Professor David Johnson, Executive Secretary of the OSPAR Commission, presents the ecosystem approach.
For the purpose of the OSPAR Convention, the ecosystem approach is defined as “the comprehensive integrated management of human activities based on the best available scientific knowledge about the ecosystem and its dynamics, in order to identify and take action on influences which are critical to the health of marine ecosystems, thereby achieving sustainable use of ecosystem goods and services and maintenance of ecosystem integrity”.
The implementation of the ecosystem approach is fully consistent with the objectives of the EC Marine Strategy Framework Directive, which aims to achieve or maintain “good environmental status” in the marine environment.