The <b>PEAS Center</b> is a Dutch SME specialised in modelling complex issues, simulation under deep uncertainty of complex issues and systems, data science, and developing integrated software solutions for policy testing under deep uncertainty. 

The PEAS Center helps governments and NGOs to explore complex issues by generating large ensembles of futures and designing policies that are robust across these ensembles. The PEAS Center was founded by three researchers and one former researcher from <b>Delft University of Technology</b> to change the world in a positive sense. 

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Center for Policy Exploration, Analysis, and Simulation

WP6 aims to develop and implement Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) ecosystem models (www.ecoapth.org) for all case studies as the necessary foundation to examine a range of fishery and ecosystem management and policy scenarios under a changing environment from the local scale to EU spatial scale as required for CFP and MSFD. The models will be coupled with environmental data, oceanographic and biogeochemical models in order to develop the basis required to conduct and run the scenarios. In order to enhance the reliability of the information provided to policy makers, uncertainty and deep uncertainty tools will be developed and implemented into the scenario running and evaluation process. Further enrichment of scenario testing tools will be implemented through the development of a fisheries edition of the MSP Challenge simulation platform for a selected region (Eastern Mediterranean Sea) and then applying this fisheries edition to existing MSP Challenge simulation platform editions (Baltic Sea, North Sea, Adriatic Sea).

**WP6** aims to develop and implement Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) ecosystem models <a href= "www.ecopath.org" target=“_blank”>(www.ecopath.org) </a>for all case studies as the necessary foundation to examine a range of fishery and ecosystem management and policy scenarios under a changing environment from the local scale to EU spatial scale as required for CFP and MSFD. The models will be coupled with environmental data, oceanographic and biogeochemical models in order to develop the basis required to conduct and run the scenarios. In order to enhance the reliability of the information provided to policy makers, uncertainty and deep uncertainty tools will be developed and implemented into the scenario running and evaluation process. Further enrichment of scenario testing tools will be implemented through the development of a fisheries edition of the MSP Challenge simulation platform for a selected region (Eastern Mediterranean Sea) and then applying this fisheries edition to existing MSP Challenge simulation platform editions (Baltic Sea, North Sea, Adriatic Sea).

**WP6** will create ecosystem models for all the case study areas and will interact with various WPs to exploit their insight and information throughout the project. Input from **WP3** (environmental and oceanographic data) and **WP4** (climate change and fishing effort) will provide external forcing data for the models. The data will be used to modify and improve model accuracy and reliability under current conditions and under future environmental change (e.g. climate change) and fishing impact scenarios; insight from climate impacts and niche modelling conducted in **WP4** will be used to increase the **Ecospace** predictive accuracy, primarily in climate change scenarios; indicators developed as part of **WP5** will be incorporated into the model output providing policy makers with the information they require for informed policy decisions. **WP6** will develop the technological foundations, in terms of ecology and fishery interactive simulations to assess the impact of fishery and ecosystem management strategies/policies on the marine ecology and maritime economy. Interactive simulations (mainly EwE) will be integrated into the existing MSP Challenge simulation platform <a href= "https://www.mspchallenge.info/" target=“_blank”>(www.mspchallenge.info)</a> to develop an eastern Mediterranean Sea fisheries management edition of MSP Challenge simulation platform. The eastern Mediterranean Sea was selected because it is a data-poor area that combines two case studies (Aegean Sea and Levantine Sea) and will complement the existing MSP Challenge simulation platform sites and those under construction in other projects (North Sea, Baltic Sea, Adriatic Sea).

**Task 6.1.** Ecosystem modelling (Ecopath with Ecosim) of all case study areas

EwE models will be compiled, updated where needed, and applied to all case studies. Models will be linked to external data sources via the <a href= "https://ecoscopium.eu/ecoscope-platform" target=“_blank”>EcoScope Platform</a>. Data sources will include: water temperature, primary productivity, fishing effort data (where available based on **WP3**) for driving the models, and fisheries statistics for model validation. While all case study sites have some level of EwE models in place, we will finalise the development of the EwE models at all sites resulting in Ecosim models at each case study and Ecospace models at selected sites, based on the availability of sufficient spatially structured data. Case study specific issues such as marine protected areas (MPAs), fisheries restricted areas (FRAs), aquaculture integration, and invasive species will be included in the model development where relevant.

