Helena Calado

University of the Azores | UAc · Departamento de Biologia

This paper takes stock of the impact the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive 2014/89/EU has had on developing maritime spatial planning (MSP) practice in Europe. Drawing on the practical experience of 22 Member States, it analyses how countries with varying political, planning and regional contexts, as well as varying MSP experience prior to 2014,...

Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) has received increasing attention from policy-makers around the world as an ecosystem-based approach to the waters under the jurisdiction of coastal states, with the aim of enhancing socioeconomic development while promoting environmental protection and conservation. However, this planning process requires abundant a...

Planning of marine areas has spread widely over the past two decades to support sustainable ocean management and governance. However, to succeed in a changing ocean, marine spatial planning (MSP) must be ‘climate-smart’— integrating climate-related knowledge, being flexible to changing conditions, and supporting climate actions. While the need for...

There are a considerable number of studies reporting the negative impacts of recreational diving and their causes, yet there is a gap in the information regarding the aspects of activity management. This paper presents a systematic approach to the management measures found in the literature. A large part of the measures identified address stakehold...

Directive 2014/89/EU provided a common framework for MSP in Europe, aiming to promote the sustainable development of maritime activities. However, its implementation has been facing various challenges in different Member States. This paper presents the evolution of MSP in Portugal and analyses how the conditions set by the directive have been addre...

Non‐native species (NNS) might become invasive and threaten biodiversity, economy and public health. Therefore, it is essential that their invasiveness risk be quantified to support conservation measures. The Azores, located in the mid‐northern Atlantic, is the crossroad of macroalgal native distributions and also present almost three times the glo...

Deep-sea active hydrothermal vents are globally diverse, vulnerable, rare, remote, and isolated habitats, yet they face increasing threats from human activities, including deep-sea mining. To address the conservation challenges surrounding these habitats, we present a global assessment of the conservation status of deep-sea active vents. Our findin...

Although considerable progress has been made in the management and planning of the marine environment, important gaps still exist in streamlining policies across governance levels, maritime sectors, and between different countries. This can hinder effective Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) and prevent harmonious cross-sectoral cooperation, and impor...

The Maritime Spatial Planning process plans towards a desired future (Vision/Goal). Such vision is usually an integration of various aspirations from different stakeholders and sectors that depend on the related policy/governance framework. In this sense, a tool such as scenario-building is of paramount importance to MSP once it helps decision-make...

The Ocean is the largest ecosystem on the planet, supporting millions of people's livelihood. Marine protected areas (MPAs) are key to guarantee Ocean resilience. About 62 % of the Ocean surface coincide with areas 200 miles from coastlines, called areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). However, MPAs in ABNJ are only 1,18 % of the high seas. St...

Nature Ocean Sustainability

Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is used to identify the potential impacts of plans and policies such as maritime spatial planning (MSP). Studies have demonstrated ambiguity in SEA objectives and substantial knowledge gaps in existing and emerging SEA practices for MSP. The aim of this paper is to support a methodology for the development,...

Marine spatial planning (MSP) is currently practiced by almost half of the world’s nations. While some countries are working on their second, third or fourth round of MSP, many are going through their first round of marine spatial planning. Thus, there are experiences to share and to reflect upon. Current practices of MSP show a minimum of ecosyste...

Scenarios constitute narratives or storylines that reasonably describe how the future is likely to unfold. The usefulness of scenarios in Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) is now recognised within policy and research, with many institutions urging the development of likely trajectories in the future state of the marine environment and space. However,...

The concept of marine spatial planning (MSP) is converging with the worldwidemomentum towards more sustainable behaviours. For example, the United NationsSustainable Development Goal 14 (“Life Below Water”) has principles of conservation andthe sustainable use of oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development,and MSP is seen as an e...

