RAGES OUTPUTS

WP 2: Development and Refinement of Risk-Based Approach

Work Package 2 is led by DGRM and involves the iterative development of a Risk Based Assessment Framework for application to the MSFD- the first draft of the framework D2.1 can be found here a refined version (D2.3) based on application in WP3 and WP4 will be delivered in August 2020)

Governance Analysis for Risk Based Management (D2.2). Based on a survey of the RAGES partner competent authorities, a governance analysis including social network analysis was developed to identify choke-points in MSFD implementation and to provide recommendations. This work was led by DHPLG in association with the governance group at UCCs MaREI centre.

WP3: Application to Non-Indigenous Species

Application of the risk based framework developed in WP2 to Descriptor 2 of the MSFD. The work invovles coordination between member states at teh regional scale and is being led by IPMA. The experiences in developing risk based approaches to non-indigenous species will feed back into the final version of the risk based assessment method.

WP4: Application to Underwater Noise

The risk based approach to assessment of Descriptor 11 is being advanced on a number of fronts. In Summer 2019, the team at UPV deployed and recovered a hydrophone in the Bay of Biscay, to identify levels of underwater noise as well as the presence of cetacean species.

The team at UCC have performed a regional synthesis of cetacean density data and are using AIS data to explore risk at from continuous to cetacean species at the regional scale.

WP5: Regional Risk-based Assessment

WP5, led by MTES will synthesize the findings of WP2, WP3 and WP4 to produce a standard operating procedure for risk based assessment as well as develop regional recommendations for MSFD implementation.

WP6:Project communication

Project outputs are designed to have a direct policy relevance and focus, outputs have been presented at OSPAR Intercessional Correspondence Group meetings for MSFD and on NOISE, a copy of the presentation can be found here. A poster about the work was also presented at the MaREI annual symposium.