**Task 6.2.** Develop and implement uncertainty, deep uncertainty into the scenario testing process 

Will deal with the development of tools for conducting simulations under deep uncertainty for Robust Decision Making. This will consist of an engine to simulate models across large uncertainty spaces (deep uncertainty), database structures to save simulation runs in ways that allow for further analysis, visualisation techniques and machine learning techniques. Two parallel systems to address uncertainty and deep uncertainty will be developed: (1) the White-box system testing to mass-execute EwE models in their original form, varying input parameters and configuring internal model hypotheses; and (2) Behavioural meta-modelling techniques linking macro-level policy decisions with micro-level marine models. Model uncertainty will be analysed, quantified and visualised to aid decision-making.

**Task 6.3.** Fishery and ecosystem management interactive simulation: MSP Challenge simulation platform

We will use the MSP Challenge simulation platform to develop a next generation planning support system (digital twin) dedicated to fisheries management in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Once developed and tested, the fishery management edition will be incorporated in the existing MSP Challenge simulation platform available for a number of the case study sites. The MSP Challenge simulation platform will interconnect best available oceanographic, geochemical, maritime and marine data from the <a href= "https://ecoscopium.eu/ecoscope-platform" target=“_blank”>EcoScope Platform</a> with simulation models relevant for fishery management, such as ecology (EwE models), currents, climate change and fishing effort. Using advanced gaming technology, the MSP Challenge simulation platform is designed to engage and immerse users, making it a perfect environment for stakeholder engagement, scenario development, co-design, and social learning. Within this task we will develop a basic MSP Challenge Eastern Mediterranean edition and EwE Ecospace model for the EM region with special emphasis on fisheries, and develop a fisheries management module in the MSP Challenge simulation platform.  This will create a single and multi-user complex social-political interaction based on fisheries management with player-user actions over time (fishing fleet reduction, fishing quota, protected areas, aquaculture units and others) and strategic policies or scenarios (based on socio-economic-ecological targets). 

**Task 6.4.** Development and testing of scenarios

In this task, we will develop the infrastructure required to test environmental, management and policy scenarios, we will define the management and policy scenario categories and options and will examine direct (e.g. water warming) and indirect (e.g. invasive species) climate change impacts, as well as theories such as balanced harvesting. We will conduct and test a series of policy scenarios under deep uncertainty related to future climate conditions and the impact of fisheries and invasive species. Robust Decision Making (RDM) will be implemented in order to achieve objective functions such as balanced harvesting and Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) under unknown futures given possible policies. The scenario testing will incorporate model and scenario uncertainty and deep uncertainty developed as part of task 6.2 and apply the Robust Decision Making framework to the scenario evaluation and assessment. Scenarios will be evaluated based on indicators developed as part of **WP5**. 







Ecosystem modelling and management scenarios

WP3 will develop, demonstrate and maintain the EcoScope Platform, one of the main components of EcoScopium public portal and products of the EcoScope project, which will host meteorological, oceanographic, biogeochemical, environmental, biological, fishery, socio-economic datasets and homogenise them into common standard type and format following international protocols. Data will cover all study areas and will be assembled, compiled and integrated in the system from a multitude of external sources, allowing for an integrated and holistic fisheries management approach within the ecosystem context. The EcoScope Platform will be the modular tool linking data (collected by modern observational multi-platforms, hydrodynamic and biogeochemical model outputs, biological data, etc.) with environmental- and human drivers and with complex spatio-temporal ecosystem models. The EcoScope Platform will couple predictions of changes in marine biogeochemistry, food webs and productivity of ecosystems within the framework of climate change and increased anthropogenic forcing. After data harmonization and injection, the EcoScope Platform will provide data to end-users and stakeholders, in standardised types and formats.

