Scaling human-induced pressures to population level impacts in the marine environment : implementation of the prototype CUMULEO-RAM model

For centuries the Dutch coastal waters and the North Sea were primarily used for fisheries and shipping, but during the last 20 years the number of uses has increased rapidly. These human uses (such as wind farms, mineral extraction, coastal defences and fisheries) will lead to a decrease in biodiversity and a reduction in ecosystem and mineral resources. Under several European policies and conventions, the EU North Sea member states must establish a sustainable management regime for the marine environment. In addition, a comprehensive system of marine spatial management (also referred to as ‘marine spatial planning’) is needed to prevent conflicts between the marine environment and economic uses.