Citation: Przedrzymirska, J.; Zaucha, J.; Calado, H.; Lukic, I.; Bocci, M.; Ramieri, E.; Varona, M.C.; Barbanti, A.; Depellegrin, D.; de Sousa Vergílio, M.; et al. Multi-Use of the Sea as a Sustainable Development Instrument in Five EU Sea Basins. Sustainability 2021, 13, 8159. https://doi.

Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES) in Europe's Outermost Regions (ORs) and Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) is still underdeveloped compared to the European mainland. Most of those territories are small islands for which Marine and Coastal Ecosystems (MCE) constitute a significant resource and provide important...

Maritime spatial planning (MSP) is a governance approach that has been applauded for its promise to reconcile human uses and conservation, and is now widely implemented in member states of the European Union (EU), as well as in other countries in the Global North, like Canada, the United States and Australia. Five years ago, very few countries in t...

The case study provides an overview of coastal tourism in the Azores and the probable future impacts of climate change on the islands. It summarizes the findings of a recent study undertaken by an international team of experts, including the authors, to determine how serious the impacts are, in particular on tourism. It considers these effects in t...

This paper explores how geography shapes human uses of the maritime space along the Atlantic archipelagic territories of Macaronesia, a biogeographical region that includes the archipelagos of the Azores, Madeira, Selvagens, Canary Islands and Cape Verde. The way specific geographic characteristics of these islands influence and even determine mari...

Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) has been heralded as the key means of achieving a more integrated approach to marine use across sectors and spatial scales. Achieving greater integration and coherence in MSP governance arrangements is seen as a way to resolve current problems of marine governance (such as fragmentation) and address future resource dem...

The acceleration of global warming and increased vulnerability of marine social-ecological systems affect the benefits provided by the ocean. Spatial planning of marine areas is vital to balance multiple human demands and ensure a healthy ocean, while supporting global ocean goals. To thrive in a changing ocean though, marine spatial planning (MSP)...

This paper revolves around the role that food-from-the-sea plays in European maritime security. It aims to illustrate the links between food, fisheries, and maritime security by considering these as coexisting attributes of security in general and of maritime (in)security, in particular. The article analyzes three dimensions of this issue: the link...

Coastal development in small islands needs adapting to climate and ecosystem changes in the Anthropocene era. Understanding variability of coastal vulnerability along the entire coastline informs coastal planning and management at an island-wide scale as some coastal stretches are more appropriate for big-scale development, while others require add...

The implementation of maritime/marine spatial planning (MSP) strategies and management actions is often sought out by means of holistic, sustainability seeking processes, recognizing the connectivity and interdependences of all ecosystem elements, including humans. In this context, overall sustainability is reached when social, environmental and ec...

Promoting co-existence and synergies amongst maritime uses is a key issue in maritime spatial management. Maritime economies are developing globally, leading to competition for marine resources and increasing environmental pressures. Multi-use (MU) is the joint use of marine resources in close geographic proximity. Focusing on the Eastern Atlantic...

Over the past decade, marine/maritime spatial planning (MSP) has matured from a concept to a practical approach in advancing sustainable development and management of marine space [1]. However, MSP still remains a relatively novel and complex process which involves various disciplines, procedures and engagement with multiple interests within differ...

The practice of Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) has developed substantially during the last decade, calling for more qualified professionals. Education, training, and growth capacity for MSP, however, are (still) some of the less addressed themes in MSP forums and specific learning materials, such as textbooks and practice manuals. Some teaching in...

A methodological approach for the conservation status assessment of Azorean natural habitats in Pico Island (Portugal) is presented, using the InVEST Habitat Quality model. This spatial analysis-based study was focused on a selected group of 33 endemic plant species occurring in Pico Island and protected under the Habitats Directive's Listed Habita...

‘Multi-use’ implies a radical change from the concept of exclusive resource rights to an inclusive sharing of resources by one or more users. Thus multi-use often does not come naturally, but shall be motivated by clear drivers and added-values. This also implies that ‘multi-use’ solutions are not exclusively better than ‘single-use’ options. It is...

