How an ecoregional model of the Barents Sea lends support to science-informed decision making

Date/time: December 2, 13:00-14:30

Room: Mesanin 2

Session organizer: JoLynn Carroll, Akvaplan-niva

The Norwegian government and the European Union have adopted regulatory policies that address the management of ocean resources using an ecosystem-based approach. Ecosystem based management (EBM) is the accepted policy instrument used to jointly address multiple objectives, such as biodiversity conservation, fishery production, and impact mitigation. In this case study, we explore the impact of hypothetical oil spill scenarios in a key commercial fisheries region of the Arctic using an advanced ecoregional assessment model. The aim of this session is to examine how such advanced models lend key support to science informed decision making and stakeholder communication.

SYMBIOSES is an advanced software tool for impact assessment, hypothesis testing, and environmental planning within Lofoten-Vesterålen and the southern Barents Sea. SYMBIOSES simulates the distribution and behavior of different life stages of important commercial fish species and their prey, effects of petroleum components on the eggs and larvae of fish and zooplankton, and multi-year changes in fish populations. SYMBIOSES has been developed to improve assessments of environmental impacts linked to oil spill scenarios, and in particular, effects of oil spills on fish stocks at the population level.

Case study session