These cumulative effects can play an important role in the state of the environment. Their assessment is required by various directives such as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. In addition, all effects relevant to the marine environment must be taken into account, for example, when developing management strategies, implementing measures and developing marine spatial plans.

In recent years, scientists have therefore increasingly studied interaction effects between different stressors and developed concepts to assess these cumulative effects.

In the CREATE project, this knowledge is processed and brought together with practical knowledge and the experiences of stakeholders in a transdisciplinary process. On this basis, knowledge gaps are identified, proposals for adjustments to monitoring are developed and strategies for taking these cumulative effects into account are elaborated. Where possible, knowledge gaps will be closed by the project and new concepts developed. In a transformative process, an intervention strategy for reducing the cumulative burden of multiple stressors will be developed together with all relevant actors in the study areas.