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International audience; Seagrass meadows and their associated biodiverse assemblages have declined globally due to environmental and anthropogenic stressors. Restoration of these critical habitats has the potential to reverse coastal biodiversity loss. Here, we tested the role of patch size (which can affect recruitment, food availability, and/or predation) in driving faunal colonization in an eelgrass (Zostera marina) restoration trial in Sweden. Eelgrass shoots were transplanted in plots with different configurations (continuous vs. checkerboard patterns with three patch sizes), and we followed invertebrate colonization (biodiversity and functional diversity) during the first two growing seasons. We found rapid faunal colonization following the transplantation of eelgrass shoots in all plots with invertebrate densities reaching 50-80% of the reference meadow after only one growing season (3 months). After two growing seasons (15 months), the faunal density, biodiversity, and functional diversity were similar to the reference meadow, despite eelgrass density and biomass still being lower than the reference meadow. Biodiversity, functional diversity, and community structure were similar among the different planted plots, that is, there was no indication that patch size influenced faunal colonization. We therefore consider that smaller patches embedded within larger restoration plots can be as effective for promoting biodiversity as continuous patches, with reduced costs and fewer shoots required. We also noted high natural variability between years both in the reference meadow and planted plots, showing the dynamic nature of seagrass ecosystems, and the importance of a well-planned monitoring scheme that considers the reference area and restored area within the same temporal scale.

International audience; The characterization of lake hydromorphology is crucial to understand the dynamics of biodiversity. In Europe, it isalso a regulatory requirement of the Water Framework Directive. However, according to the literature, few methodsinclude this characterization. The aim of this study is to review the state of the art of the methods currently used orunder development in European countries to assess lake hydromorphological status for the implementation of theWFD. Our analysis is based on responses to a questionnaire distributed to national experts on hydromorphologyof the 28 countries implementing the WFD. Our results highlighted significant progress in the assessment ofhydromorphological features and processes. Water level regime, through the range of water flow or existing watermanagement, and structure of the shore zone through macrophytes and substrate characteristics or measurement oflateral connectivity, are the most frequently assessed features. Stratification, surface/groundwater connection andplanform pattern are the lake features most frequently omitted from the methods. However, in most of the countries,the development of methods was still in progress to meet the WFD requirement. Definition of reference condition is acentral component of all WFD compliant assessment tools but this is a challenge particularly in the assessment ofhydromorphological alteration of reservoirs. Similarly, demonstrating strong links between hydromorphological indicatorsand biological quality elements remains a challenge with many knowledge gaps still evident. These results highlight the need for rapid collection of new environmental data and the need for conceptual and applied research to make methodological progress in assessing lake hydromorphology and ensuring habitat quality.

