The aim of this UC is to familiarize students with the main concepts and approaches to the issues of ocean conservation and management. A comprehensive overview of this scientific area will be provided, providing introductory level knowledge on the following topics: (1) pressures and impacts of human activities on the marine environment; (2) main instruments and mechanisms for managing anthropogenic impacts and conserving marine species and habitats and sustainable use of the ocean, at global, national and regional levels.
1. Concepts of ocean management and conservation
1.1. Law of the Sea and the different maritime zones (inland waters and ports, territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone, continental shelf, high seas, areas outside national jurisdiction)
2. Pressures and impacts of human activities on the marine environment
2.1. Extraction of species
2.2. Pollution including marine litter
2.3. Non-indigenous species
2.4. Underwater noise
2.5. Habitat alteration
3. Climate change (warming, acidification and deoxygenation of the oceans)
4. Main international instruments and goals for ocean management and conservation
4.1. United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
4.2. High Seas Treaty (AAJN agreement)
4.3. Convention on Biological Biodiversity & Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
4.4.4. Other International Conventions (e.g. Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals)
4.4. United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda 2030
4.5. Framework Convention on Climate Change
5. Instruments of European maritime policy and conservation of marine biodiversity
5.1. Marine Strategy Framework Directive
5.2. Water Framework Directive
5.3. Habitats and Birds Directives, Natura 2000 Network
5.4. EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2030
5.5. Nature Restoration Law
5.6. Other conservation instruments (e.g. Convention for the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats)
5.7. The Common Fisheries Policy in marine conservation
6. National Strategy for the Sea 2030
6.1. The local dimension (Azores) in marine conservation (plans and main legal instruments and initiatives)
6.2. Regional policies for ocean conservation: OSPAR Convention and Barcelona Convention
7. Conservation of marine species
7.1. Legal frameworks: Community Directives and International Conventions
7.2. Attribution of conservation status: IUCN red lists
7.3. Introduced and invasive species
7.4. Case studies
8. Conservation of Habitats and Ecosystems
8.1. Legal frameworks: Community Directives and International Conventions
8.2 Case studies
9. Marine protected areas: selection, implementation and management
9.1. Case studies
10. Assessment of human impacts on marine environments: Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
11. Ecological restoration of marine ecosystems
The contents of this UC will be transmitted to students based on classes of a conceptual nature and exploratory activities. Classes will use a combination of expository and participatory methodologies using dynamic visual presentations, which will include videos, and online research for specific topics.
The most relevant information (scientific articles and book chapters) will be made available on the “e-learning Moodle” platform. Students will be encouraged to look for additional information.
Norse, E.A. & L.B. Crowder, Eds. (2005). Marine Conservation Biology. The Science of Maintaining the sea's Biodiversity. Island Press, 575 pp.
Halpern B.S., Walbridge S., Selkoe K.A., Kappel C.V., Micheli F., D'Agrosa C., et al. (2008) A global map of human impact on marine ecosystems. Science, 319(5865):948-52. doi: 10.1126/science.1149345. PMID: 18276889.
Ray, G.C., J. McCormick-Ray & R.L. Smith Jr. (2013). Marine Conservation: Science, Policy and
Management. Wiley-Blackwell Publishers, 384 pp.
Halpern, B., Frazier, M., Potapenko, J. et al. (2015). Spatial and temporal changes in cumulative human impacts on the world's ocean. Nat Commun 6, 7615. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms8615
Halpern, B.S., Frazier, M., Afflerbach, J. et al. (2029). Recent pace of change in human impact on the world's ocean. Sci Rep 9, 11609 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-47201-9
Em cada ano serão fornecidos artigos recentes, bem como legislação sobre planos de acção e convenções internacionais sobre a conservação da biodiversidade.
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