**WP3** will develop, demonstrate and maintain the <a href= "https://ecoscopium.eu/ecoscope-platform" target=“_blank”>EcoScope Platform</a>, one of the main components of **EcoScopium** public portal, which will host meteorological, oceanographic, biogeochemical, environmental, biological, fishery, socio-economic datasets and homogenise them into common standard type and format following international protocols. The <a href= "https://ecoscopium.eu/ecoscope-platform" target=“_blank”>EcoScope Platform</a> will be the modular tool linking data with environmental- and human drivers and with complex spatio-temporal ecosystem models. The <a href= "https://ecoscopium.eu/ecoscope-platform" target=“_blank”>EcoScope Platform</a> will couple predictions of changes in marine biogeochemistry, food webs and productivity of ecosystems within the framework of climate change and increased anthropogenic forcing. 

In **WP3** all collected data from diverse data sources will be compiled, assembled, homogenised and integrated into the <a href= "https://ecoscopium.eu/ecoscope-platform" target=“_blank”>EcoScope Platform</a>. The final product will be a unique interface, capable of integrating multi-disciplinary data such as meteorological, climate, oceanographic, water quality, substrate type, seabed habitats, human impacts, river outflows, nutrient fluxes, fisheries catch, landings, fishing effort data, species distribution maps, benthic biodiversity, marine mammals, and more. Data will be stored in the cloud and will be compatible to the future EU-DIAS cloud system. 

**Task 3.1.** Harmonised database compilation 

This task includes the mapping and scanning of existing databases and data sources (e.g., Earth Observation systems, online models, satellite data, *in-situ* systems, citizen scientist networks) containing meteorological, climate, oceanographic (physical, chemical, biological, biodiversity), human-impact and socio-economic parameters and indicators for all study areas. Databases and platforms will provide data (historic and forecasts) for the above parameters. These data will be combined and merged with data from biological and fisheries databases providing data on biomass, catches and discards, marine mammal distribution, biodiversity, fish and invertebrate species distributions and fishing effort. All data will be homogenised and geo-referenced into a common back-end database, ready to be injected to the <a href= "https://ecoscopium.eu/ecoscope-platform" target=“_blank”>EcoScope Platform</a> and used by other WPs 

**Task 3.2.** Data quality control and consistency 

Management and handling of data collected/produced and indicators derived within the frame of **EcoScope** will be carefully managed in order to ensure the consistency and the quality of the data entering the <a href= "https://ecoscopium.eu/ecoscope-platform" target=“_blank”>EcoScope Platform</a>. Considering the large 4D datasets being processed, the different data formats and different data platforms and providers, the data management plan is essential to deal with the data thoughtfully from the beginning. This design phase will consider the following aspects of data management and handling.

**Task 3.3.** Platform development – Phase 1 (Met-ocean data import)

The <a href= "https://ecoscopium.eu/ecoscope-platform" target=“_blank”>EcoScope Platform</a> will follow architectural guidelines, components and interfaces as developed in ODYSSEA H2020 Project (GDPR, cataloguing, data standardisation, protocols, user interfaces, data storage components, etc). In Phase 1, data from Met-Ocean and climatic data platforms and data providers will be integrated into the system, for all areas covered by the **EcoScope** project. These are dynamic datasets, in the sense that change in time and space at various resolutions and special handling of these data is needed. The front-end of the platform will provide the necessary tools to visualise, process and analyse these data in a user-friendly manner.  

**Task 3.4.** Platform development – Phase 2 (Biological and fishery data import)

In Phase 2, data from biological, biodiversity, fishery data platforms and providers will be integrated into the system, for all areas covered by the **EcoScope** project. These are mostly static data, time-series of catches, effort, landings and biomass per species (Sea Around Us project), previously surveyed data, stock status indices, overfishing indicators, biodiversity, sensitivity indicators, socio-economic data and ecological models output and more. All these data will be derived from **WPs 2, 4, 5, 6** and **7** and will be provided ready to be imported in the platform. 