Blue growth – the prospect of economic revenue and wellbeing from the sustainable use of ocean resources – has caught the interest of most coastal and island nations of the world, including many developing countries. The sea alone does not, however, spur socioeconomic development in coastal communities. A large body of scientific literature explores the circumstances under which a community’s access to natural resources actually leads to local economic growth. This study specifically examines the literature targeting the communal-level outcome of aquatic resource use in developing countries, with a focus on identifying the prerequisites for socioeconomic wellbeing resulting from the exploitation of such resources. More specifically, this study strives to identify the institutional and infrastructure factors that promote local blue growth in developing countries. It consists of a thematic review of 90 scientific articles involving systematic mapping, regression analysis and content analysis. The study concludes that the incomes and wellbeing of coastal communities in developing countries depend on well-functioning value chains and the degree of social development. The results also show that the sustainability of marine and coastal resources is associated with the quality of resource management, the degree of coherence of policy and legal frameworks and the manner in which they are communicated. Inadequate resource management and incoherent policies and laws, on the other hand, are associated with lower incomes, wealth and employment. The study identifies a number of critical factors related to the type and quality of governance. Blue growth at local level benefits from governance frameworks that are coherent and reliable, leadership that is dynamic and legitimate, an administration that is reliable and enforcement that is efficient. It is also of great importance that decisions affecting the livelihoods of coastal communities be adapted to the local circumstances and that communities be given adequate opportunity to influence those decisions. Coastal-community development depends on the degree of social cohesion and equity in access to resources, as well as on the capacity of individuals and organisations. Such capacity is important not only in the private sphere for the development of sustainable blue businesses, but also in the public sphere for the design and implementation of public policies that are evidence-based and adapted to context. A further conclusion of this study is that local blue growth benefits from the existence of well-functioning value chains, markets that are open and accessible, and infrastructure that is adequate and well maintained. Based on these results, the study proposes the following eight recommendations for consideration by authorities and development agents working for local blue growth. These recommendations are further elaborated in Chapter 6. 1. Ensure that legal frameworks and policies affecting the blue economy are coherent, clear and predictable. 2. Support the development of well-functioning value chains for blue economy products and services 3. Support the creation and development of organisations for blue growth in the local community. 4. Appreciate the importance of high-quality leadership. 5. Engage local communities in decisions affecting their blue economy. 6. Enhance the capacity and technical skills of individuals and institutions of the blue economy. 7. Provide and maintain the infrastructure necessary for local blue growth. 8. Build local blue growth using the whole toolbox – the above recommendations for advancement of local blue growth should not be viewed in isolation but addressed simultaneously. This report is a result of SwAM Ocean, an international development cooperation programme being operated by the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (SwAM). SwAM Ocean aims to contribute to poverty reduction through sustainable use of aquatic resources. To reach this goal we need a good understanding of the premises for enabling long-term blue growth in coastal communities. This report is part of a four-part series of studies of the topic. As part of SwAM Ocean, four studies exploring the conditions for lifting coastal communities out of poverty are being conducted. These four studies investigate institutional and infrastructure factors affecting blue growth and social development at local level in developing countries. The first study (WSP, 2020) analyses 17 cases of successful blue growth at community level, based on small-scale fisheries, aquaculture and conservation. The study is based on a literature review and expert interviews. It identifies co-management of natural resources, access to credit, technical skills, well-functioning post-harvest value chains and the presence of infrastructure such as fishing ports, docking and storage as being key to enabling local blue growth. In the second study a thematic review of scientific literature is conducted, and is presented in this report. Results of the review indicate that local blue growth is more likely in the presence of coherent and predictable blue-economy frameworks, and when stakeholders have adequate capacity and skills. National and international institutions and actors need to adapt blue-economy projects and policies to local contexts, support the development of well-functioning value chains and ensure that efficient environmental regulations are enforced. A spatial analysis exploring how basic infrastructure affects blue growth and socioeconomic development is presented in the third study (GroundTruth, 2021). It explores 11 rural coastal communities in the Western Indian Ocean region, and concludes that the presence of and access to roads, airports and electricity in coastal communities contribute to economic wellbeing. The key role played by strategic planning is also highlighted, indicating that strategically planned communities tend to feature higher levels of both economic and social wellbeing. The fourth study explores lessons learned from promotion of local blue growth in coastal communities in Sweden. Applying a case-study approach, it identifies enablers and barriers, along with strategies used for overcoming them, resulting in successful project outcomes. SwAM is the responsible Swedish government agency tasked with protecting, restoring and ensuring sustainable use of freshwater and ocean resources, including fisheries management. The work being carried out within the international development cooperation programme SwAM Ocean contributes to holistic marine management, blue growth and poverty alleviation in partner countries and regions. In parallel, knowledge gained from the SwAM Ocean collaboration enhances and improves our own understanding and management of Swedish aquatic resources. Ecosystem-based management, ocean literacy and cross-sectoral planning, including marine Enabling local blue growth in developing countries spatial planning, are examples of processes in which mutual learning is key in order to achieve sustainable management of the oceans in Sweden and at international level Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management Published Contributing authors: Maria Göthberg, Linus Hammar, Gonçalo Carneiro, Ylva Mattsson and Marie-Laure Sundman Blå tillväxt – alltså att säkra ekonomiska intäkter och skapa socialt välbefinnande från ett hållbart användande av havets resurser – har väckt intresse hos många kust- och önationer runt om i världen, inklusive många utvecklingsländer. Närheten till ett innehållsrikt hav resulterar dock inte automatiskt i socioekonomisk utveckling i kustsamhällen. Det finns en stor mängd vetenskaplig litteratur som undersöker under vilka förhållanden ett samhälles tillgång till naturresurser faktiskt leder till lokal ekonomisk tillväxt. Denna studie är en närmare genomgång av den litteratur som specifikt studerar lokal blå tillväxt i utvecklingsländer. Studiens syfte är att identifiera under vilka förutsättningar ett lokalt användande av havets resurser leder till ökade inkomster och socioekonomiskt välbefinnande på lokal nivå. Mer specifikt strävar denna studie efter att kartlägga den infrastruktur och de institutionella faktorer som främjar lokal blå tillväxt i utvecklingsländer. Studien är en tematisk granskning av 90 vetenskapliga artiklar, vilket omfattar systematisk kartläggning, regressionsanalys och textanalys. Studien drar slutsatsen att ökade inkomster och socialt välbefinnande i utvecklingsländers kustsamhällen beror på tillgången till välfungerande värdekedjor och nivån av social utveckling. Resultaten visar också att de marina resursernas hållbarhet är avhängt kvaliteten i naturresursförvaltningen, graden av samstämmighet i politik och juridiska ramverk, och hur innehållet och betydelsen av dessa regelverk kommuniceras. Vidare visar studien hur en bristande naturresursförvaltning och oförenlighet mellan politik och juridik relaterar till lägre tillgångar och inkomster, samt en minskad sysselsättning. Studien identifierar även ett antal avgörande faktorer inom samhällsstyrningens typ och kvalitet med påverkan på den lokala blå tillväxten. Lokal blå tillväxt gynnas av samhällsstyrning som är samstämmig och tillförlitlig, av ledarskap som är dynamiskt och legitimt, och av en fungerande och effektiv administration. Det är också av stor vikt att de beslut som påverkar kustsamhällenas försörjning och sysselsättning anpassas till de lokala förhållandena, och att samhällena ges tillräcklig möjlighet att påverka dessa beslut. Kustsamhällens sociala utveckling beror på graden av social sammanhållning och en rättvis tillgång till marina resurser, samt individers och organisationers kapacitet och kunskap. En hög kapacitet är inte bara viktig inom den privata sektorn för att utveckla hållbara blå företag, utan också inom den offentliga sektorn för att utforma och genomföra en politik som är evidensbaserad och kontextanpassad. Lokal blå tillväxt gynnas även av förekomsten av välfungerande värdekedjor, öppna och tillgängliga marknader samt infrastruktur som underhålls och utvecklas. Baserat på dessa resultat följer åtta rekommendationer som riktar sig till både myndigheter och andra utvecklingsaktörer som arbetar för lokal blå tillväxt. Dessa rekommendationer beskrivs mer utförligt i kapitel 6. 1. Säkerställ att juridiska ramverk och politik som påverkar den blå ekonomin är sammanhängande, tydliga och förutsägbara 2. Gynna utvecklingen av välfungerande värdekedjor för produkter och tjänster inom den blå ekonomin. 3. Stöd etablerandet och utvecklingen av organisationer som verkar för blå tillväxt i lokalsamhällen. 4. Värdesätt betydelsen av ledarskap av hög kvalitet. 5. Involvera lokala samhällen i beslut som påverkar deras blå ekonomi. 6. Stärk kapacitet och tekniska kompetens hos individer och institutioner som verkar i den blå ekonomin. 7. Tillhandahåll och underhåll den infrastruktur som är nödvändig för lokal blå tillväxt. 8. Bygg lokal blå tillväxt med hjälp av hela verktygslådan – ovanstående rekommendationer behöver hanteras samtidigt för att skapa en gynnsam grogrund för lokal blå tillväxt Current 14.7 N/A Multi-organisational Method Specification of criteria

