Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to share our latest publication reviewing Cumulative Effects Assessment practice for marine mammals. It is available open access now in Frontiers in Marine Science at https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.822467
Same Space, Different Standards: A Review of Cumulative Effects Assessment Practice for Marine Mammals Emily L. Hague, Carol E. Sparling, Ceri Morris, Duncan Vaughan, Rebecca Walker, Ross M. Culloch, Alastair R. Lyndon, Teresa F. Fernandes and Lauren H. McWhinnie Abstract Marine mammals are vulnerable to a variety of acute and chronic anthropogenic stressors, potentially experiencing these in isolation, successively and/or simultaneously. Formal assessment of the likely impact(s) of the cumulative effects of multiple stressors on a defined population is carried out through a Cumulative Effects Assessment (CEA), which is a mandatory component of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process in many countries. However, for marine mammals, the information required to feed into CEA, such as thresholds for disturbance, frequency of multiple (and simultaneous) exposures, interactions between stressors, and individual variation in response, is extremely limited, though our understanding is slowly improving. The gaps in knowledge make it challenging to effectively quantify and subsequently assess the risk of individual and population consequences of multiple disturbances in the form of a CEA. To assess the current state of practice for assessing cumulative effects on marine mammals within UK waters, 93 CEAs were reviewed across eleven maritime industries. An objective framework of thirteen evaluative criteria was used to score each assessment on a scale of 13-52 (weak - strong). Scores varied significantly by industry. On average, the aquaculture industry produced the lowest scoring CEAs, whilst the large offshore windfarm industry (≥ 20 turbines) scored highest, according to the scoring criteria used. There was a significant increase in scores over the sample period (2009-2019), though this was mostly attributed to five industries (cable, large and small offshore wind farms, tidal and wave energy). There was inconsistency in the language used to define and describe cumulative effects and a lack of routinely applied methodology. We use the findings presented here, along with a wider review of the literature, to provide recommendations and discussion points aimed at supporting the standardisation and improvement of CEA practice. Although this research focused on how marine mammals were considered within UK CEAs, recommendations made are broadly applicable to assessments conducted for other receptors, countries and/or environments. Adoption of these proposals would help to ensure a more consistent approach, and would aid decision-makers and practitioners in mitigating any potential impacts, to ensure conservation objectives of marine mammal populations are not compromised I hope you enjoy reading, and please do get in touch if you have any questions or would like to discuss our findings. Sending warm wishes from a snowy Scotland, Emily Emily Hague (She/her/hers) PhD Researcher John Muir Building Riccarton, Edinburgh Heriot-Watt University Email: elh2...@hw.ac.uk<mailto:elh2...@hw.ac.uk> Twitter: @emilyhague<https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Femilyhague&data=04%7C01%7C%7C223ffae7cee64d97b18f08d9510cb1d9%7C78325161206f4750bbca2c754bb89c4c%7C0%7C0%7C637629937265949032%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=9U0dGvcZPhZeu7FxEtIfzQoMoa9cDfNl804Es3PxLHM%3D&reserved=0> Scottish Vessel Project: https://bit.ly/ScottishVesselProject<https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FScottishVesselProject&data=04%7C01%7C%7C223ffae7cee64d97b18f08d9510cb1d9%7C78325161206f4750bbca2c754bb89c4c%7C0%7C0%7C637629937265949032%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=C7qEUVjFGWITEbqE4YSTTBoOke1gpADOl%2FqHIBV3bz4%3D&reserved=0> [cid:image001.jpg@01D84516.1E774680] ________________________________ Founded in 1821, Heriot-Watt is a leader in ideas and solutions. With campuses and students across the entire globe we span the world, delivering innovation and educational excellence in business, engineering, design and the physical, social and life sciences. This email is generated from the Heriot-Watt University Group, which includes: 1. Heriot-Watt University, a Scottish charity registered under number SC000278 2. Heriot- Watt Services Limited (Oriam), Scotland's national performance centre for sport. Heriot-Watt Services Limited is a private limited company registered is Scotland with registered number SC271030 and registered office at Research & Enterprise Services Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS. The contents (including any attachments) are confidential. If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail, any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of its contents is strictly prohibited, and you should please notify the sender immediately and then delete it (including any attachments) from your system.
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