AGIR
Support for Integrated Management of the Marine Environment through Research
Headers: Thomas Changeux and Sandrine Ruitton
Context and issues
The challenge of sustainable development permeates the whole of society and is fundamentally changing the role of scientists in the 21st century (Lubchenco 1998).
In practice, contemporary environmental doctrine, which is at the origin of European texts (EU 2000, EU 2008) and French environmental law, is based on a sequence that consists of "avoiding", "reducing" and "compensating" the impacts of human pressures on the natural environment. The application of this sequence is leading public and private players to turn to the world of research to acquire the knowledge and understanding they need to guide their actions. The impact of anthropogenic pressures on the marine environment is now a reality for everyone, both on the coast and in the deep sea (Halpern et al., 2012).
One of the 17 sustainable development goals adopted by the UN in 2015 is devoted to "Conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development". The signatory states of international conventions (Montego Bay, 1982 and Barcelona, 1976 for the Mediterranean; Nouméa (1986) for the South Pacific; Cartagena (1983) for the Caribbean) have committed to objectives for the protection of the marine environment and marine resources.
The "Aide à la Gestion Intégrée du milieu marin par la Recherche" (PI AGIR) project, a continuation of the GIRELLE Transverse Axis of the MIO1 project, aims to :
- identify how the results of fundamental research developed in the Transversal Axes of MIO2 can help meet societal demand
- federate research activities around specific identified societal demands. It acts as a link between MIO2's teams and cross-disciplinary areas and external stakeholders: decision-makers (public bodies such as Ministries in France and abroad, the Water Agency and the French Biodiversity Agency, private bodies such as Altéo, Véolia, the TOTAL Foundation and SUEZ), managers (local authorities, national and regional parks), partners (GIS Posidonie) and the general public.