As mentioned in the introduction to this chapter, the themes that are discussed as relevant for the development of ecosystem based management can be of three different types:
- Instances where impact of human activities on the ecosystem has been demonstrated or is likely
- Instances where there is a risk for such impact from future activities
- Instances where there is no significant impact in the ecosystem but it has been shown or might be expected that the situation deviates from goals that we can expect that an ecosystem based management plan will have
Examples of such goals are listed in the introduction of this chapter.
It should be emphasized that although the summary given below covers many of the most relevant themes, it should not be considered a complete list. Rather, the highlighted themes should be looked upon as both a significant part of the basis for ecosystem-based management in the Barents Sea as well as important examples that illustrate how the contents of this report may be used to further ecosystem-based management in the area. Some issues that are clearly relevant have not been discussed, such as the concept of vulnerable and valuable areas, which is important in the management plan for the Norwegian part of the Barents Sea. The need for specific attention to risks for the loss of biodiversity and needs for protective measures for threatened species of arctic endemics within the region are examples of other relevant issues that have not been discussed in this chapter.
The themes are sorted to the categories listed above. Some of the themes may not be easily classified to one of the categories. This is commented where it is relevant.