International audience; Diatoms are known to be efficient bioindicators for water quality assessment because of their rapid response to environmental pressures and their omnipresence in water bodies. The identification of benthic diatoms communities in the biofilm, coupled with quality indices such as the Indice de polluosensibilité spécifique (IPS) can be used for biomonitoring purposes in freshwater. However, the morphological identification and counting of diatoms species under the microscope is time-consuming and requires extensive expertise to deal with a constantly evolving taxonomy. In response, a molecular-based and potentially more cost-effective method has been developed, coupling high-throughput sequencing and DNA metabarcoding. The method has already been tested for water quality assessment with diatoms in Central Europe. In this study, we applied both the traditional and molecular methods on 180 biofilms samples from Northern Europe (rivers and lakes of Fennoscandia and Iceland). The DNA metabarcoding data were obtained on two different DNA markers, the 18S-V4 and rbcL barcodes, with the NucleoSpin Soil kit for DNA extraction and sequenced on an Ion Torrent PGM platform. We assessed the ability of the molecular method to produce species inventories, IPS scores and ecological status class comparable to the ones generated by the traditional morphology-based approach. The two methods generated correlated but significantly different IPS scores and ecological status assessment. The observed deviations are explained by presence/absence and abundance discrepancies in the species inventories, mainly due to the incompleteness of the barcodes reference databases, primer bias and strictness of the bioinformatic pipeline. Abundance discrepancies are less common than presence/absence discrepancies but have a greater effect on the ecological assessment. Missing species in the reference databases are mostly acidophilic benthic diatoms species, typical of the low pH waters of Northern Europe. The two different DNA markers also generated significantly different ecological status assessments. The use of the 18S-V4 marker generates more species inventories discrepancies, but achieves an ecological assessment more similar to the traditional morphology-based method. Further development of the metabarcoding method is needed for its use in environmental assessment. For its application in Northern Europe, completion and curation of reference databases are necessary, as well as evaluation of the currently available bioinformatics pipelines. New indices, fitted for environmental biomonitoring, should also be developed directly from molecular data.

