SUBJECT: Does marine biodiversity really matter?
AUTHOR: Anastasios Eleftheriou
DATE: 14th April 2003

During the first phase of the third MARBENA e-Conference, substantial evidence was submitted pointing to the fact that marine biodiversity has been changing in the Mediterranean and that this change matters, not only from a scientific point of view but for a host of reasons (economic, social, ethical, etc). A number of examples of these changes have already been demonstrated: the invasion of new species, the displacement or disappearance of the indigenous fauna and flora, the continuous decrease in fisheries catches, and the destruction of habitats. It was also shown that various anthropogenic agents (human population growth being the first in order) associated with climatic change, are regarded as the major drivers of biodiversity loss.

The fact that, although Mediterranean marine biodiversity can be considered as the best studied in the world, our scientific knowledge still cannot give adequate support to managerial and political decision-making, is an issue that has emerged in the first phase of the conference. Yet, that our scientific knowledge of Mediterranean marine biodiversity, which has been characterized by major gaps, such as lack of information on deep-sea biodiversity and on biodiversity distribution at different scales, lack of information on long-term biodiversity trends, the need to promote coupling of classical and molecular techniques for studying biodiversity and our limited knowledge on marine biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, has emerged as the trend, commonly shared by almost all participants.

Consequently, we, as scientists, are in the invidious position of being able to detect some of the changes leading to biodiversity loss, these being primarily detectable at the species level at least on a local scale, though we are still unable to detect the changes taking place on the regional scale and at all levels of marine biodiversity. However, both changes in marine biodiversity and the unknown information on the Mediterranean and Black Seas marine biodiversity may well imply consequences, which need to be evaluated in order to identify impacts on the marine environment and the associated social and economic systems. The latter concept has been recently considered as the cornerstone for the conservation and sustainable exploitation of the marine environment.

Valuation, of course, may include both direct economic value to resources (goods) and indirect ones as irreplaceable regulators of ecosystem vital functions (services), as well as ethical and aesthetic values.

At this stage, I do not intend to formulate the discussion by asking specific questions, as this is the first time that such a valuation will be attempted for the entire region. Thus, I prefer to remain with the questions formulated for this session:
- What is the value of change of marine biodiversity?
- What can we do to know the presently unknown?
- What are the consequences and costs of not knowing?

Some ideas referring mainly to the second question have already been expressed in the course of the first phase of the conference, including the formulation of MPAs, of common protocols for the monitoring activities and the introduction of international initiatives to the region, which could form an umbrella project to this challenge.

I wish you a successful session.

Anastasios Eleftheriou.
P.O. Box 2214
GR-71003 Iraklio
Crete
Greece