SESAME - Southern European Seas: Assessing and modelling ecosystem changes

The general objectives of the project SESAME were to assess and predict changes in the Mediterranean and Black Sea ecosystems as well as changes in the ability of these ecosystems to provide goods and services in a coupled climate/ecosystem approach. An assessment of ecosystem changes was based on the identification of the major regime shifts in ecosystems that occurred during the last 50 years. Mathematical models were used to predict ecosystem responses to changes in climate and anthropogenic forcing during the next five decades. Economic and natural sciences were merged to study the changes. It aimed to stimulate and strengthen international cooperation in the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions through the participation of all dominant stakeholders.