The 2005 proposal from the European Commission for a Marine Strategy Directive has at its core the need to meet Good Environmental Status (GEnS). Similarly, in the UK, to underpin the proposed Marine Bill, are proposals for Marine Ecosystem Objectives (MEOs). Both concepts are objective-led processes that seek to define a minimum suite of regionally-relevant headline indicators that allow reporting on state.
The difficulty in developing these new policy approaches is that they tend to look to the traditional science base or existing regulatory requirements to service the needs of the new policy. Whilst using existing scientific information is essential, new approaches are required that draw in the best existing science and advice that is available, but that are also more holistic in their efforts to encourage sustainable development. This report set out some important considerations to create information resources that meet the policy needs.