Human Pressures And Carbon Assessment Of Posidonia Oceanica Meadows In The Aegean Sea: Limitations And Challenges For Ecosystem-Based Management

In the last decades the interaction between marine users is becoming more complex as there are growing needs of different sectors competing for the limited sea space. EU has adopted new institutional structures such as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and the Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) Directive promoting the sustainable management of marine and coastal areas. A key aim of these structures in line with “Blue Growth” objectives is the sustainable use of maritime space following an ecosystem-based approach. This study explores interactions among existing human activities in the Aegean Sea (Greece) so as to identify areas which would be mostly benefited by spatial planning. Conflicts between existing uses are discussed along with the cumulative impacts of these uses on a key priority habitat, the seagrass Posidonia oceanica that provides important services to human well-being. Then the study links impacts with the value of a key service provided by seagrasses, carbon sequestration. Finally, it discusses the potential of such a joint analysis to support prioritization of areas or stressors of concern. In this context, limitations and challenges arising due to the inherent complexity of the involved factors and parameters are acknowledged.