The necessity to introduce and apply the Ecological Approach into the regular programme of monitoring of the state of the marine ecosystem derives from the decisions of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention in 2012. This approach is compatible with the requirements of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD, 2008/56/EC) which transposition into the national legislation and implementation is mandatory in the pre-accession process to the EU, with the aim to achieve good environmental status of marine environment. In order to enable a compatible application of the two approaches, cooperation with countries of the Adriatic Sea sub-region and the Mediterranean region is essential.
Starting from the initial results of testing the possibility to apply EcAp in the marine waters of the Boka Kotorska Bay implemented within CAMP Montenegro, it is necessary to carry out the following activities:
1. Initial assessment of the current status of marine environment by applying relevant EcAp status indicators which will be later on expressed through the value index. It comprises the following analyses:
− Analysis of the basic characteristics and components of the existing state of marine environment, taking into account: biodiversity and habitats, fisheries, hydrography, physical and chemical characteristics, other biological characteristics;
− Analysis of main pressures and impacts on the state of marine environment, which will be assessed by applying relevant EcAP pressure indicators and later on expressed through the exposure index. It includes the the analysis of: physical loss of space, e.g. urbanisation/ making the coastal line artificial; physical damages e.g. physical disturbances e.g. marine litter, noise; impacts on hydrological processes, e.g. changes of heat regime, changes in the sea salinity regime; pollution with hazardous substances such as heavy metals, synthetic compounds, radionuclides; continuous inputs of matters the discharges of which are regulated by the law; inputs of nutrients and organic matter e.g. input of matters rich in N and P from point and diffuse pollution sources; biologic disturbances e.g. introduction of non-indigenous (alien) species, invasive species;
2. Having the values of exposure and value index the appropriate sanation and protection measures will be proposed as to improve the present status of marine environment.
All available data will be gathered by applying GIS tools and used for project activities. In the next phase the vulnerability of the marine ecosystem on different activities that may be placed in marine environment will be assessed by combining the value and exposure indexes with the expert assessment of the adaptive capacity of the marine environment for acceptance of new pressures once when future sea uses and related activities will take place.
Following the vulnerability assessment results, the more and less suitable zones for certain activities will identified by applying Marine Spatial Planning.
Project is being realized by the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism in cooperation with PAP/RAC of UN Environment/MAP.