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About the Authors:
Christopher R. Kelble
* E-mail: [email protected]
Affiliation: Ocean Chemistry Division, Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, Miami, Florida, United States of America
Dave K. Loomis
Affiliation: Institute for Coastal Science and Policy, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, United States of America
Susan Lovelace
Affiliation: JHT Incorporated, Hollings Marine Laboratory, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Charleston, South Carolina, United States of America
William K. Nuttle
Affiliation: Eco-Hydrology, Ottawa, Canada
Peter B. Ortner
Affiliation: Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
Pamela Fletcher
Affiliation: University of Florida Sea Grant, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
Geoffrey S. Cook
Affiliations Ocean Chemistry Division, Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, Miami, Florida, United States of America, Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
Jerry J. Lorenz
Affiliation: Tavernier Science Center, Audubon Florida, Tavernier, Florida, United States of America
Joseph N. Boyer
Affiliation: Center for the Environment, Plymouth State University, Plymouth, New Hampshire, United States of America
Introduction
Ecosystem Based Management
The concept of ecosystem based management (EBM) was developed to improve resource management efficacy by applying a holistic approach that accounts for ecosystem complexity and integration rather than managing for individual issues or sectors (including individual species) [1]. EBM recognizes that: 1) the biophysical and human components of an ecosystem interact in many complex ways, 2) society relies upon and benefits from the ecosystem through ecosystem services, and 3) ecosystem services are directly and indirectly affected by multiple human activities/uses [2]. The goal of EBM is to maximize and sustain the production of ecosystem services, thus shifting management's focus from short-term economic gains or purely environmental protection/restoration towards assuring the long-term ability of an ecosystem to yield a broad suite of services important to human well-being [3].
Most management of the marine ecosystem focuses on single species, single uses, or single sectors (e.g. toxins, nutrients, development). These single-issue management approaches focus upon avoiding major damage to the ecosystem due only to the pressures attributable to that sector, or to...