TY - JOUR
TI - Structuring cumulative effects assessments to support regional and local marine management and planning obligations
AU - Willsteed, E
AU - Birchenough, S
AU - Gill, A
AU - Jude, S
T2 - Marine Policy
AB - Cumulative effects assessments are a legal requirement in many jurisdictions and are key to informing marine policy. However, practice does not yet deliver fit-for-purpose assessments relative to sustainable development and environmental protection obligations. The complexity of cumulative effect questions, which are embedded in complex social-ecological systems, makes multiple, methodologically diverse assessments a necessity. Using the expansion of marine renewable energy developments in European Union waters as a case study, this paper explores how social-ecological systems thinking and cumulative effects assessment theory can combine to structure CEAs that better support the management and regulation of maritime activities at regional scales. A general perspective for cumulative effects assessment is proposed to remove ambiguity of intent and to orient assessments towards a common objective. Candidate principles for practice are presented for consideration. These principles are integrated into a stepped assessment approach that seeks to improve cumulative effects assessments of localised activities relative to the information needs of decision-makers implementing the ecosystem approach.
DA - 2018/12//
PY - 2018
VL - 98
SP - 23
EP - 32
UR - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X18305256
DO - 10.1016/j.marpol.2018.09.006
LA - English
KW - Marine Energy
KW - Human Dimensions
KW - Environmental Impact Assessment
KW - Legal & Policy
ER -