**Task 3.5.** Data pre- and post-processing and fusion 

In this task, pre-processing will check the integrity, consistency and format of data and transform the data in formats ready for import into the <a href= "https://ecoscopium.eu/ecoscope-platform" target=“_blank”>EcoScope Platform</a>. Data will be stored effectively following Big Data Storage and Analytics approach to allow faster access by the processing component. Post-processing will involve data aggregation, especially between abiotic and biotic variables, even at different resolutions, indicators derivation, alarming and the generation of reports. High- and multiple-level data fusion will be carried out on the entire database, utilising machine and deep learning algorithms, neuro-fuzzy inference systems and various intelligent processing and data assimilation methods. Dedicated algorithms will be developed in this task to provide the above services. 

**Task 3.6.** Platform operation and maintenance 

The objective is to deliver a first set of services in M40 to demonstrate the usefulness of the <a href= "https://ecoscopium.eu/ecoscope-platform" target=“_blank”>EcoScope Platform</a> and to be able to iterate with users for the requirements consolidation in M48. The maintenance will be realised all along the iterative process of deliveries.






Linking fisheries to the ocean

The EcoScope project results will be presented at major events, conferences and workshops with the participation of end-users and stakeholder groups. The project results will be available through a website, social media, press releases, newsletters, games, simulators, dashboards and a smartphone EcoScope App to engage with communities about illegal fishing activities, which will provide valuable feedback to the EcoScopium public portal and the communities themselves.

The general output will be presented with news, articles, a short documentary film and the scientific output will be published in scientific journals and conference proceedings. The primary objectives are to:

1. Increase the profile of the project to the various stakeholder groups and society;
2. Achieve maximum impact and visibility of the services, products, tasks and results produced in the EcoScope project;
3. Produce materials to support the actions within other WP’s and to present their results; and
4. Develop a mobile application (EcoScope App) for promoting user engagement to marine ecosystem protection



The EcoScope project results will be presented at major events, conferences and workshops with the participation of end-users and stakeholder groups. The project results will be available through a website, social media, press releases, newsletters, games, simulators, dashboards and a smartphone EcoScope App to engage with communities about illegal fishing activities, which will provide valuable feedback to the EcoScopium public portal and the communities themselves.
The general output will be presented with news, articles, a short documentary film and the scientific output will be published in scientific journals and conference proceedings. The primary objectives are to:
1. Increase the profile of the project to the various stakeholder groups and society;
2. Achieve maximum impact and visibility of the services, products, tasks and results produced in the EcoScope project;
3. Produce materials to support the actions within other WP’s and to present their results; and
4. Develop a mobile application (EcoScope App) for promoting user engagement to marine ecosystem protection


**Task 10.1.** Communication and dissemination plan

A Communication and Dissemination Plan will be developed outlining the various methods for communicating the project activities and outputs. The target audiences will be identified in collaboration with WP8. The Plan will include a schedule of activities to complete during the first 12 months of the project, whilst also including an outline of the expected actions throughout the duration of the project. The plan will be reviewed annually to evaluate the activities and their impact. The plan and schedule will then be updated to reflect the activities of the next period.

**Task 10.2.** Communications toolbox

A toolbox will be created early in the project to include the design of the EcoScope project brand, logo, website, social media profile and initial publicity materials. Throughout the project, design assets will be created as required to support conferences, capacity building actions etc. All design assets will be available via the project website for partners (internal and external) and media organisations to use.

**Task 10.3.** Project website

A project website will be created to showcase the activities of the EcoScope project and also form the hub of the Stakeholder Knowledge Exchange Forum and Stakeholder Surveys. The initial website components will include general project information, partner information, news, events, communications materials. The website theme will be carried through the social media accounts and other related services. The website will be continually maintained throughout the project and form the central hub for activities. The website will provide seamless access to the projects products and services, including the EcoScopium public portal.

**Task 10.4.** Content production

An important part of any communications strategy is content production which will include scientific output published in journals and conference proceedings, press releases, news, a short documentary film, social media content, images and presentations etc. All content will be available through the project website and disseminated via social media, email and other communications methods identified in the Communication and Dissemination plan to ensure maximum impact. As many scientists from the Consortium serve as senior editorial board members in many leading international journals, the results of EcoScope project will be published as a special issue in a leading journal.

