Developing Expert Scientific Consensus on the Environmental and Societal Effects of Marine Artificial Structures Prior to Decommissioning

• DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4531231
• Publication Date: 2023-08-04T08:17:53Z
• Authors: Antony M. Knights; Anaëlle Lemasson; Louise Firth; Todd Bond; Jeremy T. Claisse; Coolen J.W. Joop; Andrea Copping; Jennifer Dannheim; Michela de Dominicis; Steven Degraer; Michael Elliott; Paul Fernandes; Ashley Fowler; Matt Frost; Henry Lea-Anne; Natalie Hicks; Kieran Hyder; Sylvia Jagerroos; Dan O. Jones; Milton S. Love; Chris Lynam; Peter I. Macreadie; Joseph Marlow; Ninon Mavraki; Dianne McLean; Paul Montagna; David Paterson; Martin Perrow; Joanne Porter; Debbie Russell; Ann Bull; Michaela Schratzb...; Brooke Shipley; Sean van Elden; Jan Vanaverbeke; Andrew Want; Stephen Watson; Thomas Wilding; Paul Somerfield
• Keywords: Nuclear decommissioning; Scientific consensus

Thousands of artificial ('human-made') structures are present in the marine environment, many at or approaching end-of-life and requiring urgent decisions regarding their decommissioning. No consensus has been reached on which decommissioning option(s) result optimal environmental societal outcomes, part, owing to a paucity evidence from real-world case studies. To address this significant challenge, we asked worldwide panel scientists provide expert opinion. They were identify characterise ecosystem effects sea, causes consequences, which, if any, should be retained following Experts considered that most pressures driving ecological (MAS) medium severity, occur frequently, dependent spatial scale with local-scale greater magnitude than regional effects. The duration relatively short, order days. Overall, marginally undesirable, while desirable. therefore indicated any decision leave MAS place more beneficial society natural environment. However, some individual desirable worthy retention, especially certain geographic locations, where can support improved trophic linkages, increases tourism, habitat provision, population size, stability dynamics. analysis both negative positive for environment society, gives no strong policy change whether removal retention is favoured until further empirical available justify status quo. combination undesirable associated challenge policy- decision-makers justification implement options. Decisions may need decided case-by-case basis accounting trade-off costs benefits local level.