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Designing cross-sectoral, surface-toseabed protected areas in the Indian Ocean

par Fourchault, Léa
Promoteur Cannicci, Stefano
Co-Promoteur RICHARDSON, Anthony J;Dunn, Daniel
Publication Non publié, 2022-08-31

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Résumé :

Since the 1970s, industrial activities have expanded into the open ocean andseabed, including areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). The fishing, shipping,and deep-sea mining sectors are major drivers of this ‘blue acceleration’, wheredirect exploitation, close-range interactions, and stressors associated with habitatdegradation diminish species abundance and distribution. While negotiations for aglobal treaty to protect biodiversity in ABNJ are ongoing, there are few marinereserves in ABNJ, and none in the Indian Ocean. We use a systematic conservationplanning approach combining ecological and socio-economic data from the fishing,shipping, and deep-sea mining sectors to identify optimal areas for surface-toseabedmarine reserves. We create sector-specific spatial plans, where conservationtargets are met at the lowest cost possible to each sector. We then create a crosssectoralspatial plan that considers the interests of all sectors simultaneously. Weshow that the cross-sectoral spatial plan meets the same conservation targets atlittle additional cost, although it generates a more fragmented reserve network. Thecross-sectoral spatial plan most resembled the fishing-specific plan, highlighting thewidespread footprint of the fishing sector in ABNJ. However, knowing the currentimpacts of shipping, and the likely future impacts of deep-sea mining on marinebiodiversity, and given the low additional costs linked to their inclusion in reservedesign, we recommend that decision-makers now consider cross-sectoral spatialplanning for conservation in ABNJ.