Marine Ecological Valuation and us in Den Helder (The Netherlands)

1. Marine Biological Valuation (Expert Workshop), dec 2004, Gent, Belgium Marine Ecological Valuation and us in Den Helder (The Netherlands)

2. TNO Ecological Risk studies • Jan Tjalling van der Wal • Ecologist • TNO currently restructuring the organisation (from 15 instutes to 5 core areas; ca. 5000 emp.) • Expertise: ecology, ecotoxicology, databases, GIS Biological Valuation Workshop, dec. 2004, Gent, Belgium

3. Expert workshop on Biological valuation of marine ecosystems • TNO applaudes the approach choosen by the Belgian (Flemish) authorities to have this workshop. • As many MPA will be situated in locations that are difficult to control and will share boundaries with neighbouring countries, a broad consulting process will help to get the necessary support. • Support for the scientific underpinnings of the selected method. • Support for the following political process. • Support for the final Marine Protected Areas. Biological Valuation Workshop, dec. 2004, Gent, Belgium

4. TNO-MEPExpert Group QualityofWatersystems / Ecological Risk Studies • Focus traditionally on OSPAR region • Supporting authorities, industry and chemical suppliers • Cooperating with Authorities & International platforms (OSPAR, ICES) • Key area’s of expertise • Assessing the impact of human activities on • Water and sediments • Incidents and calamities • Benthic surveys Extraction & Nourishment Sediment management Offshore Wind Energy Water management Oil & Gas development and production Water Quality Mari culture Spatial Planning Biological Valuation Workshop, dec. 2004, Gent, Belgium

5. Work that TNO in Den Helder is involved with relating to Biological valuation: • Offshore Environmental Impact Assessments • Offshore Windfarming (planning permission) • Habitat mapping (e.g. the MESH-project, Sensitivity maps) • NEEBA-approach (Net Environmental & Economical Benefit Analysis) • Benthic survey Belgian Coast (sub- & intertidal) • Study on the vulnerability of marine ecosystemsTNO-MW – R94/174 • Study on the environmental risk resulting from calamitous events on a chemical industrial site (terrestrial): Nova Chemicals Joffre site, Red Deer, Alberta CanadaTNO-MEP-R98/019 Biological Valuation Workshop, dec. 2004, Gent, Belgium

6. Recovery after disturbance resilicience resistence eEquilibrium or “steady state” instable Disturbance new equilibrium time Biological Valuation Workshop, dec. 2004, Gent, Belgium

7. Vulnerabiliby of ecosystems high not vulnerable stable resilience persistent very vulnerable low low high resistance Biological Valuation Workshop, dec. 2004, Gent, Belgium

8. Recuparitive power Species • Life history • Ecological amplitude • Demography • Habitat boundaries Communities • Interacties species • Succession Ecotopes • Prerequisites(biotic & abiotic) Biological Valuation Workshop, dec. 2004, Gent, Belgium

9. Vulnerability of Marine ecosystems 10 Beach Upwelling area 9 Rocky shore Estuary 8 Continental sea Ocean resilience 7 Lagune ‘Landlocked’ sea 6 Wadden / tidal flats 5 Polar sea 4 Salt marsh Front area 3 Coral reef 2 Sea grass field 1 Deep sea 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 resistence Biological Valuation Workshop, dec. 2004, Gent, Belgium

10. Sensitivy maps Characterisation of PW compounds Characterisation of bio availability and toxicity Characterisation of Effects & Vulnerability Characterisation of impact Distribution of impact (scale / time) Identify ecological risks for organisms/habitats Characterisation of measurements Risk Characterisation To Remedy Selection Sensitivity Maps (benthic) ecosystems Biological Valuation Workshop, dec. 2004, Gent, Belgium

11. MPA’s, as suggested by The North Sea Foundation dodemansduim North Sea: Only Sand? Biological Valuation Workshop, dec. 2004, Gent, Belgium

12. Local Distant Temporal Long duration Once Repetitive Cumulative Knowledge needed Understanding of natural variation and the relations between the “biology” and physical & chemical parameters Biological Valuation Workshop, dec. 2004, Gent, Belgium

13. Creative management at Sea Building nature Creating habitats will increasing diversity Compensation thru improvement Multifunctional spatial use (e.g. shellfish culture) Conclusion Habitats not yet fully mapped Selection of areas=> Location specific management Time series and historical data necessary Cumulative “effects” of MPA’s unknown Awareness and Commitment of all stakeholders needed Biological Valuation Workshop, dec. 2004, Gent, Belgium

14. Final Remarks Increased use of the North Sea and the wish to maintain both economical and ecological functions sets a need for an Integral management approach for the North Sea • Identification of ecological important areas (habitats, feeding grounds, migratory routes) • Development of criteria for ecological effects • Development of sensitivity maps • International exchange of information & International harmonisation and Enforcement • Creative solutions for multifunctional use of space spatial planning Biological Valuation Workshop, dec. 2004, Gent, Belgium

15. Some thoughts regarding the subject on hand ahead of the discussions: • How to take account of existing planning decisions and economic activities. • What effect will the effect of MPA designation have on the local ecosystem. E.g. excluding present human pressures will result in (positive?) changes. It may also lead to higher pressure on neighbouring areas. How will that effect the MPA? • What action to take when the MPA develops unsatisfactorily (e.g. lower biodiversity)? • Continue not to interfere or start managing (gardening). Biological Valuation Workshop, dec. 2004, Gent, Belgium

16. Some more thoughts regarding the subject on hand ahead of the discussions: • Criteria used in the decision making process on the “where” of an MPA should be such that the expected resuls of the protection are known in advance. • How to keep a valuation free from subjective ideas about the value of something. • How valuable is a large expanse of low biodiversity (ref. deserts)? • What conservation goals are compatible or achievable given a certain human use? Please note that Nature is also a valid type of use! Biological Valuation Workshop, dec. 2004, Gent, Belgium