Traditional silo approaches to managing marine resources and anthropogenic activities are progressively being replaced by systemic and holistic ecosystem-based management. In Europe, authorities are increasingly realising the interconnected complexity and transboundary effects of maritime economic activities on each other and on the marine environm...

Stakeholder’s views were explored on a set of statements regarding the role of government, NGO and foreign investors in promoting blue growth and how they perceive blue growth role in promoting economic activities, creating jobs and using ocean resources in a sustainable way. A pro-growth and business opportunities discourse emerged as dominant. Th...

Traditional silo approaches to managing marine resources and anthropogenic activities are progressively being replaced by systemic and holistic ecosystem-based management. In Europe, authorities are increasingly realising the interconnected complexity and transboundary effects of maritime economic activities on each other and on the marine environm...

The increasing demand for ocean resources exerts an increasing pressure on the use of ocean space across all European Sea Basins. This underlines issues of compatibility (or conflicts) between different maritime uses as well as between economic activities and environmental protection. The idea of multi-use (MU), as a guiding concept for efficient a...

This book aims to update the last volume, Disappearing Destinations (2011), and presents new cases that discuss current threats and consequences of climate change predictions on coastal tourism destinations. In this context, predicted changes and implications for management and policy at such destinations are assessed. The book chapters are divided...

The concept of ecological structure (ESt), as implemented through spatial planning, has been recently used to protect ecosystem functions (EFs) and services and their contribution to human well-being. This study intends to provide an exploratory analysis to operationalize the inclusion of EFs in the design of ESt in territories lacking detailed ind...

Sustainable development is the framing concept assuring that resources are exploited while maintaining the ability of these natural resources to provide for future generations. With human dependence on marine resources increasing, Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) has been identified as a suitable approach to ensure sustainable development. In order...

This study explores diver motivations in the Azores in relationship to demographic variables and level of specialization, based on a survey of 425 divers in five of the nine islands. Using cluster and principal components analysis, four diver clusters were distinguished: socializers, shark and manta divers, biodiversity seekers and explorer divers....

Oceanic islands face very serious environmental issues such as climate change, environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity and proliferation of invasive alien species. The Island Ecological Structure (IES) includes the key natural resources, biophysical functions and ecological processes within this territorial unit, in order to ensure the exis...

Oceanic islands face very serious environmental issues such as climate change, environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity and proliferation of invasive alien species. The Island Ecological Structure (IES) includes the key natural resources, biophysical functions and ecological processes within this territorial unit, in order to ensure the exis...

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Protected areas (PAs) have been selected using either subjective or objective criteria applied to an extremely limited subset of biodiversity. Improved availability of species distribution data, better statistical tools to predict species distributions and algorithms to optimize spatial conservation planning allow many impediments to be overcome, p...

The concepts of green infrastructure and ecological structure (ES) are current topics of discussion among the scientific community and spatial planners. ES is mandatory in Portugal in land-planning, such as municipal master plans, but no consensus has been reached on how to implement it. The concept has not yet been implemented in the Azores, a Por...

Establishing Protected Areas (PAs) is considered one of the most appropriate ways to conserve nature and cultural landscapes. However, conservation constraints can generate social conflicts, especially at a local level. In small islands (SIs), local conflicts may escalate due to an increase in competition for limited space and resources. Pico islan...

Being a large maritime nation, the need to develop sustainable ocean planning and management processes in Portugal has been gaining increased importance in the last decade. After promulgating its first national framework law on maritime spatial planning (MSP), Portugal has recently approved a new MSP Diploma that aims at "developing" (i.e. implemen...

Nesta obra publicam-se as Actas da Conferência ‘20 anos da entrada em vigor da CNUDM: Portugal e os recentes desenvolvimentos no Direito do Mar’, que se realizou na Faculdade de Direito da Universidade do Porto, no dia 29 de Outubro de 2014. As novidades registadas nos anos 2013 e 2014 no panorama europeu e internacional relativo ao Direito do Mar,...

