EASAC and JRC (Joint Research Centre) published a joint report “Marine Sustainability in an age of changing oceans and seas” on January 25th, 2016.
Though the European Union has already agreed on an Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP) and Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), scientific knowledge about marine environments is constantly evolving and many gaps and uncertainties continue to exist. It will be important for the European Union to be agile and flexible when integrating the scientists’ new discoveries in policy. It will also be critical to assess what level of human use and disturbance is acceptable. Equally, new practices such as deep-sea mining and marine renewable energy development need to be assessed in terms of risks and benefits, and this assessment needs to inform policy development. Sustainable aquaculture will also be a central area of research and development. Lastly, it will be crucial for the European Union and governments around the world to ensure that research on marine sustainability is sufficiently funded.
Professor Jorma Kuparinen from the Helsinki University took part in preparing the report as an expert nominated by the Council of Finnish Academies.
The report can be downloaded from publications
The English summary of the report can be downloaded here
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EASAC is formed by the national science academies of the EU Member States, Norway and Switzerland, to collaborate in giving advice to European policy-makers. EASAC provides a means for the collective voice of European science to be heard. Through EASAC, the academies work together to provide independent, expert, evidence-based advice about the scientific aspects of European policies to those who make or influence policy within the European institutions.