Lead Partner

Systems Approaches for Biodiversity Resilience and Ecosystem Sustainability

Marine SABRES responds to the ongoing decline in marine biodiversity, recognising the need for rapid, effective conservation measures that also support a resilient blue economy. The project applies social-ecological systems thinking and Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) to deliver balanced marine development and protection.

At its core is the co-design of a Simple Social Ecological Systems approach (Simple SES), aimed at accelerating and scaling up EBM across Europe and beyond. Marine SABRES will integrate sustainable ecosystems with economic resilience, enabling managers to make informed decisions and empowering citizens to engage in marine conservation.

The project promotes sustainable development in coastal and marine sectors through practical demonstration in three key areas: the Tuscan Archipelago, the Arctic North-East Atlantic and Macaronesia. These sites will showcase real-world management solutions before wider application across Europe.

Marine SABRES brings together a world-leading interdisciplinary consortium, combining expertise in EBM and social-ecological systems. Its outputs will help reverse biodiversity loss, support sustainable marine governance and foster public engagement with ocean stewardship.

Project Deliverables

Elliott M; Cormier R; Borja Á

Making sense of marine management – The ten-tenets revisited Journal Article

In: Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. 221, 2025.

Links

Smith G; Atkins J; Gregory A; Elliott M

The minimum complexity necessary: The value of a simple Social-Ecological systems analysis in holistic marine environmental management Journal Article

In: Sustainable Futures, vol. 9, 2025.

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Elliott M; Borja Á; Cormier R

Managing marine resources sustainably – But how do we know when marine management has been successful? Journal Article

In: Ocean & Coastal Management, vol. 265, 2025.

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Jorge-Romero G; Elliott M; Defeo O

The cross-ecosystem dimension of managing sandy beach social-ecological systems Journal Article

In: Ocean & Coastal Management, vol. 262, 2025.

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Borja Á; de Oliveira B M; Pouso S; Costa A C M R; Botelho A Z C; de Meneses Martins G O; Parente M I; Ventura A; Álvaro N; Diniz A; Canning-Clode J; Parretti P; Asif F; Ekstedt J; Ólafsdóttir A H; Elvarsson B Þ; Rybicki S; Woods P J; Olsen M C; Laksá U; Weissang T; Mintrone C; Benedetti-Cecchi L; Smith G; Elliott M

Baseline assessment of Social-Ecological System models Technical Report

2024.

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Smith G; Elliott M; Gregory A; Atkins J

The Simple SES Practice Abstract Technical Report

2023.

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Gregory A; Atkins J; Smith G; Elliott M

The Simple SES Guidance and Cross-cutting Theme Briefing Papers Technical Report

2023.

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Smith G; Gregory A; Atkins J; Elliott M

Review of the Literature on Social-Ecological Systems Technical Report

2023.

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