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Economic valuation of ecosystem services provided by deep-sea sponges

D. Ottaviani

Published 2020 in Unknown venue

ABSTRACT

This report was commissioned under the SponGES project as a pivotal information item (Deliverable 8.1) with a direct impact on resource management and conservation of deep-sea sponges in the North Atlantic. It is based on information available in the scientific literature at the time of writing, but also indicates the research areas where discoveries and research advances are shortly expected. The report is aimed at a generic public with no specialized knowledge on sponges or on economic valuation. It is outlined in a way to provide essential background information but makes reference to a comprehensive list of scientific publications for further insights. The initial part provides basic information on the definition of ecosystem services, on an ecosystem service classification framework, and on common approaches undertaken for ecosystem service valuation. In this introductory overview, the economic valuation of deep-sea sponges is placed in the wider context of ecosystem services provided by the deep sea. Common challenges encountered in the economic valuation of deep-sea sponges as well as deep-sea ecosystems are discussed, and a summary is provided of approaches found in the literature for the economic valuation of deep-sea ecosystem services. The ecosystem services provided by sponges were categorized under The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity ecosystem service classification. This classification distinguishes four main categories of ecosystem services: provisioning services; regulating services; habitat services; and cultural services. Four ecosystem services associated to deep-sea sponges, one for each category, were selected and used to exemplify the level of information needed for an economic valuation as well as common challenges and data gaps encountered. In particular, deep-sea sponges were analysed as a potential source for pharmaceuticals and biotechnology applications (provisioning services), as natural filtering systems of the deep sea (regulating services), as habitat for commercial fish species (habitat services), and as promising candidates for scientific research and education (cultural services). The overall description of baseline ecological and economic data required for a monetary valuation of these four ecosystem services was further complemented by detailed examples on how economic valuation approaches could be applied to existing baseline data. These examples, described in stand-alone text boxes, show the complexity of the economic valuation of deep-sea sponges. At the same time, they also provide some insight on what the economic relevance of deep-sea sponge ecosystem services could be in future, when, with advances in scientific research, the full ecological and consequently economic importance of deep-sea sponges will become more evident. The final part of the report outlines the way forward, pointing out the research priorities for making advances in the economic valuation of ecosystem services provided by sponges. It presents an overview of current drivers on research on deep-sea sponges, existing and required investments, and challenges posed to policymakers in considering present and future trade-offs in the management of the deep sea. It wraps up by summarizing the economic benefits, ecological reasons and cultural value of sponges as a possible UNESCO site of outstanding universal value, recommending the precautionary principle in the conservation and management of deep-sea sponge grounds.

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