Following the Netherlands' request on cumulative impact assessment (CIA) on behalf of the Greater North Sea Basin Initiative (GNSBI), the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) published a special request advice report providing a review of selected CIA methods and applications
The advice focuses on evaluating methods for assessing cumulative impacts (the combined effects of multiple human activities on marine ecosystems). The document reviews selected cumulative impact assessment methods, establishes common principles for conducting these assessments, and recommends suitable tools for application in the Greater North Sea and Celtic Seas regions.
The review examines five specific CIA methods, comparing their strengths and limitations for different applications. SCAIRM (Spatial Cumulative Assessment of Impact Risk for Management) is recommended as a suitable method to begin addressing the GNSBI's questions and applications, particularly because it is spatially resolved and has been applied in the Greater North Sea.
The document also establishes common principles for CIA methods organised around five themes: terminology, uncertainty and transparency, flexibility, integration, and implementation practice. These principles are intended to guide good practice in CIA development and application.
Finally, the advice outlines a process for developing the knowledge base needed to support cumulative impact assessments, including identifying data priorities and addressing gaps in information about marine ecosystem impacts.