OPP background

Aim

The main aim of the Action is to foster an interdisciplinary Integrative Platform to measure and understand the historical significance and value to European societies of living marine resource extraction (incl. fishing and mammal hunt) and production (incl. aqua culture) to help shape the future of coasts and oceans.

Objectives

The secondary objectives are as follows. The Action will:

• Promote common protocols for analysis across existing major historical databases (climate, extractions, shipping, prices, etc.).
• Develop integrated time series for regional seas of Europe based on archaeological, historical and modern data for key species and habitats.
• Promote marine environmental history curricula by means of a textbook publication.
• Publish comparative studies of past and current trajectories of marine resource use.
• Interpret the time series as a basis for descriptors, baselines and
• indicators of relevance to ocean and coastal managers.
• Publish best-practice guide for future use of historical data in ocean and coastal management
• Build capacity by connecting high-quality scientific communities throughout Europe and worldwide by provide networking opportunities for early career scientists through short-term visits (STSM), and organise two training schools in 2016 and 2017 (one theme on human-ocean interactions and one on integration of historical information in management).
• Promote the integration of people and context-specific social framing conditions into planning and policy reviews of oceans and coasts

How will networking within the Action yield objectives?

The ambitious approach of the Action depends on a close working relationship and co-operation between researchers and stakeholders. The Action has been structured to ensure that there are sufficient rewards to share knowledge and information by producing valuable and relevant outcomes.

The Oceans Past Sounding Board will be a valuable mechanism for sharing, facilitating and evaluating improved understanding and tools that demonstrate how digital data and/or platforms can enable the dissemination of research into decision support tools for managers.

A variety of networking tools (including physical meetings for workshops, electronic fora, Webinars, social media, training schools and short-term scientific missions) will be employed. The Platform will encourage participation of Near Neighbourhood and International Partner countries and has been met with wide interest already.