Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
ecosystem functionality and accommodating an ever-increasing range
of sea uses.
40
Tolerable scales and patterns of exploitation are to be
established by reference to a signi
cantly enhanced understanding of
how marine ecosystems function, of the habitats and species of partic-
ular importance for their functionality, and of the type, number, size and
viable population levels that would be suf
cient to support their resil-
ience. Foley and her colleagues propose principles for the conduct of
marine spatial planning that are largely concerned with identifying, enu-
merating and then preserving vital components of ecosystems.
41
Although
these would require major advances in marine ecological science if they are
to be given effect, the authors see no dif
culty with proposing a decision-
making framework under which the principles would be translated into
'
.
42
Crowder and Norse also recommend an approach to planning that is
founded on knowledge of what places are of importance for ecosystem
functionality.
43
The aim is to conserve
operational decisions
'
by employing
'
the best readily available science
'
enough well-chosen places, com-
prising enough cumulative area, so that populations in these places will be
self-sustaining
'
unique places and representative examples
of all ecosystem types to a degree suf
'
and to protect
'
cient to maintain the biodiversity and
[emphasis added].
44
ecosystem services people value
'
ciencies in human com-
prehension of how marine ecosystems function can be recti
These passages display con
dence that de
-
ciently to allow a knowledge-intensive approach to be adopted. The
expectation is that, through research, it will be possible to secure
ed suf
'
the
maximum sustainable bene
ts
'
from marine resources
'
whilst ensuring
.
45
This con
appropriate environmental protection
dence is tempered by
recognition that there are huge gaps in our understanding of marine
ecosystem behaviour at present, and therefore of the need to take on a
precautionary attitude in deciding which habitats and species to con-
serve. Precautionary measures are proposed that are intended to provide
buffering for the scienti
'
c model of ecological protection by preserving
habitats and species whose core importance to ecosystem functionality is
40
For example see Foley et al.,
'
Guiding Ecological Principles
'
, 955; Crowder and Norse,
'
Essential Ecological Insights
'
, 772; Jay,
'
BuiltatSea
'
,80
-
1; Young et al.,
'
Solving the
Crisis in Ocean Governance
'
,22.
41
Foley et al.,
42
'
Guiding Ecological Principles
'
,959
-
61.
Ibid
., 962.
43
Crowder and Norse,
44
'
EssentialEcologicalInsights
'
,772
Ibid
., 774, 777.
45
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,
'
ASeaChange:AMarineBill
White Paper
'
(HM Government,
2007
), p. 18.
