Synergies in ongoing OSPAR biodiversity assessment work

The SHABAM meeting took place 11-12 October 2018 during which participants from OSPAR's different biodiversity groups under its Biological Diversity Committee came together to discuss possible synergies in ongoing OSPAR biodiversity assessment work.

Synergies between assessments of species and habitats that are on the OSPAR List as threatened and/or declining or included in the common indicators used to monitoring and assess the state of the marine environment was discussed by technical experts in Paris, France. Data availability to support the assessments, as well as scheduling of work were identified as key issues for further consideration. Further harmonisation and development of the OSPAR biodiversity assessments will produce information needed to protect the North East Atlantic marine environment.