This contribution summarizes the main concerns presented by experts at a conference held in Lisbon in January 2015 to discuss the developing Portuguese legal framework for MSP and lists the suggestions that were correspondingly offered on how to improve the proposed framework.

Multifunctional artificial reefs (MFARs) have been growing in popularity over the last decade. They are offshore submerged structures which provide coastal protection while also enhancing marine and recreational amenities such as surfing and beach widening. A feasibility study was undertaken for São Miguel Island (Azores) where island-wide general...

The continuous growth in fish consumption and related activities is stressing the fishing industry worldwide. To counteract this, mariculture might represent an opportunity for consumers, industry and marine resource sustainability, as long as careful site selection is taken into consideration. The current study was developed to assess potential si...

No dia 16 de Janeiro de 2015, teve lugar na Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas da Universidade Nova de Lisboa (FCSH-UNL), uma sessão organizada pelo CICS.NOVA e CIBIO-Açores para debater a proposta de diploma aprovada em Conselho de Ministros de 8 de Janeiro, que desenvolve a Lei nº 17/2014, de 10 de Abril, que estabelece as Bases da Política...

Protected areas are at the centre of nature-based tourism, which is increasingly popular across the world. As visitor numbers increase, so does awareness of the harmful effects that large crowds may have on both natural resources and individuals’ recreational experience. This volume considers the challenge of transportation to and within natural an...

The aim if this paper is to understand the attitudes towards property rights and related rents in remote maritime regions within the challenge of the European Marine Strategy. The main hypothesis to be exploited, focusing on the growing search of new maritime resources, is that innovation can be seen as a rent seeking phenomena not only through tim...

This paper makes a brief history of the latest palaeontological investigations on the island of Santa Maria (Azores). We indicate the reasons for the importance of its palaeontological heritage and list out the most relevant projects that have led to the presentation of the "PaleoParque Santa Maria" initiative to the Regional Government of the Azor...

Many shark species are highly endangered. The main cause of mortality is fishing. Shark tourism is growing worldwide and has the potential to provide incentive-based conservation for some shark species but fishing remains a major challenge. In the Azores, sharks are still relatively abundant and a shark tourism industry has developed over the last...

This paper aims to assess the effectiveness of ASTER imagery to support the mapping of Pittosporum undulatum, an invasive woody species, in Pico da Vara Natural Reserve (S. Miguel Island, Archipelago of the Azores, Portugal). This assessment was done by applying K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Maximum Likelihood (MLC) pix...

This paper makes a brief history of the latest palaeontological investigations on the island of Santa Maria (Azores). We indicate the reasons for the importance of its palaeontological heritage and list out the most relevant projects that have led to the presentation of the "PaleoParque Santa Maria" initiative to the Regional Government of the Azor...

Editorial of the Journal of Integrated Coastal Zone Management's thematic issue on "Establishing, planning and managing protected areas in small islands".

Small Islands face particular challenges in their sustainable development, and therefore require specific tailored approaches for planning and management. Unsurprisingly, protected areas have a special role in the conservation of biodiversity and natural resources crucial to the sustainability of such territories. How should the management and plan...

Islands may have a diversity of classifications, however, on this paper we address the constraints that include these territories in the category of small islands: size and population. To this particular balance and relation between population and availability of the territorial resource it sums the particular economic structures and the peculiar s...

As pequenas ilhas são sistemas muito vulneráveis devido às suas especificidades socioeconómicas e naturais. Mas essas características contribuíram para a formação de um património natural com elevado nível de endemismos e para o desenvolvimento de paisagens culturais únicas. Neste contexto, a criação de áreas protegidas é uma das medidas mais aprop...

The biophysical features of small islands (SI) distinguish them from other territories; isolation, small size and several anthropogenic pressures reduce the resilience of ecosystems and increase their vulnerability to global changes. Many SI have a shortage of infrastructures, institutions and technical/financial resources that hinder planning and...