Diatoms (Bacillariophyta) are ubiquitous microalgae which produce a siliceous exoskeleton and which make a major contribution to the productivity of oceans and freshwaters. They display a huge diversity, which makes them excellent ecological indicators of aquatic ecosystems. Usually, diatoms are identified using characteristics of their exoskeleton morphology. DNA-barcoding is an alternative to this and the use of High-Throughput-Sequencing enables the rapid analysis of many environmental samples at a lower cost than analyses under microscope. However, to identify environmental sequences correctly, an expertly curated reference library is needed. Several curated libraries for protists exists; none, however are dedicated to diatoms. Diat.barcode is an open-access library dedicated to diatoms which has been maintained since 2012. Data come from two sources (1) the NCBI nucleotide database and (2) unpublished sequencing data of culture collections. Since 2017, several experts have collaborated to curate this library for rbcL, a chloroplast marker suitable for species-level identification of diatoms. For the latest version of the database (version 7), 605 of the 3482 taxonomical names originally assigned by the authors of the rbcL sequences were modified after curation. The database is accessible at https://www6.inra.fr/carrtel-collection_eng/Barcoding-database.

International audience

Erratum: Page 262 of this article erroneously refers to Louis Riffardeau Baron de Riviére (1817-1890) as the inventor of eel restocking. This conflates the names of two people living in the same place and period: Baron Louis de Riviére (1789-1871) and Duke Louis Riffardeau de Riviére (1817-1890). While the Baron was the inventor of eel restocking, the Duke was not involved. The article thus incorrectly speculates about the initial transports from St. Gilles in the Camargue (where the Baron was mayor) to lakes around Vernais in Cher (owned by the Duke). Apart from that speculation on page 262 (only), the content of the article is not further affected by this error. Young eel, recruiting from the ocean towards Europe, are most abundant along the Atlantic coast of France. Since 1840, attempts have been made to redistribute them from the areas of highest abundance to other countries and farther inland. This 'restocking' has been troubled by technical constraints (e.g. mode of transport and maximum distance eel can be shipped alive), wars (e.g. the Franco-Prussian War and World Wars One and Two) and, in recent decades, by shortage of supply due to the general decline of the eel stock all across Europe. Though objectives and procedures have changed considerably over the years, the recurring aim has been to increase production and, in that way, to 'faire mieux que la nature'. We document the historical development of these efforts from their inception, and contrast the achievements to the objectives. Except for the 1952-1990 period in Eastern Europe, restocking has probably added only slightly to the natural production. As successful as restocking might have been locally, it has not markedly changed the overall trends and distribution patterns or halted the general decline of the stock and fishery. Poor post-evaluation, frequent technical innovation and a constant renewal of the countries and people involved have kept the promise of a better future alive for 175 years.

In pelagic food webs, zooplankton is the link between lower and higher trophic levels. It is thus essential to know how the zooplankton community structure varies with its environment. We investigated the seasonal and spatial variation in the zooplankton diversity and community structure during two consecutive years in the Kalmar Sound, along the Swedish east coast, an area with a strong bathymetric gradient and of high ecological importance for e.g. commercial fish species. Two zooplankton communities were identified in the area: a coastal/estuarine community in the south and an open-water community in the north. They were separated mainly by differing salinity and temperature conditions. Biodiversity increased from spring to autumn and was higher in the open waters. © 2014., C. Díaz-Gil, M. Werner, O. Lövgren, O. Kaljuste and M. Casini were partially funded by the Swedish PLAN FISH project, financed by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management. C. Díaz-Gil was also funded by the EU Erasmus Program for international mobility of students