Impact Of Marine Life On Economic Sectors

Increased use of the marine environment is creating new mechanisms for human induced-changes in marine life. The current and emerging pressures are multiple and interacting, including impact from transport, energy devices, tourism, exploitation of living resources, discharges, together with environmental changes (including climate change).

The EU project Vectors of Change in Oceans and Seas Marine Life, Impact on Economic Sectors (VECTORS) will investigate the drivers, pressures and vectors that cause change in marine life, the mechanisms by which they do so, and the impacts that they have on ecosystem structures and functioning, and on the economics of associated marine sectors and society. LEI, part of Wageningen UR, is one of the partners.

VECTORS will use this understanding to project changes in marine life, ecosystems and economies under future scenarios for adaptation and mitigation considering the introduction of new technologies and structures, new fishing strategies and new policy needs. In relation to the vectors of change, VECTORS will evaluate current forms and mechanisms of marine governance across the EU.

Generic understanding will be developed, applied and tested in three case study regional seas: North Sea, Baltic Sea and Western Mediterranean. This integrated understanding and knowledge will be synthesised to provide solutions and tools for the relevant stakeholders and policymakers, available for use and implemented during the lifetime of the project.

VECTORS will particularly focus on the causes and consequences of invasive species, outbreak forming species and changes in fish distribution and productivity. Various areas of interest will be addressed, including concern for marine life, biodiversity, sectoral interests and the interests of stakeholders. The project is multidisciplinary, including a mixture of natural scientists, environmental economists, policy and governance analysts and environmental law specialists.