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Economic valuation of ecosystem services provided by deep-sea sponges












Ottaviani, D. 2020. Economic valuation of ecosystem services provided by deep-sea spongesFAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Circular No. 1217.Rome.FAO




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    Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet
    Scoping study on economic linkages and options for ecosystem valuation of deep-sea living marine resources and habitats in ABNJ 2017
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    The brief provides a summary of the current state of knowledge and further information needs for valuing deep-sea sponge ground ecosystem services. The scoping study was carried out to ascertain what information and data are available on the economic value of ABNJ ecosystem services, and to assess whether (and how) a quantitative/monetary valuation might be possible. Its objective was to document and critically review current knowledge on deep-sea ecosystem-economic linkages, so as to identify n eeds, niches and options for undertaking a study to assess the economic value of ABNJ deep-sea ecosystem services. While the study considered sponges and sponge grounds alongside other deep-sea species and habitats, it did not focus solely on them.
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    Policy brief
    SponGES policy brief - The economic value of deep-sea sponges 2020
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    This SponGES project policy brief provides an overview on the large economic benefits potentially conveyed by deep-sea sponges based on current research findings.
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    Book (stand-alone)
    Economic value of ecosystem services from the deep seas and the areas beyond national jurisdiction 2020
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    This circular stems from a study carried out for FAO projects “Sustainable Fisheries Management and Biodiversity Conservation of Deep-Sea Living Marine Resources and Ecosystems in the Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction” (GCP/GLO/366/GFF) and “Deep-Sea Sponge Grounds Ecosystems of the North Atlantic: An Integrated Approach Towards their Preservation and Sustainable Exploitation” (GCP/GLO/679/EC). These projects included outputs related to the economic valuation of goods and services provided by the deep seas in areas beyond national jurisdiction. This study compiled an estimate of the total economic value (TEV) of the deep seas, which considered the provision of deep-water fish, the harvest of precious corals, the use of substances of marine origin as pharmaceuticals, the extraction of deep and ultra-deep oil and the potential mining of mineral resources from the seafloor, carbon sequestration carried out by the deep seas, the importance of scientific research in the deep seas, and touristic activities with submersibles to visit sites such as the Titanic shipwreck. Comprehensively, the TEV assessed for the deep-sea ecosystem as a whole is estimated at USD 267 billion per year. Ninety two percent of the economic value originates from abiotic resources (oil and minerals), 5 percent from biotic resources (fish, corals and pharmaceuticals of marine origin), 2 percent from cultural services (scientific research and tourism/recreation), and 1 percent from carbon sequestration.

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