Policy implications for remotely sensed pelagic habitats

The concept of dynamic pelagic seascapes has recently evolved as a means of describing the spatially and temporally variable habitats within our oceans’ water columns (e.g. Kavanaugh et al. 2014. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2013.10.013; https://cwcgom.aoml.noaa.gov/cgom/OceanViewer/). Whilst informing marine policy is a major goal of the US Marine Biodiversity Observing Network, effort to date has been focused on validating multi-trophic level patterns across seascapes.

This project focused on ascertaining whether dynamic pelagic seascapes derived from satellite could indeed be used to support marine policy, through use of the ecosystem services concept. Ecosystem services are services provided by the natural environment which offer benefits to society, for example primary production providing climate regulation, or fish providing food.

Two case study regions were chosen through collaboration with UK marine policy authorities Marine Scotland and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), and important ecosystem services identified by the policy partners. Dynamic seascape descriptions of the case study regions were produced, and relationships between the pelagic seascapes in these regions and ecosystem services, human activities and areas of value were explored, expanding on the pelagic seascape concept. Involvement of policy partners from the start ensured co-production of final products suitable to their needs and interests, identified future operational needs, and offers a means of shaping future marine policy and management.