Essentially, this approach includes human activities. EBM recognises that ocean health is directly linked to human wellbeing through communities and economies. 🤝 It helps us understand how multiple pressures, such as pollution and overfishing, combine to impact the marine world.

Without EBM, we often manage with 'tunnel vision'. A law to protect one species may unintentionally harm another, or a new coastal industry could pollute fishing grounds. This fragmented approach often fails to solve the root problems of ecosystem decline.

Think of the ocean as a huge, interconnected web. 🕸️ Everything is connected - from the smallest plankton to the largest whales, and even the water they swim in. #Ecosystem-basedManagement is a ‘big picture’ approach that respects all these links to make wiser decisions.

Are we 'managing the whole' or leaving a dangerous 'hole' in our marine management? This #WorldScienceDay, we are excited to announce the new #GES4SEAS #MOOC on Ecosystem-Based Management (#EBM). Join us to explore a better way to manage our #seas.

We will start next month, so stay tuned!

How can we effectively manage human pressures on our marine ecosystems? 🌊 Sector-by-sector approaches often miss the bigger picture! Following our previous #MOOCs, we explore Ecosystem-based Management (#EBM), an integrated approach that considers the whole system. #GES4SEAS

When human activities put too much pressure on ecosystems, they can reach a #tippingpoint. Once this tipping point is passed. It is extremely difficult to return the ecosystem to its previous state. This means that we need to manage ecosystems to avoid #tippingpoints.

Second activity: There is no right answer for this scenario. There are many possibilities and based on local legislations there may be rules to abide by. However, it is always very complicated once a system has passed a #tippingpoint Remember: WE NEED TO AVOID #tippingpoints

Thanks for all who contributed. Answers to the first activity: Question 1: 4 Question 2: 2 Question 3: 2 Question 4: 4

So… We have reached the end of this #GES4SEAS #mooc #TIPP We hope that this provided a good source of knowledge on #tippingpoints We also hope that you had fun with the activities. The answers are below👇👇

Today in #TIPP #GES4SEAS #mooc, you are in the leader. Get your role-play hat on and follow the link. Your choices could mean the survival or collapse of an estuary. Read the scenario and tell us what you think is the best way forward Hint: tough decision https://t.co/yvFR85LSWj

These great initiatives are extremely helpful. However, even they may struggle with ecosystems that passed a #tippingpoint . It takes a HUGE effort to reduce pressures enough for the ecosystem to shift back. The point 👉 IMPORTANT TO AVOID TIPPING POINTS in the first place!

We also now have the Nature Restoration Law. Another great initiative😃 Europe will invest a lot in restoration now 👍However, what we know is that recovery can start early but it takes a LONG time to rebuild a fully self-sustaining ecosystem. https://t.co/uQFgrdiaBW

Europe launched the NATURA 2000 to protect ecosystems. A great initiative😃 But it remains difficult to highly protect ecosystem. https://t.co/GJnL7eaGYa Can you spot the HIGHLY or FULLY protected areas across European seas?

To help ecosystems, there are two common practices: ☝️Protect from disturbance (e,g., Marine Protected Areas #marineprotectedareas) ✌️Restoration The problems: 1. We cannot strictly protect everywhere. It is simply not feasible. 2. We cannot realistically restore everywhere.

Now you know that once we reach a tipping point #TIPP, getting back to where we were is Very Difficult🤔🤔 The ecosystem can change so much. We will need to reduce the pressures a lot. Even then, it might take YEARS! Nonetheless we should NOT give up! Read on👇👇

Time to show what you’ve got—quiz mode: activated! 😁#TIPP Follow the link below to the quiz and feel free to refer back to previous posts. Have fun! The answers will come at the end of the #mooc Choose to answer anonymously https://t.co/sYHEel8oYZ

If we do not reduce nutrient discharge drastically, think of all the changes that will occur and all organisms that will likely perish and not come back.

If the hypoxia persists, suddenly the biological and chemical processes, and the plant/animal populations changes so much that the whole system goes in a different environmental state. That is, the system tumbles past the tipping point.

This hypoxia starts cause the animals and plants to suffer because their body does not have enough oxygen. The hypoxia also changes the biological (activity of bacteria) and chemical (nutrient cycling) processes in the sediment and water column.