraints identified in the general literature concerning the knowledge-implementation pipeline can also be translated into the European context, we conclude that knowledge production and the network of initiatives and opportunities available for data and knowledge dissemination is well developed for marine conservation in Europe. We recognize, however, the need to increase coordination and greater harmonization of approaches, geographical coverage of data, and avoidance of redundancy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

AFS Convention:

International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships

AMAP:

Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme

ATEMP:

AMAP’s Trends and Effects Monitoring Programme

Baltic Sea Pharma:

Platform to reduce pharmaceuticals in the Baltic environment

Black Sea Commission:

Convention for the Protection of the Black Sea against pollution

BSAP:

Black Sea Strategic Action Plan

CG PHARMA:

HELCOM Correspondence Group on Pharmaceuticals

CLRTAP:

Geneva Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution

COR GEST:

Correspondence Group on GES and Targets in the Mediterranean

COR MON:

Correspondence Group on Monitoring in the Mediterranean

DAIMON:

Decision Aid for Marine Munitions

EcAp:

Ecosystem approach

ECHA:

European Chemicals Agency

ECOSTAT:

WFD Working Group Ecological Status

EEA:

European Environment Agency

EFSA:

European Food Safety Agency

Eionet:

European Environmental Information and Observation Network

EMBLAS-Plus:

Improving Environmental Monitoring in the Black Sea—Special Measures

EMODnet:

European Marine Observation and Data Network

EMSA:

European Maritime Safety Agency

EN-HZ:

HELCOM expert network on hazardous substances

ESAS:

Advisory Group on the Environmental Safety Aspects of Shipping in the Black Sea

EUSBSR:

EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region

EWG OWR:

HELCOM Expert Working Group on Oiled Wildlife Response

GES:

Good Environmental Status

GESAMP:

Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection

EHS:

GESAMP Working Group on environmental hazards of harmful substances carried by ships

WG 42:

GESAMP Working Group on impacts of wastes and other matter in the marine environment from mining operations

HELCOM:

Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment in the Baltic Sea Area

ICES:

International Council for the Exploration of the Sea

ICG 4PE:

OSPAR RSC’s subsidiary Intersessional Correspondence Group Delivering the Fourth Periodic Evaluation

ICG CTZ:

OSPAR RSC’s subsidiary Intersessional Correspondence Group Close to Zero

ICG EAC:

OSPAR RSC’s subsidiary Intersessional Correspondence Group Environmental Assessment Criteria

ICG MOD:

OSPAR RSC’s subsidiary Intersessional Correspondence Group MODelling

IMAP:

Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme for the Mediterranean

IMO:

International Maritime Organization

INPUT:

OSPAR’s working group on Inputs to the Marine Environment

JPI Oceans:

Joint Programming Initiative Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans

LBS:

Advisory Group on Control of Pollution from Land-Based Sources in the Black Sea

London Convention:

Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter

MAP:

Mediterranean Action Plan

MARPOL:

International Convention for the prevention of Pollution from Ships

MCWG:

ICES’s Marine Chemistry Working Group

MED POL:

Mediterranean Pollution Assessment and Control Programme

MEPC:

IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee

MIME:

OSPAR’s working group on Monitoring and on Trends and Effects of Substances in the Marine Environment

MORS EG:

HELCOM expert group on monitoring of radioactive substances

MSFD:

Marine Strategy Framework Directive

NORMAN:

Network of reference laboratories, research centres and related organisations for monitoring of emerging environmental substances

OIC:

OSPAR’s Offshore Industry Committee

OSPAR:

Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment in the North-East Atlantic

HASEC:

OSPAR’s Hazardous Substances and Eutrophication Committee

PA Hazards:

Policy Area Hazards

PMA:

Advisory Group on the Pollution Monitoring and Assessment in the Black Sea

PPR:

IMO’s Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response

PRESSURE:

HELCOM working group on reduction of pressures from the Baltic Sea catchment area

REACH:

Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemical substances

REMPEC:

Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea

RESPONSE:

HELCOM working group Response

RSC:

OSPAR’s Radioactive Substances Committee

SUBMERGED:

