GES4SEAS Policy Brief #1: The method of choosing tools to support Ecosystem-Based Management and marine ecosystem managers – SEAS4GES Policy makers and managers need to take transparent, defendable and robust decisions to inform ecosystem-based management (EBM). The SEAS4GES (Selection of Ecosystem-based ApproacheS 4 Good Environmental Status) is a novel decision support system that guides policy-advisors and scientists in selecting optimal tools to effectively and efficiently undertake marine quality assessments. 

Have you ever wondered how scientists count fish in the ocean? Fish are always moving, and the ocean is huge, so counting them is not easy! Scientists use stock assessments, a method that gathers clues such as how many fish are caught by fishing boats, how many are seen in surveys, and how fast fish grow. Using math and computer models, scientists predict how fish populations will change in the future. If too many fish are caught, there might not be enough left to reproduce, which is called overfishing. Stock assessments help managers decide how many fish can be safely caught. Scientists also protect special areas where fish lay eggs to help their numbers grow. By understanding stock assessments, we can help keep fish in the ocean for future generations. Thanks to ongoing work of scientists, we can enjoy fish today while making sure there are plenty left for tomorrow.

Marine litter (ML), predominantly originating from land, tends to accumulate on the seabed, where it is often caught unintentionally by bottom trawler…

Scientific Reports - Machine learning applied to global scale species distribution models