An evidence-based approach for the effects of decommissioning options on Marine Protected Area conservation and ecosystem services (DECOM-MPA).

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Project Description:DECOM-MPA will develop a Decision Support Document (DSD) and strengthen the evidence base to support decision making for decommissioning oil and gas infrastructure on the qualifying features and integrity of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The DSD will meet the current requirements of the regulatory regime, but provide flexibility to evolve in response to changing regulations. Stakeholders as partners is considered essential to a successful project and significantly increases the likelihood that outputs will be applied to real-world decision-making.Objectives:(1) To develop a user-friendly DSD to facilitate decision-making for understanding the impacts (positive and negative) of decommissioning operations on the condition of MPA qualifying features and site integrity;(2) To gather and assess (providing confidence scores) the best available scientific evidence to underpin the assessment of impacts of decommissioning options on major marine habitats and species, including taking an innovative natural capital focus;(3) To engage end-users (incl. industry, industry bodies, SNCBs, regulators & academia) throughout the project to provide proof of concept, identify sources of evidence and provide case studies;(4) To assess potential short and long-term impacts of decommissioning options on MPA qualifying features and site integrity using industry-led case study examples from the North Norfolk Sandbanks and Saturn Reefs cSAC/SCI, and(5) To provide end-users with an innovative and user-friendly evidence-based approach to better understand the risks, opportunities and impacts of decommissioning on MPAs and the wider marine environment.Impacts:Although it is unlikely that the full impacts of DECOM-MPA will be measurable within the project timescale, expected impacts will provide the best combination of:Environmental benefits:- maintained or enhanced MPA integrity;- reduced impact on marine ecosystems;- maximisation of ecosystem service provision;- improved scientific evidence base to support sustainable decommissioning (as well as renewable energy and other construction activities within MPAs).Economic benefits:- support a transparent decision process, decreasing the likelihood of challenging the method selection and reducing associated additional time and cost of regulatory reviews of decommissioning programmes;- early insights into risks and opportunities presented by decommissioning operations;- strengthened links with academia to influence the future research agenda to deliver industry-relevant knowledge, and- enhancing transferability potential of decision support products to other areas.Societal benefits:- enhanced sustainability and societal acceptability of selected decommissioning options;- translating existing knowledge to make it useable and accessible to users;- improved knowledge gained through research (cognitive benefits);- identifying unrealised benefits from decommissioning options within and out with MPAs;- identified knowledge gaps improving efficiency of public research spending, and- enhanced reputation by exporting UK scientific excellence to inform global decommissioning solutions.Keywords: Decision Support Document, stakeholders, Marine Protected Areas, decommissioning, oil & gas, evidence, assessment, case studiesKey Stakeholders: BEIS, JNCC, NE, SNH, Oil and Gas Industry, Oil and Gas Industry Representatives, Marine Scotland, MMO