7th GEF Biennial International Waters Conference in Barbados Presentation on ecosystem approach as a framework for management of ecosystem use by Rhodes University

1. Introduction to the ecosystem
approach as a framework for
management of ecosystem use
Kevern Cochrane and Warwick Sauer

2. Structure of the Talk

Part I
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
The global context;
What is EA – from a sectoral example to an
integrated multi-sectoral approach;
Intro to ecosystem services
EA Management and Institutions –
Responding at Different Scales;
Understanding the benefits and objectives: a
pre-requisite for proactive management –
the ASCLME as an example;
Conclusions.

3. Structure of the Talk

Part II

An example of a simple cost-benefit analysis
for management decisions using EAF

4. 1) The global context

5. CBD Definition of an Ecosystem
Approach

The ecosystem approach is a strategy for the integrated
management of land, water and living resources that
promotes conservation and sustainable use in an
equitable way. …It is … focused on levels of biological
organization which encompass the essential processes,
functions and interactions among organisms and their
environment. It recognizes that humans, with their
cultural diversity, are an integral component of
ecosystems.
http://www.cbd.int/ecosystem/

6. FAO Definition of
EAF
An Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries
strives to balance diverse societal
objectives, by taking account of the
knowledge and uncertainties about
biotic, abiotic and human components
of ecosystems and their interactions
and applying an integrated approach
to fisheries within ecologically
meaningful boundaries. (FAO, 2003)

7. FAO Code of Conduct
States and users of living aquatic resources
should conserve aquatic ecosystems . The
right to fish carries with it the obligation to
do so in a responsible manner so as to
ensure effective conservation and
management of the living aquatic
resources.

8. 2) What is EA – from a sectoral
example to an integrated multi-sectoral
approach
Photo: ASCLME website

9. A Sectoral Example - the
Rationale for EAF
The purpose of an ecosystem
approach to fisheries is to
plan, develop and manage
fisheries in a manner that
addresses the multiplicity of
societal needs and desires,
without jeopardising the
options for future generations
to benefit from marine
ecosystems.
Including the full range of

10. The underlying rationale of single-species
approaches: the Schaefer Model
120
MSY
Surplus production
100
80
60
40
20
B0
0
0
200
400
BMSY 600
Stock size
800
1000

11. The ecological reality:

12. 3. The Ecosystem Approach to
Fisheries: Ecosystem valuation
JOHN JATOE

13. Ecosystem Valuation: an economist’s
perspective
The economic theory of valuation calls for the
computation of total economic values made up of
both use and non-use (market & non-market; extractive &
non-extractive) values:



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Direct use value;
Indirect use value;
Option value;
Existence value;
Bequest value;
Starting point for valuation is people’s preferences
13

14. Ecosystem services


Provisioning: the products obtained from ecosystems,
including food and fibre, fuel, genetic resources, biochemicals, natural medicines, pharmaceuticals,
ornamental resources, and fresh water;
Regulating: the regulation of ecosystem processes
including those relating to air quality, water, climate,
human diseases, erosion, biological controls, and storm
protection;
14

15. Ecosystem services


Cultural: the nonmaterial benefits people obtain from ecosystems
through, for example: spiritual enrichment, cognitive development,
reflection, recreation, and aesthetic experiences, including cultural
diversity, spiritual and religious values, knowledge systems,
educational values, inspiration, aesthetic values, social relations,
sense of place, cultural heritage values, and recreation and
ecotourism;
Supporting: the benefits “that are necessary for the production of
all other ecosystem services. They differ from provisioning,
regulating, and cultural services in that their impacts on people are
either indirect or occur over a very long time.”

