Detecting critical choke points for achieving Good Environmental Status in European seas

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Choke points are social, cultural, political, institutional, or psychological obstructions of social-ecological systems that constrain progress toward an environmental objective. Using a soft systems methodology, different types of chokes points were identified in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, the Baltic, and the North and Mediterranean seas. The choke points were of differing types: cultural and political choke points were identified in Barra and the Mediterranean, respectively, whereas the choke points in the North Sea and Baltic Sea were dependent on differing values toward the mitigation of eutrophication. We conclude with suggestions to identify and address choke points.

Who cares? European attitudes towards marine and coastal environments

“…Within Europe individual nations have their own particular languages, cultures, histories, institutional structures and economic objectives as well as attitudes and perspectives toward the marine environment which all have a bearing on marine management at a regional, national and international scale [10,11]. Despite a common obligation to implement EU and other policies, there are likely to be numerous conflicting objectives both within and between nations [12]. Institutional infrastructures and the process employed to manage societal differences will differ across European contexts [12].…”

Coping with persistent environmental problems: systemic delays in reducing eutrophication of the Baltic Sea

“…Considering the MSFD, the frequent reviews and reporting should be taken as opportunities in the member states and in the EU to increase understanding of the system dynamics. The analyses of decision making and implementation delays show that social and political dynamics make an important contribution to the emergence of delays, for instance by creating so called choke points (covered in Potts et al 2015). We maintain that reflexive and participatory approaches in the development of marine protection policies, the monitoring of their implementation and effects would create forums to: "1) build the knowledge and understanding of resource and ecosystem dynamics, 2) develop practices that interpret and respond to ecosystem feedback, and 3) support flexible institutions and organizations and adaptive management processes" (Olsson et al http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol19/iss4/art48/ 2004:75) that are the cornerstones of adaptive management.…”

Sustaining Europe’s seas as coupled social-ecological systems

“…To illustrate, a huge effort to establish good environmental conditions for restoring natural populations of pandas will be wasted if they are disinclined to procreate. Potts et al (2015) examine the current and potential choke points for implementation of the MSFD in Europe's regional seas; case studies include psychological choke points in a remote island community, geopolitical choke points at the regional seas level, and critically, economic choke points where the costs of meeting environmental targets outweigh the benefits of achieving them.…”

“…Economic disparity, political instability, and resulting differences in priorities and values are recurrent themes in the shared regional seas (Cinnirella et al 2014, O'Higgins et al 2014b, Varjopuro et al 2014, Potts et al 2015. If European governments have difficulty prioritizing GEnS in the relatively affluent nations, then achieving GEnS on the regional sea basis (as mandated by the MSFD), which will require effective cooperation and collaboration with the states of North Africa, the Middle East, and the Russian Federation, is a major, if not insurmountable, obstacle.…”