The Potential of Genomics Technology for Marine Monitoring and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD)

Why a stakeholder workshop

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) is the first legislative instrument with the regulatory objective to maintain biodiversity in European marine ecosystems as the cornerstone for achieving good environmental status by 2020. In order to achieve the objective the Member States currently develop national marine strategies, which serve as Action Plans to be integrated on regional and European level. The criteria and methodological standards for assessing good environmental status (GES) contains a number of criteria and associated indicators, in relation to 11 descriptors (Biological diversity, Non-indigenous species, Population of commercial fish and shell fish, etc.). The regulation addresses mostly methodological standards that are available and under development within the EU in close coordination with the establishment of monitoring programs.

Most of the methodological standards are however relying on conventional protocols rather than emerging methods and technologies, such as marine genomics. Such novel technologies have immense potential to assist traditional monitoring and data collection, and can contribute with knowledge to many of the 11 GES indicators. Moreover, marine genomics technologies are developing at vast pace and will bring forward many customized applications by the time the MSFD is concluded. It is therefore important to highlight the potential of genomics applications at stage to individuals with responsibility for national and European MSFD implementation.

With this stakeholder meeting we want to bring together leading scientists from the field of marine genomics with marine policy makers, to discuss how genetic information and analytical methods can contribute to a cost-efficient monitoring of marine ecosystems. During the workshop, scientists will present examples of genomics applications that are ‘ready’ or ‘close to ready’ for use in on-going monitoring programs, while policy representatives will outline crucial knowledge bottlenecks in current marine monitoring programs. These presentations will give a basis for discussing where genomics approaches can contribute in current conservation efforts and ecosystem research, and define the role of researchers, policy, funding bodies, as well as infrastructures implementing cost-efficient monitoring programs.

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