**Task 10.5.** Communication of the EcoScope Platform, EcoScope Toolbox and MSP Challenge simulation platform

To support the maximum uptake of the EcoScopium portal, a separate communications strategy is needed to that of the project Communication and Dissemination Plan. A review of the target audiences and products and services to be offered will be carried out and then an appropriate marketing strategy developed and executed. Dissemination and user support of the EcoScope Platform (WP3), EcoScope Toolbox (WP5) and MSP Challenge simulation platform EM edition (WP6) will make them available, through community wiki with installers, support, manuals, tutorials making them available for stakeholder integration workshops and to users outside the project (seminars, workshops, education and training).

**Task 10.6.** Community engagement mobile application for reporting bad practices

The establishment of ecosystem-based fisheries management is vital for the recovery of ecosystems and fish stocks and can benefit from public awareness and active participation of citizens. This task will develop a mobile application (EcoScope App), which will enable citizens to report on marine hazards, pollution and stranding of protected species. The report will be transferred online to local authorities and will potentially improve compliance. This community-based tool will enhance community involvement and will provide important information for the EcoScope project. We will develop the application to be suited for the partner's specific needs and unique local language, regulations and culture, based on an interactive workshop with local authorities and further support in the capacity building and marketing to increase the use of the application. 



Dissemination and visibility

WP8 on stakeholder engagement and capacity building aims to ensure that the interoperable EcoScope Platform and decision-making EcoScope Toolbox developed within the EcoScope project will be co-designed with the users and stakeholders, and to ensure that these tools are taken up through capacity development. The objectives of the task are to: 

1. Create the EcoScope Stakeholder Knowledge Exchange Forum by identifying and mapping the stakeholders and managing the interaction with them
2. Hold stakeholder co-design meetings to identify their needs, understand their requirements, and feed back the results of the project
3.  Undertake stakeholder surveys
4. Build capacity through the creation of online courses and seminars, i.e. the EcoScope Academy


**WP8** on stakeholder engagement and capacity building aims to ensure that the interoperable EcoScope Platform and decision-making EcoScope Toolbox developed within the EcoScope project will be co-designed with the users and stakeholders, and to ensure that these tools are taken up through capacity development. The objectives of the task are to:
1. Create the EcoScope Stakeholder Knowledge Exchange Forum and manage the interaction with them;
2. Hold stakeholder co-design meetings to identify their needs and requirements, and feed back the results of the project;
3. Undertake stakeholder surveys; and
4. Build capacity through the creation of online courses and seminars (EcoScope Academy)

Building on the EMB Future Science Brief on ecosystem modelling and an understanding of what is needed worldwide, **WP8** will assess the current needs and requirements of policy makers from the tools proposed in EcoScope through the EcoScope Stakeholder Knowledge Exchange Forum (Task 8.1). It will conduct foresight exercises on thematic areas to explore emerging opportunities, capabilities and potential for the future EcoScope Toolbox (Task 8.2), test the impact of the toolbox, workshops and capacity building, and establish a baseline for comparison of economic preferences with those of the wider European population (Task 8.3). A survey of stakeholders and policy makers on what would be needed in a fully comprehensive toolbox will complement the workshops. The knowledge created in the platform (WP3), toolbox (WP5) and ecosystem models (WP6) will also be shared through stakeholder workshops during yearly consortium and Stakeholder Knowledge Exchange Forum regular meetings and through capacity building in the EcoScope Academy (Task 8.4): the educational pillar of the project, that will promote cross community education and knowledge sharing.

**Task 8.1.** Assessment of societal expectations and value of ecosystem-based fisheries management

A Stakeholder Knowledge Exchange Forum will enable the EcoScope team to co-design their tools with stakeholders and receive feedback on their implementation and effectiveness. At the end of the project, the performance of the forum and stakeholder involvement will be evaluated.

*Sub-task 8.1.1. Stakeholder management planning*

The Task leaders will develop a stakeholder management plan linked to the Communications Plan developed in WP10.
The stakeholder management plan will include:
• Identification of communication methods (for different stakeholders),
• Schedule and responsibility of actions,
• Success criteria,
• Post project planning (what happens to the forum at the end? What will be the legacy?),
• Connection with WP10 Communication and Outreach, and
• Planning of events, social media, stakeholder recruitment and management

*Sub-task 8.1.2. Stakeholder mapping*

In this task the stakeholders of the project will be identified and mapped following the identification and review of existing stakeholder mapping initiatives from the project and external community. The stakeholders will be categorised by type, and contact details and they will form the Stakeholder Knowledge Exchange Forum. 

