The Steering Group on Ecosystem Processes and Dynamics (SSGEPD) provides a forum for ICES Expert Groups working primarily on improving our understanding of the structure and function of marine ecosystems in the North Atlantic. The main aim of the Steering Group on Ecosystem Pressures and Impacts (SSGEPI) is to advance our existing knowledge on the relationship between human activities and marine ecosystems, mainly thereby estimating pressures and impacts, as well as developing sustainable science-based evidence to underpin advice and assessments.
While our understanding on the pressure and state indicators separately is relatively advanced, much remains to be done for establishing the operational links between these two aspects. However, this is essentially important, together with quantifying the effect of pressure indicators on state indicators, to support ecosystem-based management requirements.
This session will be used as a fora to communicate the most recent advances with targeted examples (e.g. from theory to applications) on the functional links between indicators of various human pressures (e.g., fisheries, eutrophication, contaminant and litter release, introduction of non-indigenous species, underwater noise) on marine ecosystem state indicators.
In this session, we will:
- set the scene on current policy priorities on pressure and state indicators
- illustrate the state of the art science
- help to broaden the science base evidence requirements set by the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive
