ATLAS Deliverable 7.8: Report on policy implications on the governance regime for the North Atlantic and articulation with global and regional instruments resulting from changing deep-sea dynamics

The North Atlantic is a dynamic space with increasing human uses, the emerging impacts of climate change and numerous policy developments that occur along different timelines at national, regional and global scales. The breadth of expertise within the ATLAS consortium has allowed ATLAS research to inform a wide array of policy discussions, which ultimately aim to balance the needs of a developing Blue Economy and the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems found throughout the North Atlantic. ATLAS engagement in policy discussions provides a tangible example of the Galway Statement in practice and how ocean science can help to address the most pressing ocean management issues.

In brief, this report aims to:

1. Summarise the policy-relevant outputs from each ATLAS Work Package
2. Provide an account of how the ATLAS Project has engaged with policy discussions and informed decision-making.

In addition to the examples of policy-engagement outlined within this report, it is important to note that scientific advances and policy development operate on different timelines. Every effort has been made to publish Project results; however, policy developments, especially those involving intergovernmental negotiations, do not always operate within the 4-5 year schedule afforded to scientific research projects. As a result, ATLAS research will continue to inform policy discussions well after the project has officially ended. By summarising the policy-relevant outputs from each Work Package, this report represents the policy-related legacy of ATLAS and provides an overview of ATLAS results that can be used within on-going negotiations.