FAO.org

As part of the Science Plan developed within the framework of the EAF-Nansen Programme, a specific theme is dedicated to “Ecosystem characterization”, recognized as a crucial step for ecosystem assessments and monitoring.

From 21 to 23 August, 18 experts from several institutions attended a meeting held at the FAO HQs in Rome, aimed at identifying best practices for ecosystem characterization in data-limited areas, how they can be used and what they should not be used for. 

From the renewable resources perspective, information on main ecological characteristics, identification of bioregions and zones of particularly sensitive or ecologically important areas is key to the process of coordinating the planning and development not only of fisheries but more broadly of any activities at sea. 

These ecosystem characterizations will include past, present and likely future states of the ecosystems, taking possible development of pressures into account, with methodologies that will also include those for data-poor situations. 

Numerous approaches for ecosystem characterization exist, also applied within the Integrated Ecosystem Assessment frameworks within ICES and NOAA. However, the methods are typically developed and applied in data rich regions.