Marine Plan-level Cumulative Effects Assessment (CEA) Project

An increased demand for marine space requires adequate management by marine planners to ensure that biodiversity targets are not compromised and to reduce conflict between sectors and marine users. Implementing cumulative effects assessment (CEA) at a strategic level gives marine planners a clearer picture of the compounded impacts of multiple sectors and recreational uses to help (a) adopt policies that keep marine development and use within environmental limits, and (b) guide project-level decisions accordingly. However, our current capacity to understand, evaluate and make decisions based on CEA is inadequate and it remains a persistent and fundamental challenge to more progressive marin…