A new collaboration between the University of Exeter and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) will seek to make recommendations on how marine planning can deliver marine governance that empowers coastal communities and considers the social impacts from marine developments.
Taking a more holistic approach than focusing on simple measures such as job creation, genuine social impact should take into account factors such as how communities can have a say over developments that impact them; how planners and developers can measure the impact developments have on local place-making; and the consequences of developments for local health and wellbeing.
The new project, ‘Marine planning reform for better governance’, brings MMO staff working in marine planning, evidence and evaluation, together with a panel of academic researchers and practitioners who have expertise in environmental governance and social impact. The project will facilitate exchange of expert knowledge between the University of Exeter and the MMO to generate new ideas about how culture and practice in marine planning and evidence gathering can be changed.
The project is led by Dr Pamela Buchan, a marine social scientist at the University of Exeter, and Dr Aisling Lannin, Head of Evidence and Evaluation at the MMO. It builds on Dr Buchan’s prize-winning research into marine citizenship, which means exercising the right to participate in the transformation of the human-ocean relationship for sustainability.
Dr Pamela Buchan said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to support the MMO in considering how marine developments can be assessed for their impact on coastal communities. Having been an elected local councillor, I understand the importance of local places for people and how significantly changes can impact communities. I’ve witnessed directly how removed local people can be from decisions made below the low water mark and how difficult it can be to bring all the marine agencies and organisations together.
“My marine citizenship research shows that people do not feel they have a say over how the ocean is used, even when those uses bring changes to the places where they live, such as through infrastructure development to support marine industry. It’s so important for research findings to be put to good use through sharing them with the people who are doing the work in practice.
“Projects such as this will support local Councils who, through their Ocean Recovery Declarations, are calling out for advice and support to involve local people in how coasts are developed.”
Dr Aisling Lannin said: “I am delighted to get this chance to explore the insights and knowledge of Dr Buchan and her colleagues alongside the practical expertise of our marine planning colleagues from MMO. This gives us the opportunity to exchange knowledge that could have a positive impact for citizens and marine managers, connecting their requirements and decision-making processes to bring about benefits for people and nature.“
Also included in the research team are Dr Katie Orchel and Rosie Walker from the University of Exeter, and Dr Rachel Holtby, Miranda Willis and Elizabeth Brett from the MMO.
The project is funded by the Open Innovation Platform (OIP) which supports University of Exeter staff to accelerate the translation of research into economic and societal benefit by engaging and collaborating with external partners. The OIP is financed by Research England’s Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF).