92
is a need to introduce new or reinforce existing mechanisms that support a more
ecosystem- based governance system. These should ensure not only systematic collection of basic data and the use of the best scientifi c advice based on robust data but
also the introduction of environmental impact assessment as a precondition for new
activities. Policy changes and the involvement of stakeholders are crucial to future
policy frameworks in order to prevent unwanted introductions and to cover additional vectors of transportations of marine IAS. Voluntary measures are recommended since they supplement frameworks and regulations . Such measures are
especially important because high impact policy ideas often lose effectiveness during the political process. We believe that sharing an understanding of EAM with key
stakeholders is an important step towards improved environmental governance. We
also argue that, for the Baltic Sea, EAM is the only way forward and a good tool for
managing risks such as bioinvasions. EAM, the IMO BWMC and international or
regional networks could be a solid foundation for developing an integrated system
for marine IAS management in the Baltic Sea region.
Acknowledgements This research was funded by the European Community’s Seventh
Framework Programme (2007–2013) under grant agreement n° 217246 made with the joint Baltic
Sea research and development programme BONUS, as well as by the Polish Ministry of Science
and Higher Education. Thanks to two peer reviewers for valuable comments on an earlier version
of the chapter.
Open Access This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons AttributionNoncommercial 2.5 License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ ) which permits any
noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s)
and source are credited.
The images or other third party material in this chapter are included in the work’s Creative
Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in the credit line; if such material is not included
in the work’s Creative Commons license and the respective action is not permitted by statutory
regulation, users will need to obtain permission from the license holder to duplicate, adapt or
reproduce the material.
References
Arkema KK, Abramson SC, Dewsbury BM (2006) Marine ecosystem-based management: from
characterization to implementation. Front Ecol Environ 4:525–532
Atkins JP, Burdon D, Elliott M, Gregory AJ (2011) Management of the marine environment: integrating ecosystem services and societal benefi ts with the DPSIR framework in a system
approach. Mar Pollut Bull 62:215–226
Backer H, Leppänen JM, Brusendorff AC, Forsius K, Stankiewicz M, Mehtonen J, Pyhälä M,
Laamanen M, Paulomäki H, Vlasov N, Haaranen T (2010) HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan –
a regional programme of measures for the marine environment based on the ecosystem
approach. Mar Pollut Bull 60:642–649
Barnes C, McFadden KW (2007) Marine ecosystem approaches to management: challenges and
lessons in the United States. Mar Policy 32:387–392
Battle J (ed) (2009) Silent invasion: the spread of marine invasive species via ships’ ballast water.
WWF International, Gland
K. Smolarz et al.
is a need to introduce new or reinforce existing mechanisms that support a more
ecosystem- based governance system. These should ensure not only systematic collection of basic data and the use of the best scientifi c advice based on robust data but
also the introduction of environmental impact assessment as a precondition for new
activities. Policy changes and the involvement of stakeholders are crucial to future
policy frameworks in order to prevent unwanted introductions and to cover additional vectors of transportations of marine IAS. Voluntary measures are recommended since they supplement frameworks and regulations . Such measures are
especially important because high impact policy ideas often lose effectiveness during the political process. We believe that sharing an understanding of EAM with key
stakeholders is an important step towards improved environmental governance. We
also argue that, for the Baltic Sea, EAM is the only way forward and a good tool for
managing risks such as bioinvasions. EAM, the IMO BWMC and international or
regional networks could be a solid foundation for developing an integrated system
for marine IAS management in the Baltic Sea region.
Acknowledgements This research was funded by the European Community’s Seventh
Framework Programme (2007–2013) under grant agreement n° 217246 made with the joint Baltic
Sea research and development programme BONUS, as well as by the Polish Ministry of Science
and Higher Education. Thanks to two peer reviewers for valuable comments on an earlier version
of the chapter.
Open Access This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons AttributionNoncommercial 2.5 License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ ) which permits any
noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s)
and source are credited.
The images or other third party material in this chapter are included in the work’s Creative
Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in the credit line; if such material is not included
in the work’s Creative Commons license and the respective action is not permitted by statutory
regulation, users will need to obtain permission from the license holder to duplicate, adapt or
reproduce the material.
References
Arkema KK, Abramson SC, Dewsbury BM (2006) Marine ecosystem-based management: from
characterization to implementation. Front Ecol Environ 4:525–532
Atkins JP, Burdon D, Elliott M, Gregory AJ (2011) Management of the marine environment: integrating ecosystem services and societal benefi ts with the DPSIR framework in a system
approach. Mar Pollut Bull 62:215–226
Backer H, Leppänen JM, Brusendorff AC, Forsius K, Stankiewicz M, Mehtonen J, Pyhälä M,
Laamanen M, Paulomäki H, Vlasov N, Haaranen T (2010) HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan –
a regional programme of measures for the marine environment based on the ecosystem
approach. Mar Pollut Bull 60:642–649
Barnes C, McFadden KW (2007) Marine ecosystem approaches to management: challenges and
lessons in the United States. Mar Policy 32:387–392
Battle J (ed) (2009) Silent invasion: the spread of marine invasive species via ships’ ballast water.
WWF International, Gland
K. Smolarz et al.