HELCOM Expert Group on Environmental Risks of Hazardous Submerged Objects

Barcelona Convention:

Convention for the Protection of Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean

WFD:

Water Framework Directive

WG Chemicals:

Working Group Chemicals

WG MARITIME:

HELCOM working group Maritime

WG STATE and CONSERVATION:

HELCOM working group on state of the environment and nature conservation

WGBEC:

ICES’s Working Group on Biological Effects of Contaminants

WGMS:

ICES’s Working Group on Marine Sediments in Relation to Pollution

WISE Marine:

Marine Information System for Europe

References

  • Anderson P (2014) Bridging the gap between applied ecological science and practical implementation in peatland restoration. J Appl Ecol 51(5):1148–1152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Angelstam P, Andersson K, Axelsson R, Elbakidze M, Jonsson BG, Roberge JM (2011) Protecting forest areas for biodiversity in Sweden 1991-2010: the policy implementation process and outcomes on the ground. Silva Fennica 45(5):1111–1133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arlettaz R, Schaub M, Fournier J, Reichlin TS, Sierro A, Watson JEM, Braunisch V (2010) From publications to public actions: when conservation biologists bridge the gap between research and implementation. Bioscience 60(10):835–842

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bainbridge I (2014) How can ecologists make conservation policy more evidence based? Ideas and examples from a devolved perspective. J Appl Ecol 51(5):1153–1158

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balme GA, Lindsey PA, Swanepoel LH, Hunter LTB (2014) Failure of research to address the rangewide conservation needs of large carnivores: leopards in South Africa as a case study. Conserv Lett 7(1):3–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Batista MI, Cabral HN (2016) An overview of marine protected areas in SW Europe: factors contributing to their management effectiveness. Ocean Coastal Manage 132:15–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bertuol-Garcia D, Morsello C, El-Hani CN, Pardini R (2018) A conceptual framework for understanding the perspectives on the causes of the science-practice gap in ecology and conservation. Biol Rev 93(2):1032–1055

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Charrier B, Abreu MH, Araujo R, Bruhn A, Coates JC, De Clerck O, Katsaros C, Robaina RR, Wichard T (2017) Furthering knowledge of seaweed growth and development to facilitate sustainable aquaculture. New Phytol 216(4):967–975

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • COM (2015) 478. Report from the Commission to the European Parliaments and the Council. The mid-term review of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020

    Google Scholar 

  • Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848 of 17 May 2017 laying down criteria and methodological standards on good environmental status of marine waters and specifications and standardised methods for monitoring and assessment, and repealing Decision 2010/477/EU

    Google Scholar 

  • Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook CN, Mascia MB, Schwartz MW, Possingham HP, Fuller RA (2013) Achieving conservation science that bridges the knowledge-action boundary. Conserv Biol 27(4):669–678

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cvitanovic C, McDonald J, Hobday AJ (2016) From science to action: principles for undertaking environmental research that enables knowledge exchange and evidence-based decision-making. J Environ Manag 183(3):864–874

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dicks LV, Walsh JC, Sutherland WJ (2014) Organising evidence for environmental management decisions: a ‘4S’ hierarchy. Trends Ecol Evol 29(11):607–613

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Directive 2000/60/EC of the European parliament and of the council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy

    Google Scholar 

  • Directive 2008/56/EC of the European parliament and of the council of 17 June 2008 establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive)

    Google Scholar 

  • Directive 2013/39/EU of the European parliament and of the council of 12 August 2013 amending Directives 2000/60/EC and 2008/105/EC as regards priority substances in the field of water policy

    Google Scholar 

  • EEA report 3/2015 (2015) Marine protected areas in Europe’s seas: an overview and perspectives for the future. European Environmental Agency. ISSN 1977-8449. 37 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • European Commission (2017) Commission staff working document, Interim Evaluation of Horizon 2020

    Google Scholar 

  • Fresco LO, Martinuzzi A, Anvret M (2015) Commitment and coherence. Ex-post-evaluation of the 7th EU framework programme (2007–2013). ISBN: 978-92-79-69546-9

