Mario Lepage – Biologist and research engineer, specialist in ichthyofauna in estuaries (testimonial from the dossier “Science and the Water Framework Directive – 20 years of hydrobiology research to achieve good ecological status in aquatic environments” – 2021)
“As far as estuaries were concerned, we had a long way to go: there was no baseline condition and no “typology” of estuaries. We had nothing on pressures or how to assess their level. We only knew the Gironde estuary well, having worked there at Cemagref for nearly twenty years. As part of our research into bioindication, I led a group of 25 European experts in the development of a fish indicator for estuaries and lagoons: we saw the tensions between purists and pragmatists, but the main issue was to remain operational. Improving an indicator can make it more sensitive and therefore a better diagnostic tool, which is its initial raison d’être. The question is how far scientists can influence managers’ decision-making. Our work on diagnostic uncertainty is very much along these lines.
We have been able to recruit researchers and build up knowledge, skills and expertise. Understanding in order to act is truly the adventure that I have experienced and shared during these years of research for the WFD. As well as the satisfaction of feeling a bit like a ‘player’ in the improvement of very degraded environments, there’s also a great deal of recognition from the partners. I often get offers to work with European researchers on international consortia. It’s also important to have this work recognised by peers and evaluators…”
Testimonial from our thematic dossier
Thematic dossier
Science and the Water Framework Directive 20 years of hydrobiology research to achieve good ecological status in aquatic environments
In 2000, the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) set Member States the challenge of restoring European water bodies to good ecological status within twenty years. At the time, knowledge was lacking to implement the directive, so in 2007 the Ministry of the Environment’s Directorate for Water and Biodiversity (DEB) and the National Office for Water and Aquatic Environments (Onema) entered into a major collaboration with a number of research bodies. Cemagref/Irstea and INRA (now INRAE) were among the first partners to join forces, with research being carried out in hydrology, biology and ecology. While work is continuing to achieve the objective of good ecological status, the contributions of science to the implementation of this innovative and ambitious public environmental policy are already significant. A look back at 20 years of collaboration between French research and government departments.