16. Total Value of a Fishery Ecosystem
16

17. Introducing the importance of ecosystem
services to human wellbeing
constituents of well-being
ecosystem services
Security
• Personal safety
• Secure resource access
• Security from disasters
Provisioning
• Food
• Fresh water
• Wood and fibre
• Fuel
• etc. …
Supporting
• Nutrient cycling
• Soil formation
• Primary production
• etc. …
Regulating
• Climate regulation
• Flood regulation
• Disease prevention
• Water purification
• etc. …
Cultural
• Aesthetic
• Spiritual
• Educational
• Recreational
• etc. …
value
for
Basic material for good life
• Adequate livelihoods
• Sufficient nutritious food
• Shelter
• Access to goods
Health
• Strength
• Feeling well
• Access to clean air & water
Freedom of choice
and action
Opportunity to be
able to achieve
what an individual
values being and
doing
Good social relations
• Social cohesion
• Mutual respect
• Ability to help others
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005
17

18. water for food
water purification
flow regulation
water storage
fisheries provision
water supply
water storage
water supply
water conveyance
cultural services
water for energy

19. Healthy vs. Degraded approach
19

20. 






Some examples of “EAF Issues”
example 1: Benguela Current
countries
Bycatch of species that are important target species for
other fisheries.
Mortality to threatened sharks, seabirds and other
species of conservation concern
Limited knowledge of true biodoiversity and impacts of
fishery on biodiversity
Conflicts between industrial and small-scale fisheries
Impacts of trawls on the benthic fauna and flora
Increasing impacts on fisheries of offshore mining and oil
exploration and extraction
Environmental impacts (e.g. Benguela Niño and
deoxygenation events)

21. Recognising and Acknowledging the
Impacts and Interactions
Sector or Subsector
Ecological
wellbeing
Health
Human Wellbeing
Ability to achieve
(Social, economic, cultural)
Commercially
important species or
habitat
Local/Community
Governance in
Same Sector
Species of
conservation
concern
Sector/Subsector
Governance in
Other Sectors
General Ecosystem
Other Sectors
National
Impact of the
environment

22. Ecosystem approaches to sectors
in the broader EA framework
Authority for
Management of
Marine zone
Coastal zone
development
Offshore oil, gas
and mining
Agencies for
land-based impacts
Management
agency
for EAF
Conservation &
environmental
interests
Small-scale
sector
Large-scale
sector

23. 4. EA Management and Institutions
– Responding at Different Scales

24. What is management?


“The process of dealing with or controlling
things or people”
Risk management in business: “the
forecasting and evaluation of financial
risks together with the identification of
procedures to avoid or minimize their
impact”
(Oxford Dictionary)

25. 4.1.2 Scoping
[Fishery & area,
Stakeholders,
Broad issues]
4.1.3 Background information & analysis
4.1.4 Setting objectives
[Broad objectives,
Operational objectives,
Indicators & performance
measures]
4.1.5 Formulating rules
Implementation &
enforcement
4.1.6 Monitoring
4.1.6 Short-term review
C
Consultation with stakeholders
Management
Processes
i) Developing a
management
plan
4.1.6 Long-term review

26. Multi-scale Requirements of EBM
Governance Structure
Fanning et al. 2007. A large marine ecosystem governance
framework

27. 5. Challenges to Application of EA:
Institutional Needs in the BCLME*
Management structures

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

Stakeholder participation
Access rights
Management plans
Inter-agency cooperation
International (outside BCLME)
Information and research




Data
Research staff
Science and decision-making
Information dissemination
Legal
Monitoring, control and surveillance


Enforcement
Observer coverage
*From the BCLME/FAO Project on EAF
Implementation 2004-2006

28. Priority Issues for Implementation of
EAF the BCLME




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Lack of capacity is a major constraint in the attempt to implement
EAF.
All countries need a resource management structure that:
 is suitable for EAF;
 includes the main stakeholders; and
 encompasses direct involvement of stakeholders in the decisionmaking process.
In Angola and Namibia communications with the oil industry and
marine diamond mining respectively must be improved.
Improved capacity for long-term ecosystem monitoring, placement
of scientific observers and improved data management are required.
Angola requires:
 improved surveillance and compliance;
 a suitable system of access rights for the artisanal fisheries
Inadequate capacity should not preclude the implementation of EAF
measures.
Single species approaches are an essential component of the
fisheries management but need to be broadened for EAF.