**Task 8.2.** Stakeholder co-design meetings 

*Sub-task 8.2.1. Identifying the needs of policy makers and stakeholders*

This task will map/scope the policy needs and emerging tools, strategies and/or roadmaps for ecosystem modelling. These include, but are not limited to the Oceans and Human Health strategic research agenda developed by H2020 SOPHIE, the Planning documents for the UN Decade for Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, new EU policy document such as the European Green Deal and the Digital Twin Ocean, and EMB foresight publications on Ecosystem Modelling, Navigating the Future V, and Valuing Marine Ecosystem Services. This task will also include the design and analysis of a survey of policy makers in Europe, on their requirements for the EcoScope Toolbox. 

*Sub-task 8.2.2. Foresight workshop 1: Policy Maker and Stakeholder requirements workshop*

During this workshop the team will bring together the policy makers and stakeholders that will use the EcoScope Toolbox as well as experts in the field of toolbox development from the consortium, to co-design a toolbox that can deliver what is required by policy makers and other stakeholders. In addition, the workshop will include the ocean observation and ocean database community, to ensure that all possible data are used to enhance the EcoScope Toolbox and be included in the EcoScope Platform that will cover all European Seas. 

*Sub-task 8.2.3. EcoScope indicator implementation workshop*

The vulnerability and risk assessments undertaken of WP4, the ecosystem assessments of WP5 and MSP Challenge games of WP6 will be presented to relevant stakeholders such as the Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMO), ICES and FAO in a workshop, which will aim to stimulate debate on the necessity of including climate change in fisheries management and the importance of ecosystem based fisheries management. The MSP Challenge simulation platform -EM fishing edition that will be created in WP6 will be tested and validated based on time-line analysis and user/expert participation in the Stakeholder Knowledge Exchange Forum meeting during the last year of the project where the MSP Challenge-EM Fishing Edition will be assessed. This interactive simulation platform will then be incorporated into the EcoScope Academy (Task 8.4). This stakeholder workshop will build on the outcomes of WPs 4, 5, 6 and 7 and will discuss the challenges of implementing and linking economic and ecological indicators. 

*Sub-task 8.2.4. Foresight workshop 2: Future requirements for ecosystem based sustainable management*

Toward the latter stages of the project, when the EcoScope toolbox is delivered, we will consider the future needs. We therefore propose a foresight workshop toward the end of the project, to highlight the achievements of the project, to launch the EcoScope Toolbox, and to address these unknown challenges. For sustainable ecocentric management we will need to bring together the ocean observation and modelling communities, as well as users and National and International Funders. This will need the help of funders such as JPI-Oceans in terms of links with funders at National level but also the European Commission, UNESCO and the World Bank and these stakeholders will also be invited to this workshop. 

**Task 8.3.** Stakeholder surveys to co-design management tools

This task will involve data collection and analysis of surveys conducted among diverse stakeholders with the intent of answering questions, such as: What do stakeholders want from the EcoScope Τoolbox? How appropriate is the EcoScope survey (Task 8.3.2)? and What constitutes EcoScope’s stakeholders’ socio-economic preferences?

*Sub-task 8.3.1. Ecoscope toolbox survey*

This survey will be conducted among European Commission policy makers (DG MARE, DG RTD, DG Grow, and others) in M4 to gauge their specific requirements for the EcoScope Toolbox. The data will therefore yield insights early on in the project to assist in the design of the toolbox useful for Task 8.2

*Sub-task 8.3.2. Ecoscope survey pilot & ongoing stakeholder responses*

Early piloting of the survey will be conducted among 20-30 key stakeholders participating in the workshops, at the same time yielding baseline data for comparison with the results of the main surveys. Once designed (as part of WP7), the survey will be available online to collect data throughout the project lifetime (and beyond) among stakeholders, workshop attendees and participants in capacity building exercises. These data will allow us to gauge the profile of our stakeholders and sub-samples thereof, in contrast with the specific populations we target in WP8 

**Task 8.4.** Capacity building 

The aim of this task is to share the knowledge and methodologies created in EcoScope in the form of an online academy that will become the educational pillar of the project and will promote cross community education and knowledge sharing. The EcoScope Academy will offer a website explaining the scope, the processes and the products of the EcoScope project and will offer a variety of online courses, webinars, digital games and other digital material that will serve different learning audiences (scientists, fishers, policy makers, students, public) and goals.




