'Ecosystem' and 'Ecosystem approach' (EA) are intrinsically complex and difficult terms that are used in many different ways, often with lack of clear definitions.We provide here a brief svunmary of the concepts and definitions to facilitate the further convergence in thinking and to avoid confusion or disagreement on semantic grounds.We also explain the concepts of'Ecological Quality Objectives' (EcoQOs) as used in OSPAR, and'Environmental Status' as used in the new EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).The North Sea Ministerial Conferences (NSC) has had a great influence on the ocean policy development in Europe.The attention given to fisheries at the 4th NSC in Esbjerg in 1995 and the follow-up Intermediate Ministerial Meeting on Integration of Fisheries and Environmental Issues in Bergen in 1997 led to the development of an EA as a guiding principle for integration of fisheries in a wider framework. Work on a system of EcoQOs was initiated after the 3rd NSC in The Hague in 1990, and EcoQOs were seenas an integral component of the EA as adopted in the Bergen Declaration from the 5th NSC in 2002. OSPAR and ICES were requested to continue work to further develop and evaluate the EcoQO system. Several of the EcoQOs relate to fisheries, such as the status of commercial fish populations, by-catch of harbour porpoise and proportion of large fish in bottom trawl surveys in the North Sea. Environmental status is the core concept of the EU MSFD that was adopted in 2008, and Good Environmental Status (GES)is the main objective to be achieved by 2020, at the latest, for defined geographical regions or sub-regions, equivalent to large marine ecosystems (LMEs).The MSFD is a legal and practical implementation of the EA to integrated management. Full integration of fisheries within a broader framework in the EU will remain a challenge, however, due to the institutional obstacles of working together across the boundaries of agencies and legal instruments.
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