“And DPSIR begat DAPSI(W)R(M)!” – A unifying framework for marine environmental management.

Despite the DPSIR (Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response) approach being used for a long time, there is still confusion over the definition of its terms and so to be appropriate for current marine management, we contend that this confusion needs to be addressed. Our viewpoint advocates that DPSIR should be extended to DAPSI(W)R(M) (pronounced dap-see-worm) in which Drivers of basic human needs require Activities which lead to Pressures.

The unifying framework for integrated marine management is completed by encompassing ecosystem structure and functioning, ecosystem services and societal benefits. Hence, DAPSI(W)R(M) links the socio-ecological system of the effects of changes to the natural system on the human uses and benefits of the marine system. However, to deliver these sustainably in the light of human activities requires a Risk Assessment and Risk Management framework; the ISO-compliant Bow-Tie method is used here as an example. Finally, to secure ecosystem health and economic benefits such as Blue Growth, successful, adaptive and sustainable marine management Responses (as Measures) are delivered using the 10-tenets, a set of facets covering all management disciplines and approaches.

Elliott M, Burdon D, Atkins JP, Borja A, Cormier R, De Jonge VN, Turner RK. “And DPSIR begat DAPSI (W) R (M)!”-a unifying framework for marine environmental management. Marine pollution bulletin. 2017 May 15;118(1-2):27-40.

DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.03.049