Interaction with stakeholders and capacity building

WP5 aims to assess the status of the ecosystem across all case studies (Adriatic Sea, Aegean Sea, Balearic Sea, Baltic Sea, Bay of Biscay, Black Sea, Levantine Sea, North Sea) and the status of ecosystem components including commercial and non-commercial fish and shellfish, communities, habitats and megafauna (marine mammals, reptiles seabirds, large sharks and rays) through a series of indicators that will be available on the EcoScopium public portal. The ultimate objective of WP5 is to develop a scoring system, the EcoScope Toolbox, comprised of several metrics from different WPs that will be used for management and policy purposes as well as for comparisons among areas and management scenarios. The specific objectives of WP5 that will be applied to all case studies (and to larger regions if data availability permits) are to:

1. Assess commercial and non-commercial fish and invertebrate stocks using novel methods
2. Evaluate anthropogenic and climate induced changes in marine communities
3. Assess the status of protected megafauna groups and habitats
4. Determine overall ecosystem fisheries exploitation and potential profitability
5. Perform a marine ecosystem assessment and develop a scoring system based on various metrics, indices and indicators

**WP5** aims to assess the status of the ecosystem across all case studies (Adriatic Sea, Aegean Sea, Balearic Sea, Baltic Sea, Bay of Biscay, Black Sea, Levantine Sea, North Sea) and the status of ecosystem components including commercial and non-commercial fish and shellfish, communities, habitats and megafauna (marine mammals, reptiles, seabirds, large sharks and rays) through a series of indicators. The ultimate objective of **WP5** is to develop a scoring system, the <a href= "https://ecoscopium.eu/ecoscope-toolbox" target=“_blank”>EcoScope Toolbox</a>, comprised of several metrics from different WPs that will be used for management and policy purposes as well as for comparisons among areas and management scenarios. 

**WP5** is structured from stock to ecosystem level and organised at an increasing level of biological (and modelling) complexity. The WP will assess the status of all ecosystem components ranging from habitats, non-commercial fish and shellfish (by-catch and discarded species or those collected only during scientific surveys) to commercial stocks as well as megafauna that are vulnerable or protected by national and international legislation and conventions). As this field of science is dynamic, any novel methods that will be developed by consortium members will be used to assess populations/stocks, species and ecosystems and will be incorporated into the WP and included in the <a href= "https://ecoscopium.eu/ecoscope-toolbox" target=“_blank”>EcoScope Toolbox</a>. 

**Task 5.1.** Multi-assessment of commercial and non-commercial fish and invertebrate stocks 

Commercial and non-commercial fish and invertebrate stocks will be assessed based on a string of new tools that have been designed for application in data-poor situations but will also work in data rich fisheries as they are often more robust compared to complex assessment models that are data-hungry. These tools, that have varying data requirements and can be extremely useful for un-assessed stocks, rely on catch (CMSY), abundance/biomass (AMSY) and length frequency distribution (LBB) to derive fisheries reference points in the context of MSY and for stocks that are at risk (SAR). The assessments will be performed per case study, but larger ecoregions will also be assessed based on FAO/GFCM/ICES and Sea Around Us catch data and other sources of information. This will be the first massive assessment of previously un assessed non-commercial fish and invertebrate stocks and will allow the assessment of many stocks in data-poor areas as these methods have been specifically designed for data deficiencies. 

