1
Return

Translating science into evidence-based policy for the protection and restoration of essential fish habitat

delete2026-06-27
delete0
delete
OA
AI
O
Olivier Le Pape
B
Benjamin J Ciotti *
K
Karen E van de Wolfshaar
R
Rochelle D Seitz
J
Julia Friese
D
David Eggleston
E
Elliot J Brown
R
Rachel M Turnbull
F
Filipe Martinho
A
Adam Waugh
F
Francisco E Werner
K
Kenneth A Rose
DOI:10.1093/icesjms/fsag108delete
deleteOriginal
deleteOriginal request for help
deleteShare
deleteSave
Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Coastal and estuarine ecosystems are vital as essential fish habitat (EFH). Given accelerating climate- and human-driven environmental change, conserving these habitats is increasingly urgent to ensure the sustainability of marine populations and their associated fisheries. This paper examines how scientific knowledge is being used to support management of EFH in the USA, Europe, and elsewhere. We find that while scientific knowledge to identify and quantify important habitats has rapidly increased, the transfer of this knowledge to management practice has been limited and slow, resulting in important habitats being vulnerable to degradation. Through an international review of EFH concepts and their application in science, policy, legislation, and management, we suggest the following four lessons learned to guide this knowledge transfer and better integration of EFH in fisheries and coastal zone management: (i) clearly define EFH, (ii) estimate ecosystem services at relevant (populations and fisheries) scale, (iii) build on success, and (iv) expand dialog to better integrate EFH into conservation.

Journal

ICES Journal of Marine Science cover
ICES Journal of Marine Science
IF:
3.4
Papers:
6.3K
Citations:
1.4W

Organization

T
thüenen-institute of sea fisheries
Scholars:
2
Papers: 1
Citations: 0
S
silver spring , md 20906 , united states
Scholars:
2
Papers: 1
Citations: 0
T
Technical University of Denmark
Scholars:
2.3K
Papers: 887
Citations: 1
V
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Scholars:
590
Papers: 481
Citations: 119
U
university of coimbra
Scholars:
859
Papers: 357
Citations: 1
U
University of Plymouth
Scholars:
7.0K
Papers: 6.7K
Citations: 9.3K
L
l'institut agro and ifremer and inrae
Scholars:
3
Papers: 3
Citations: 0
N
Natural England
Scholars:
14
Papers: 9
Citations: 525
U
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
Scholars:
901
Papers: 747
Citations: 2.4K
W
wageningen marine research
Scholars:
16
Papers: 9
Citations: 0
N
North Carolina State University
Scholars:
2.5W
Papers: 2.2W
Citations: 3.7W
Cited Papers

Cited Papers

Citing Papers

Citing Papers