29. ASCLME
Agulhas & Somali Current
Large Marine Ecosystems Project
Understanding the benefits and
objectives: a pre-requisite for proactive
management – the ASCLME as an
example

30. ASCLME
Agulhas & Somali Current
Large Marine Ecosystems Project
Biodiversity & Tourism
Again complicated interactions – The
Case of the Mozambique Channel
Subsistence & fisheries
The beneficial uses of natural goods and services of the
Mozambique Channel are dependent on the ecosystem

31. Jacquet, J. L. and Zeller, D. 2007
ASCLME
Agulhas & Somali Current
Large Marine Ecosystems Project
Mozambique catch reconstructions for the small-scale fisheries sector, industrial sector
and estimates of total industrial catch including discards, 1950-2004.

32. ASCLME
Agulhas & Somali Current
Large Marine Ecosystems Project
The value of “Small Scale” vs. Large
Scale/Industrialised Fisheries
This graph compares
small-scale with large-scale
fisheries on a global basis.
It probably underestimates
the role of small-scale
fisheries. Also, we would
achieve most stated aims
of fisheries management
plans (particularly their
social aims) by dedicated
access arrangement for
small scale fisheries. (But,
of course, we must leave
enough fish for the rest of
the ecosystem to function
and to meet to challenges
of global warming).
FISHERY
BENEFITS
Number of fishers
employed
Annual catch of marine
fis h for human
consumption
Capital cost of each job
on fishing vessels
Annual catch of marine
fish for industrial
reduction to meal and
oil, etc.
Annual fuel oil
consumption
Fish caught per tonne of
fuel consumed
Fishers employed
for each $1 million
invested in fishing
vessels
LARGE SCALE
SMALL SCALE
about ½ million
over 12 million
about 29 million tonnes
about 24 million tonnes
$250 - $2,500
$30,000 - $300,000
Almost none
about 22 million tonnes
14 – 19 million tonnes
=
2 – 5 tonnes
5 - 30
Fish and invertebrates
discarded at sea
1 – 3 million tonnes
=
10 – 20 tonnes
500 – 4,000
L ittle
10-20 million tonnes

33. ASCLME
Agulhas & Somali Current
Large Marine Ecosystems Project
And understanding the value and
Importance of Coral Reefs in the
ASCLME Region
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
Supporting
Primary and
Secondary
production
Nutrient
cycling
Foundation
resources that
sustain other
goods and
services
Provisioning
Food
Materials
Medicines
Waterways
Regulating
Carbon sequestration
Seawater buffering
Climate regulation
Coastal protection
Disease/pest control
Cultural
Recreation
Spiritual
Aesthetic
Educational
In real terms - for coastal communities – reefs
provide:
 Food Security
 Security of Livelihoods (Income)
 Protection for the community (from storm
surge, tsunami, etc)
 Materials (coral sand for building)
 Transportation (channels)
 Recreational opportunities
 Cultural sustainability
Climate Change and other
Pressures will require
adaptive measures not only
focusing on management
of reefs but also with a focus
on the associated coastal
communities

34. ASCLME
Agulhas & Somali Current
Large Marine Ecosystems Project
Adaptive Management Requirements
The WIO LME Perspective
Understanding the Value of the Ecosystem
 What are various ecosystem services worth?
 What do these ecosystem services represent
to the WIO countries in terms of jobs and
salaries?
 How can the region achieve the full economic
potential of ecosystem goods and services
whilst maintaining their sustainability?