**Task 5.2.** Evaluating change in marine communities

A series of community indicators will be examined to assess ecosystem health and anthropogenic effects (climate and fisheries) on marine communities. Besides the classic biodiversity indices that are available through PRIMER software, several other community indices will be calculated directly for each case study, ecoregion or map cell to examine the impact of fishing on marine communities, while others that are related to climate change and variability (e.g. mean temperature of the catch, MTC) will also be determined at the same scales. The mTLc (mean trophic level of the catch) has been extensively used to assess the effect of biomass removal by fisheries on marine communities and ecosystems, while the MTC (mean temperature of the catch) evaluates the effect of sea temperature increase and the impact of climate change on community level building on species distributions and niche modelling of **WP4**. 

**Task 5.3.** Evaluation of habitats, assessment of protected megafaunal groups and energyscapes

The habitats in each case study will be evaluated based on the preference of each species and the conservation status of a large number of protected megafauna groups will be assessed using novel methods along with the energy requirements of some megafauna groups. Particular reference will be made to essential fish habitats because of their importance in overall ecosystem health. The task is divided in three (3) sub-tasks that will run in parallel.

*Sub-Task 5.3.1. Habitat mapping and evaluation*

Existing habitat maps available on the <a href= "https://ecoscopium.eu/ecoscope-platform" target=“_blank”>EcoScope Platform</a> will be evaluated with respect to the preference of each species, and especially with respect to essential fish habitats. These habitats include the waters necessary to fish for spawning, feeding or growth to maturity, i.e. for completing a full life cycle to support a sustainable fishery and contribute to ecosystem health. The output of this evaluation will be done for each case study/ecosystem or ecoregion.

*Sub-Task 5.3.2. Assessment of protected megafauna* 

The decision support tool **JARA** (Just Another Red-List Assessment) is a Bayesian state-space framework that allows both process error and uncertainty to be incorporated into IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List assessments under criterion A of IUCN. The output of JARA, which will be determined for all megafauna species per case study/ecosystem or ecoregion for which information exists, shows the probability of a population decline displayed against the IUCN Red List categories, and assigns each category a probability with uncertainty. 

*Sub-Task 5.3.3. Energyscapes of marine megafauna*

In order to identify critically important habitats for marine megafauna, and better inform species distribution models, we will calculate animal energyscapes (defined as variations in the energy requirements of an organism across geographical space as a function of biotic and abiotic environmental conditions) across their year cycle. This approach will notably test the impact of climate change on the energy requirements and the distribution patterns of marine megafauna, in the context of concurrent use of these spaces for human activities. All megafauna species for which biological information are available to parameterise the energetics models will be included (several species of seabirds and marine mammals, marine reptiles and a few large sharks), and the climatic data will be derived from **WP3** and **WP4.** 

**Task 5.4.** Ecosystem fisheries exploitation indicators 

Within Task 5.4, three ecosystem overfishing indices will be calculated and compared with the biomass-based, catch-based, trophic-based and species-based indicators that will be calculated in the ecosystem models of **WP6**, while the index of fisheries profitability per case study/ecosystem or ecoregion will be calculated based on the current sustainability level (**WP7**). Based on the fisheries exploitation indicators, the fisheries profitability index will be determined for any fisheries management scenario and will be closely connected to the economic analyses that will be performed in **WP7**. Three novel indicators and accompanying thresholds that have been proposed to detect and delineate ecosystem fisheries exploitation or ecosystem overfishing (EOF) will be applied per case study or ecoregion. 

**Task 5.5.** Marine ecosystem assessment and the EcoScope Toolbox development

A marine ecosystem assessment will be conducted in each case study to provide an overarching and integrated assessment adapted to the needs of various end-users. One of the main products of the project the <a href= "https://ecoscopium.eu/ecoscope-toolbox" target=“_blank”>EcoScope Toolbox</a>  will be developed within this WP, which will consist of metrics and tools that will produce a total and comparable score for each ecosystem, case study or ecoregion and will be co-designed and evaluated by stakeholders (feedback from **WP8**). Each metric will be measured using a single variable or a combination of various variables, based on the status and trends, environmental or anthropogenic pressure, economic indicators and resilience to change. The overall concept is to develop a universal Toolbox that can be applied anywhere in the world at various scales depending on the data and boundaries and to have a specific set of metrics that can be used independently in each case study and in other areas of the world to support international and local policies and directives.


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