Looking at ecosystem-based management (EBM)

The Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge’s vision is for New Zealand to have healthy marine ecosystems providing value for every New Zealander. It has seven research programmes, and each programme supports the development of a new way to manage our marine environment called ecosystem-based management (EBM).

The Sustainable Seas Challenge’s working definition of EBM is: “a holistic and inclusive way to manage our marine environments and the competing uses for, demands on, and ways New Zealanders value them”. This definition may change as it co-develops EBM with Māori and stakeholders.

EBM – an explanation

EBM, as a management approach, is an innovative way to manage marine systems. Because EBM is holistic and inclusive it is not a one-size-fits-all framework. The Sustainable Seas Challenge is developing EMB for Aotearoa (which has a 4 million square kilometre exclusive economic zone), but the way EBM is applied will vary to suit local requirements.

The EBM approach has several characteristics.

EBM recognises the many interactions that occur within an ecosystem – including humans – rather than looking at single species or issues in isolation. This differs to other approaches that are interested in protecting an individual species or dealing with a single activity at a time – sometimes at the expense of other species or activities. EBM acknowledges that trade-offs often form part of the framework.

EBM recognises the value of co-operation. Coastal areas are often used by competing sectors – for recreational or commercial fishing, energy exploration or as wildlife sanctuaries. EBM encourages sectors to work together.

International case studies have shown that successful EBM recognises the importance of and incorporates indigenous knowledge. To be successful, EBM for Aotearoa must be founded on mātauranga Māori as well as science.

EBM and the Sustainable Seas Challenge

The demands on and uses of New Zealand’s marine resources are increasing, so we need to manage our marine environments differently than we have in the past. Using EBM supports wide consultation and working side by side with Māori and stakeholders (government, business, community and environmental groups and others) and researchers.

Even though Sustainable Seas is a National Science Challenge, researchers of all types are involved, including social scientists, economists and mātauranga, legal and policy experts. For EBM to be successful, the Challenge needs to:

• be aware of what collaborative decision-making looks like and how to make it work
• identify important institutional, social and cultural factors regarding marine resources
• assess both the economic and non-monetary values of the marine environment
• investigate how to foster and build trust in science and among the diverse people who work with Sustainable Seas.

The Challenge’s biophysical research is focusing on:

• marine ecosystems – how they work and services they provide
• how ecosystems are connected and how they respond to change
• stressors within ecosystems that can lead to tipping points and rapid changes.

Sustainable Seas is developing a number of tools to support EBM. One tool is different types of models, including an extremely detailed ecosystem model of Tasman and Golden Bays. These models enable people to explore ‘what if?’ scenarios, possible outcomes of management decisions, trade-offs and more. And yes, there will be online and mobile apps for groups to use!

EBM and Vision Mātauranga

Each of the 11 National Science Challenges is underpinned by Vision Mātauranga. The goal is to “unlock the innovation potential of Māori knowledge, resources and people to assist New Zealanders to create a better future”. EBM complements or aligns well with some important Māori concepts, such as kaitiakitanga. Appropriately incorporating mātauranga Māori is essential to the successful development of EBM for Aotearoa. The Sustainable Seas Challenge is studying international examples of incorporating indigenous knowledge into resource management to help inform EBM for New Zealand.

Developing EBM

The Sustainable Seas Challenge has some big numbers: 222 researchers from 36 organisations working on 40 projects (as of 20 November 2018). It’s rather like an enormous jigsaw puzzle – and all of the pieces fit together in EBM. The researchers are working with other interested parties to create a knowledge base to build and support an EBM framework for New Zealand and develop practical EBM tools that will help marine resource managers to make better decisions.

The team is using Tasman and Golden Bays at the top of the South Island as a case study. Some of the projects explore marine ecosystem services, ways to protect aquaculture from ocean acidification and methods to better predict contamination risks to kaimoana, aquaculture and beaches. Other projects look at ways to enhance collaboration between Māori, communities, government and industry – keeping in mind the important role of kaitiakitanga/guardianship.

An ambitious task

Sustainable Seas Challenge and EBM – it’s an ambitious task involving biophysical science, economics, mātauranga Māori, social science, law and policy. It is bringing together groups who haven’t always seen eye to eye, but that is part of the plan. Having everyone working together is essential to develop EBM that is fit for purpose in New Zealand.

Most importantly, the end result needs to be useful and practical – that’s what makes it a challenge!