Unravelling Complex Interaction among Coastal Management and Marine Biodiversity: A Case Study in Southern Spain

Paloma Alcorlo (), Susana García-Tiscar, María Rosario Vidal-Abarca, María Luisa Suárez-Alonso and Fernando Santos-Martín
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Paloma Alcorlo: Department of Ecology Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/Darwin 2, Edificio de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
Susana García-Tiscar: Department of Ecology Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/Darwin 2, Edificio de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
María Rosario Vidal-Abarca: Department of Ecology and Hydrology, Regional Campus of International Excellence “Campus Mare Nos-trum”-Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
María Luisa Suárez-Alonso: Department of Ecology and Hydrology, Regional Campus of International Excellence “Campus Mare Nos-trum”-Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Fernando Santos-Martín: Department of Chemical and Environmental Technology, Campus de Móstoles, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28933 Madrid, Spain

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 8, 1-19

Abstract: In this work, we use an integrated modelling approach to explore the complex relationships and interconnections in marine ecosystems among anthropogenic pressures, biodiversity loss, delivery of ecosystem services (ES), and implemented conservation and management strategies. We selected 60 indicators at regional (34), national (12) and international (14) scales that provided long-term information during the 1985–2019 time frame. The results show a decline in marine biodiversity and its associated provisioning services despite the increasing number of responses delivered by a society which are not enough and/or need more time to exert their effects and highlight the pressure on exploited species of unknown conservation status. The decline in Provisioning ES is explained by the decrease in the overall biomass of the captures, mostly large and carnivorous commercially-targeted species and the increase in the number of small-bodied fish species included in the IUCN Red List. The degradation of ecosystem integrity and the continuing loss of biodiversity affect the ability of the ecosystem to provide Regulating ES. The Cultural ES delivery, related to artisanal fisheries, is better preserved in the Gulf of Cádiz. We conclude how the implementation of new management regulations is needed and should be developed through participatory processes to protect and improve marine ecosystem status.

Keywords: fisheries; marine ecosystem services; policies; PLS-PM; conservation; biodiversity; marine protected areas; indicators (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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