Category Archives: biodiversity
OSPAR Intermediate Assessment 2017 – Launched!
After seven long years of work, today marks the day that OSPAR’s Intermediate Assessment 2017 is launched! IA2017, covering both status and trends across the North-East Atlantic, presents a picture of this important marine area and includes consideration of eutrophication, … Continue reading
Posted in biodiversity, Indicators, Marine Conservation, MSFD, OSPAR, Plankton, Policy
Tagged biodiversity, conservation, Indicators, knowledge exchange, Marine Conservation, marine policy, MSFD, OSPAR, policy, policy makers
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Why do policy makers need plankton taxonomy?
It might not seem intuitive, but plankton taxonomy is critically important to informing marine policy and conservation. At its most basic level, biodiversity is an inventory of the organisms present in an ecosystem. The recognition and identification of these organisms … Continue reading
Implementing the MSFD in Europe – an OSPAR COBAM workshop
In May I attended the OSPAR Intersessional Correspondence Group for Coordinated Biodiversity and Monitoring (COBAM) workshop in Marseille, France. OSPAR COBAM is responsible for leading development and operationalisation of indicators for marine pelagic biodiversity in Europe. The workshop focused on … Continue reading
Plankton and Policy at Challenger 2016
The Challenger Society for Marine Science is the UK’s largest marine learned society. Challenger supports marine students and early career researchers through grants and training opportunities. Challenger 2016, the biannual Challenger Society for Marine Science conference was held in Liverpool … Continue reading
Time-series datasets are crucial to delivering Good Environmental Status
We are on a mission in Europe to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) for our seas (Who cares about the MSFD?). As with many marine policy or conservation efforts, good data are critical to success. When it comes to GES, … Continue reading
Posted in biodiversity, Fisheries, HABs, Indicators, Knowledge Exchange, Marine Conservation, MSFD, OSPAR, Plankton, Policy
Tagged biodiversity, conservation, CPR, Indicators, knowledge exchange, marine policy, MSFD, Plankton, policy
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Force majeure: Will climate change prevent Good Environmental Status in pelagic communities?
North Atlantic marine species are responding to climate change in multiple ways including changes in species distributions (bioegeographical shifts), community composition and alterations to seasonal cycles. Plankton, with their short lifespans and sensitivity to their surroundings, are particularly responsive to … Continue reading
Who cares about the Marine Strategy Framework Directive?
Europe’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) is the most important piece of marine legislation that you have never heard of (unless you’re interested marine conservation). More encompassing than the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy, which is often cited in the news … Continue reading
UK House of Lords: Regional cooperation key to managing North Sea marine environment
The UK House of Lords has declared the North Sea marine environment under ‘severe pressure’ from human activity and blue growth development. The North Sea urgently requires conservation measures to reduce biodiversity loss from these pressures and protect North Sea … Continue reading
Bill to deal with Lake Erie HABs passes Ohio Senate
In August I wrote a blog post about the extensive eutrophication-induced Harmful Algal Bloom in Lake Erie which made Toledo’s water supply undrinkable and beaches unusable. Those of you who read my original post may remember that I’m from Cleveland, … Continue reading
Posted in biodiversity, HABs, Knowledge Exchange, Plankton, Uncategorized
Tagged conservation, HABs, Lake Erie, marine policy, Plankton, policy
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Challenger’s Phil Trans special issue and #Challenger2014!
The Challenger Society for Marine Science’s special issue of Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society has been published! The special issue is entitled A Prospectus For UK Marine Sustained Observations and consists of papers arising from Challenger’s 2013 meeting of … Continue reading
Plankton and Policy 