title: An alert system for triggering different levels of coastal management urgency: Tunisia case study using rapid environmental assessment data.
abstract: Rapid environmental assessment (REA) involves scoring abundances of ecosystems/species groups and magnitude of pressures, concurrently, using the same logarithmic (0-6) assessment scale. We demonstrate the utility of REA data for an alert system identifying different levels of coastal management concern. Thresholds set for abundances/magnitudes, when crossed, trigger proposed responses. Kerkennah, Tunisia, our case study, has significant natural assets (e.g. exceptional seagrass and invertebrate abundances), subjected to varying levels of disturbance and management concern. Using REA thresholds set, fishing, green algae/eutrophication and oil occurred at 'low' levels (scores 0-1): management not (currently) necessary. Construction and wood litter prevailed at 'moderate' levels (scores 2-4): management alerted for (further) monitoring. Solid waste densities were 'high' (scores 5-6): management alerted for action; quantities of rubbish were substantial (20-200 items m⁻¹ beach) but not unprecedented. REA is considered a robust methodology and complementary to other rapid assessment techniques, environmental frameworks and indicators of ecosystem condition.
authors: Environment Department, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK; School of Life Sciences University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK. Electronic address: andrew.price@warwick.ac.uk.
authors: A R G
authors: AR
authors: Price
authors: Azimut, Bureau d'études en Environement & SIG (Géomatique), Montplaisir, Tunisia.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Jaoui
authors: Brasilia 750 Dept. 242 Las Condes, Santiago, Chile.
authors: M P
authors: MP
authors: Pearson
authors: IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation, C/Marine Curie 22, 29590 Campanillas, Malaga, Spain.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Jeudy de Grissac
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005068:Eutrophication; D005399:Fishes / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D014416:Tunisia; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Coastal management; Ecosystem health; Environmental assessment; Mediterranean; Thresholds