The MERCI-Cor Method Recommended for the Environmental Assessment of Galisbay Port (Saint Martin, French West Indies)
Abstract
The development of port infrastructure in tropical coastal environments poses significant challenges for biodiversity conservation, particularly within the mitigation hierarchy of Avoidance, Minimization, and Ecological Compensation. The MERCI-Cor method provides a standardized framework for quantifying ecological losses associated with development projects and the expected gains from compensatory measures, with the objective of achieving no net loss of biodiversity. Its application was recommended for the environmental assessment of the dredging and expansion project at Galisbay commercial port, Saint Martin (French West Indies). The project potentially affects seagrass meadows dominated by Thalassia testudinum and Syringodium filiforme, partly colonized by the invasive alien species Halophila stipulacea, as well as nearby coral communities exposed to potential sediment plumes. The proposed assessment involves updating habitat maps and collecting standardized ecological data, including indicators of seagrass structure and condition, fish and macroinvertebrate assemblages, and physical and hydrodynamic parameters. These data are intended to characterize baseline ecological conditions, quantify potential biophysical losses, and prioritize impact avoidance and minimization measures. Residual impacts can subsequently be compared with the ecological gains expected from compensatory actions to determine appropriate compensation requirements. This case study highlights the value of an integrated, spatially explicit assessment framework for supporting environmental decision-making and ensuring that mitigation and compensation measures are proportionate to anticipated ecological impacts.
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BibTeX
@article{pinault2026mercicor,
title = {{The MERCI-Cor Method Recommended for the Environmental Assessment of Galisbay Port (Saint Martin, French West Indies)}},
author = {Mathieu Pinault},
journal = {La feuille marine},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.5281/zenodo.22669607},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05799121v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - The MERCI-Cor Method Recommended for the Environmental Assessment of Galisbay Port (Saint Martin, French West Indies)
AU - Mathieu Pinault
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/14
JO - La feuille marine
DO - 10.5281/zenodo.22669607
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05799121v1
AB - The development of port infrastructure in tropical coastal environments poses significant challenges for biodiversity conservation, particularly within the mitigation hierarchy of Avoidance, Minimization, and Ecological Compensation. The MERCI-Cor method provides a standardized framework for quantifying ecological losses associated with development projects and the expected gains from compensatory measures, with the objective of achieving no net loss of biodiversity. Its application was recommended for the environmental assessment of the dredging and expansion project at Galisbay commercial port, Saint Martin (French West Indies). The project potentially affects seagrass meadows dominated by Thalassia testudinum and Syringodium filiforme, partly colonized by the invasive alien species Halophila stipulacea, as well as nearby coral communities exposed to potential sediment plumes. The proposed assessment involves updating habitat maps and collecting standardized ecological data, including indicators of seagrass structure and condition, fish and macroinvertebrate assemblages, and physical and hydrodynamic parameters. These data are intended to characterize baseline ecological conditions, quantify potential biophysical losses, and prioritize impact avoidance and minimization measures. Residual impacts can subsequently be compared with the ecological gains expected from compensatory actions to determine appropriate compensation requirements. This case study highlights the value of an integrated, spatially explicit assessment framework for supporting environmental decision-making and ensuring that mitigation and compensation measures are proportionate to anticipated ecological impacts.
ER -