Satellite remote sensing, a central toolbox for the monitoring and evaluation of natural and human-induced stressors in relation with coastal ecosystems. Feedbacks from French Marine Protected Areas.

Over the years, innovative methods based on EO-data (both aerial and satellite images) have been developed to increase the knowledge about coastal ecosystems, and stressors affecting them. 
Managers of marine protected areas have been proactive; thanks to their appetence for EO-based technologies, they have provided a major contribution through the years enabling the emergence and acceptation of these new solutions.
Now there is a range of mature existing EO-based products for the monitoring and evaluation of both nature-driven (like turbidity, coastal erosion) and anthropogenic stressors (e.g. aquaculture, anchoring, dredging and other marine pollution) and of their interactions with marine ecosystems, in particular seagrasses. 
This communication proposes to review how Earth Observation solutions powered by Artificial Intelligence have become main assets for the evaluation and reporting of marine policies (WFD, MSFD, FFHD / Natura 2000) and the management of Marine Protected Areas.
This will be featured by taking a few examples of several real case studies in french MPAs along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts. We acknowledge that these activities have been undertaken in the framework of projects and contracts with the French Biodiversity Agency (OFB) and in collaboration with the French Geological Survey (BRGM).