35. ASCLME
Agulhas & Somali Current
Large Marine Ecosystems Project
VALUE OF MARINE AND
COASTAL RESOURCES OF WIO
The ASCLME/SWIOFP joint Cost Benefit Analysis has
estimated that the coastal and marine resources of the
ASCLME region contribute almost US$22.4 billion a
year to the GDP of the countries of region. Coastal
tourism contributed the largest to GDP at over US$11
billion a year, followed by fisheries, coastal agriculture
and forestry
The fisheries of the ASCLME are estimated to
generate a resource rent of just about US$68 million
per year currently, of which about US$59 million are
generated by ASCLME countries and the remainder by

36. ASCLME
Agulhas & Somali Current
Large Marine Ecosystems Project
VALUE OF MARINE AND
COASTAL RESOURCES OF WIO
The fisheries of the ASCLME are estimated to support
almost 6 million workers, generating wages of about
US$366 million per year. On the other hand, owners of
fishing capital earn normal profits of US$60 million per
year
Rebuilding and effectively managing fisheries of the
ASCLME could result in annual gains in economic rent
of US$ 221 million while wages and economic impact
are likely to increase by US$10 million and $43 million
per year, respectively

37. ASCLME
Agulhas & Somali Current
Large Marine Ecosystems Project
Outputs from the original Round-Table in
Grahamstown June 2011

Limited numbers of scientists/social scientists/economists represents
a long–term risk
 Findings need to be packaged for the private sector (e.g. fishing
industry) as well as governments
 Political regime-change needs re-education (because of 5 year political
cycles). Continuity lies in middle to senior management

Different levels of confidence are required for decisions at different
scales (e.g. national or regional)

38. ASCLME
Agulhas & Somali Current
Large Marine Ecosystems Project
Round-Table Discussion – Bridging
the Disconnect
It was understood that often results are not entirely conclusive
and there is a tendency to want to do more studies on the same
topic to refine the conclusions (achieving reliable Confidence
Limits)
In terms of Marine Ecosystem management we need to embrace
the Precautionary Approach, but we need to go further and
develop a mechanism that can arrive at a ‘Weight of Evidence’
related to evolving ‘trends” in data and conclusions that is:
A. Accepted by peers to be reliable enough to guide
management decisions and..
B. Upon which decision-makers can act immediately while
accepting that the information may need further ‘finetuning’
One very real challenge will be developing the skill-set that can
define the reliable ‘Weight of Evidence’ and can translate existing
science into ‘Confident’ advice for policy-makers and managers

39. ASCLME
Agulhas & Somali Current
Large Marine Ecosystems Project
The Adaptive Management
approach
A MORE DYNAMIC MANAGEMENT APPROACH
One possible approach that was discussed at the Grahamstown Round-Table:
A. Moving immediately from the Precautionary approach to identify
appropriate Indicators that will provide an early ‘indication’ of trends
B.
Seek to establish a Weight-of-Evidence that scientists and their peers feel
comfortable in agreeing defines a clear indication or trend - and which
can give managers and policy-makers sufficient confidence upon which to
act (even if not 95% certain)
C.
Use this WoE to initiate predictive modelling to support conclusions and
upon which to compare continued monitoring of Indicators
D.
Fine-tune models and guidance to Managers and Policy-Makers as move
toward acceptable confidence limits

40. ASCLME
Agulhas & Somali Current
Large Marine Ecosystems Project
The Advantages to the
Policy-makers
A. This approach will take decision-making beyond the
‘precautionary’ approach which is often seen as
being based more on supposition than strong
evidence and which therefore leaves policy-makers
feeling vulnerable and indecisive
B. It will also provide senior government leaders at the
economic/finance level and management level with
clearer guidance on where to prioritise activities and
funding in terms of both immediate management
needs and further research (this also extends to the
funding agencies of course)

41. Conclusions



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The recent awareness of importance of EA recognises
interactions and impacts between different human
sectors and ecosystem
Implementation of EA builds on sectoral approaches but
requires addition of wider knowledge and encompassing
institutions
Optimal use of natural resources requires that negative
impacts and conflicts are addressed and resolved: this
requires compromises and trade-offs
Best-available information on ecological, social and
economic costs and benefits of activities and decisions
affecting activities important for wise decision-making.
Economic valuations contribute to that information.