    Google Scholar 

  • Gabrié C, Lagabrielle E, Bissery C, Crochelet E, Meola B, Webster C, Claudet J, Chassanite A, Marinesque S, Robert P, Goutx MCQ (2012) The status of marine protected areas in the Mediterranean Sea. RAC/SPA. In MedPAN Collection 256 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Geoghegan-Quinn M (2013) Speech: Joint Programming Conference European Commission Speech 13/170

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths RA (2004) Mismatches between conservation science and practice. Trends Ecol Evol 19(11):564-565

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • High level group of scientific advisors (2017) Food from the oceans: how can more food and biomass be obtained from the oceans in a way that does not deprive future generations of their benefits? Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg. ISBN: 978-92-79-67730-4

    Google Scholar 

  • Hulme PE (2014) Bridging the knowing-doing gap: know-who, know-what, know-why, know-how and know-when. J Appl Ecol 51(5):1131–1136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jeanmougin M, Dehais C, Meinard Y (2017) Mismatch between habitat science and habitat directive: lessons from the French (counter) example. Conserv Lett 10(5):634–644

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katsanevakis S, Bogucarskis K, Gatto F, Vandekerkhove J, Deriu I, Cardoso AC (2012) Building the European Alien Species Information Network (EASIN): a novel approach for the exploration of distributed alien species data. BioInvasions Rec 1(4):235–245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katsanevakis S, Gatto F, Zenetos A, Cardoso AC (2013a) How many marine aliens in Europe? Manage Biol Invasions 4(1):37–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katsanevakis S, Zenetos A, Belchior C, Cardoso AC (2013b) Invading European Seas: assessing pathways of introduction of marine aliens. Ocean Coast Manag 76:64–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katsanevakis S, Zenetos A, Poursanidis D, Nunes AL, Deriu I, Bogucarskis K, Cardoso AC (2013c) ELNAIS meets EASIN: distribution of marine alien species in Greece using EASIN mapping services and ELNAIS spatial data. Mediterr Mar Sci 14(1):95–98

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katsanevakis S, Coll M, Piroddi C, Steenbeek J, Ben Rais Lasram F, Zenetos A, Cardoso AC (2014a) Invading the Mediterranean Sea: biodiversity patterns shaped by human activities. Front Mar Sci 1:32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katsanevakis S, Wallentinus I, Zenetos A, Leppäkoski E, Çinar ME, Oztürk B, Grabowski M, Golani D, Cardoso AC (2014b) Impacts of marine invasive alien species on ecosystem services and biodiversity: a pan-European review. Aquat Invasions 9(4):391–423

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katsanevakis S, Deriu I, D’Amico F, Nunes AL, Sanchez SP, Crocetta F, Arianoutsou M, Bazos I, Christopoulou A, Curto G, Delipetrou P, Kokkoris Y, Panov VE, Rabitsch W, Roques A, Scalera R, Shirley SM, Tricarico E, Vannini A, Zenetos A, Zervou S, Zikos A, Cardoso AC (2015) European Alien Species Information Network (EASIN): supporting European policies and scientific research. Manage Biol Invasions 6(2):147–157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knight AT, Cowling RM, Rouget M, Balmford A, Lombard AT, Campbell BM (2008) Knowing but not doing: selecting priority conservation areas and the research-implementation gap. Conserv Biol 22(3):610–617

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maes J, Paracchini ML, Zulian G, Dunbar MB, Alkemade R (2012) Synergies and trade-offs between ecosystem service supply, biodiversity and habitat conservation status in Europe. Biol Conserv 155:1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ntshotsho P, Prozesky HE, Esler KJ, Reyers B (2015) What drives the use of scientific evidence in decision making? The case of the South African working for water program. Biol Conserv 184:136–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nunes AL, Katsanevakis S, Zenetos A, Cardoso AC (2014) Gateways to alien invasions in the European Seas. Aquat Invasions 9(2):133–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pérez-Espona S, ConGRESS Consortium (2017) Conservation genetics in the European Union-biases, gaps and future directions. Biol Conserv 209:130–136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phillipson J, Lowe P, Proctor A, Ruto E (2012) Stakeholder engagement and knowledge exchange in environmental research. J Environ Manag 95(1):56–65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Powell JJW, Dusdal J (2017) Science production in Germany, France, Belgium and Luxembourg: comparing the contributions of research universities and institutes to science, technology, engineering, mathematics and health. Minerva 55(4):413–434

