Legal perspectives on the ecosystem approach

Laws and management

This research considers whether existing legal frameworks to protect the Baltic Sea are strong, flexible and consistent enough for the region and its ecology, with particular reference to eutrophication issues. Another study area is the degree of congruence between the legal framework and the existing governance structure, especially in relation to the risk of regime shifts.

Publications

2015

An empirical model of the Baltic Sea reveals the importance of social dynamics for ecological regime shifts
Masked, diluted and drowned out: how global seafood trade weakens signals from marine ecosystems
Climate and fishing steer ecosystem regeneration to uncertain economic futures
Past and future challenges in managing European seas
Coping with persistent environmental problems: systemic delays in reducing eutrophication of the Baltic Sea
The role of cooperation for improved stewardship of marine social-ecological systems in Latin America

2014

Float or Sinker for Europe’s Seas? The role of law in marine governance, in Governing Europe’s Marine Environment - Europeanization of Regional Seas or Regionalization of EU Policies
A chain of fools: or, why it is so hard to stop overfishing
A holistic view of marine regime shifts that spans multiple ecosystems and stressors
Classifying fishers’ behaviour. An invitation to fishing styles
Global networks and global change-induced tipping points
What controls the long term behavior of fishermen – Fish stock status, prices or regulations?
Does fisheries management incentivize noncompliance? - Estimated misreporting in the Swedish Baltic Sea pelagic fishery based on commercial fishing effort
Legal Prerequisites for a Nutrient Trading Scheme to Control Eutrophication in the Baltic Sea
Marine Regime Shifts Around the Globe: Theory, Drivers and Impacts
Applying resilience thinking to production ecosystems
Does aquaculture add resilience to the global food system?
Globalization, marine regime shifts and the Soviet Union
Adaptive Governance of the Baltic Sea – Lessons
from Elsewhere

2013

2012

2011

2010

Legal frameworks for an ecosystem-based management of the Baltic Sea

Are the regulations that steer Baltic Sea management ecosystem-based?

Using an ecosystem approach in managing for example fisheries and eutrophication seems to be something that most Baltic Sea countries strive for, but how is that implemented in the binding laws and regulations? To illuminate that was the purpose of the conference Towards an ecosystem-based legal framework for the Baltic Sea held at Stockholm University on October 7th 2014.

Summary and filmed sessions

Aspects of law on ecosystem based management

Ecosystem-based management is a word commonly used to guide the marine ecosystem- and resource management into becoming sustainable and holistic. But how does it work from a legal perspective? A group of legal scientists have been studying national laws in different Baltic Sea countries in order to understand how they adapt to the “ecosystem approach”.

Comparing national laws in Baltic Sea countries