42. Part II. An example of a
simple cost-benefit analysis
for management decisions
using EAF

43. Distribution of Benefits and Costs

Distributional aspects:
…To whom do the various benefits and costs accrue?
 A major consideration in EAF implementation is the question of
who receives the benefits and who incurs the costs of that
implementation

Inter-temporal aspects:
…When do the various benefits and costs occur?


e.g., benefits realized in long term, but costs arising in the short
term.
immediate realities (e.g., annual food supply, electoral time
frame) that affect or constrain the reality of EAF implementation.
43

44. The challenge

The goal must be to:


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evaluate the costs and benefits of different
management choices to achieve specific
objectives;
select the measure or measures that give the
greatest benefits for the lowest costs (taking
distribution into account); and
integrate across the full set of management
measures being applied to ensure consistency
and complementarity;
Implement, monitor and adapt as necessary

45. Selecting New or Modifying
Management Measures
Agree on Broad
Objectives for Fishery
Implement
Select Optimal
Measures
Consider Costs & Benefits
of Management Options
for all Objectives
Identify Issues
For Action
Prioritise Issues
Consider Management
Measures to Address
Priority Issues

46. A Simple Scoring Approach as
an Example

47. The Angolan Artisanal Fishery – Broad
Objectives

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Maintain biomass of important at productive levels.
Minimize impact on juvenile or undersized fish.
Minimize impacts on threatened, protected species.
Minimize impacts on coastal communities and ecosystems.
Maintain or increase the supply of good-quality fish to the
population.
Contribute to poverty alleviation through the increase of
opportunities for employment
Increase equity in the distribution of employment and income
Maximize the contribution of the fishery to the national
economy, especially coastal provinces

48. Cost-Benefit of By-catch limits in Angola Trawl Fishery
Objective
Comments / rationale on the Effects of
the Proposed Management Response
Short term
Long term
Will contribute via reduction of mortality
Minimize impacts of bottom trawl fishery on threatened,
protected or vulnerable species (sea turtles, sharks, marine
mammals, other);
Reduction of by-catch will reduce impact
To contribute to poverty alleviation through the increase of
opportunities of employment in the fisheries extractive sector
and in the fish processing industry in the coastal provinces;
Indirect effect, via recovered stocks
To promote reliable supply of fish products to the population, at
accessible prices;
Indirect effect, via recovered stocks
To promote equity in the distribution of employment and income
among the regions of the country and in the coastal provinces;
Indirect effect, via recovered stocks
0
3
0
1
0
3
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
0
0
2
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
1
2
1
3
1
5
1
17
No effect
Maximize long-term economic benefits from the fishery;
1
Indirect effect, via recovered stocks
To promote the development of the industrial productive
fisheries sector;
0
No effect
Minimize impacts of bottom trawling on bottom substrate;
Benefit
0
Maintain demersal community structure in terms of size structure
and species composition;
Cost
0
Will contribute via reduction of mortality
Benefit
0
Restore biomass of commercially important demersal species to
optimal levels of productivity;
Cost
Total Cost - Benefit

49. Some Potential Management Actions for the
Angolan Artisanal Fishery
Management and MCS
Bycatch and Gear
Social and Economic Issues

50. Benefit Cost Estimators for EAF
Management Actions – Angolan Artisanal
Fishery

51. Conclusions




Governance and management need to be
adaptive: monitoring performance in the system
and adapting management measures to
maximise chances of achieving objectives.
Every management decision is likely to have
costs and benefits which may differ for different
stakeholders
Careful consideration must be given to costs and
benefits to ensure optimal decisions
Economic valuation is an important tool in this
regard

52. Thank You