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pullin AS, Knight TM, Stone DA, Charman K (2004) Do conservation managers use scientific evidence to support their decision-making? Biol Conserv 119:245–252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European parliament and of the council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European Chemicals Agency, amending Directive 1999/45/EC and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1488/94 as well as Council Directive 76/769/EEC and Commission Directives 91/155/EEC, 93/67/EEC, 93/105/EC and 2000/21/EC

    Google Scholar 

  • Snoeijs-Leijonmalm P, Barnard S, Elliot M, Andrusaitis A, Kononen K, Sirola M (2017) Towards better integration of environmental science in society: lessons from BONUS, the joint Baltic Sea environmental research and development programme. Environ Sci Policy 78:193–209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stephenson RL, Benson AJ, Brooks K, Charles A, Degnbol P, Dichmont CM, Kraan M, Pascoe S, Paul SD, Rindorf A, Wiber M (2017) Practical steps toward integrating economic, social and institutional elements in fisheries policy and management. ICES J Mar Sci 74(7):1981–1989

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • TEEB (2010) The economics of ecosystems and biodiversity: ecological and economic foundation. Earthscan, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsiamis K, Gervasini E, Deriu I, D’amico F, Nunes A, Addamo A, Cardoso AC (2017) Baseline distribution of invasive alien species of Union concern. Ispra (Italy): Publications Office of the European Union; EUR 28596 EN

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsiamis K, Zenetos A, Deriu I, Gervasini E, Cardoso AC (2018) The native distribution range of the European marine non-indigenous species. Aquat Invasions 13(2):187–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsiamis K, Gervasini E, Deriu I, D’amico F, Katsanevakis S, Cardoso AC (2019a) Baseline distribution of species listed in the 1st update of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern. Ispra (Italy): Publications Office of the European Union; EUR 29675 EN

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsiamis K, Palialexis A, Stefanova K, Gladan ŽN, Skejić S, Despalatović M, Cvitković I, Dragičević B, Dulčić J, Vidjak O, Bojanić N, Žuljević A, Aplikioti M, Argyrou M, Josephides M, Michailidis N, Jakobsen HH, Staehr PA, Ojaveer H, Lehtiniemi M, Massé C, Zenetos A, Castriota L, LiviS, Mazziotti C, Schembri PJ, Evans J, Bartolo AG, Kabuta SH, Smolders S, Knegtering E, Gittenberger A, Gruszka P, Kraśniewski W, Bartilotti C, Tuaty-Guerra M, Canning-Clode J, Costa AC, Parente MI, Botelho AZ, Micael J, Miodonski JV, Carreira GP, Lopes V, Chainho P, Barberá C, Naddafi R, Florin A-B, Barry P, Stebbing PD, Cardoso AC (2019b) Non-indigenous species refined national baseline inventories: a synthesis in the context of the European Union’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Marine Poll Bull 145:429–435

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy

    Rita Araújo, Ana Cristina Cardoso & Victoria Tornero

  2. European Commission, DG-RTD, Brussels, Belgium

    Nikos Zampoukas

Authors
  1. Rita Araújo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ana Cristina Cardoso
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Victoria Tornero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Nikos Zampoukas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rita Araújo .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Conservation Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany

    Catarina C. Ferreira

  2. Division of Environment and Natural Resources, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), Svanvik, Norway

    Cornelya F. C. Klütsch

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Araújo, R., Cardoso, A.C., Tornero, V., Zampoukas, N. (2021). The Marine Conservation Landscape in Europe: Knowledge Support to Policy Implementation and Conservation Action. In: Ferreira, C.C., Klütsch, C.F.C. (eds) Closing the Knowledge-Implementation Gap in Conservation Science. Wildlife Research Monographs, vol 4. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-81085-6_12

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation