Toward a common approach for assessing the conservation status of marine turtle species within the european marine strategy framework directive

• Published in: Frontiers in Marine Science
• Main Authors: Girard, Fanny, Girard, Alexandre, Monsinjon, Jonathan, Arcangeli, Antonella, Belda, Eduardo, Cardona, Luis, Casale, Paolo, Catteau, Sidonie, David, Léa, Dell’amico, Florence, Gambaiani, Delphine, Girondot, Marc, Jribi, Imed, Lauriano, Giancarlo, Luschi, Paolo, March, David, Mazaris, Antonios, Miaud, Claude, Palialexis, Andreas, Sacchi, Jacques, Sagarminaga, Ricardo, Tepsich, Paola, Tomás, Jesús, Vandeperre, Frederic, Claro, Françoise
• Other Authors: Patrimoine naturel (PatriNat), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Office français de la biodiversité (OFB), Ecologie Systématique et Evolution (ESE), AgroParisTech-Université Paris-Saclay-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Universitat Politècnica de València = Universitad Politecnica de Valencia = Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), University of Pisa - Università di Pisa, Institut EcoOcean, Partenaires INRAE, Aquarium La Rochelle, Université de Sfax - University of Sfax, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Société Herpétologique de France (SHF), Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE), Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UPVM)-École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE), Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL)-Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD France-Sud )-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-Institut Agro Montpellier, Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Université de Montpellier (UM), European Commission - Joint Research Centre Ispra (JRC)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2022
• Subjects: MSFD; sea turtles; good environmental status; indicators; Mediterranean Sea; northeast Atlantic Ocean; [SDE.ES]Environmental Sciences/Environment and Society; [SDU.STU.OC]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Oceanography; Northeast Atlantic
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-03952892; https://hal.science/hal-03952892/document; https://hal.science/hal-03952892/file/girard_fmars-09-790733.pdf; https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.790733

International audience Environmental policies, including the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), generally rely on the measurement of indicators to assess the good environmental status (GES) and ensure the protection of marine ecosystems. However, depending on available scientific knowledge and monitoring programs in place, quantitative GES assessments are not always feasible. This is specifically the case for marine turtle species, which are listed under the Biodiversity Descriptor of the MSFD. Relying on an expert consultation, the goal of this study was to develop indicators and a common assessment approach to be employed by European Union Member States to evaluate the status of marine turtle populations in the frame of the MSFD. A dedicated international expert group was created to explore and test potential assessment approaches, in coherence with other environmental policies (i.e. Habitats Directive, OSPAR and Barcelona Conventions). Following a series of workshops, the group provided recommendations for the GES assessment of marine turtles. In particular, indicators and assessment methods were defined, setting a solid basis for future MSFD assessments. Although knowledge gaps remain, data requirements identified in this study will guide future data collection initiatives and inform monitoring programs implemented by EU Member States. Overall this study highlights the value of international collaboration for the conservation of vulnerable species, such as marine turtles.