Socio Cultural Hastings

Capturing local stakeholder shared values for the cultural benefits of the Hastings marine environment and activities within it such as inshore fishing

These shared values were identified using an innovative participatory and deliberative methodology developed as part of a GIFS project collaboration with the UK National Ecosystem Assessment follow-on (http://www.lwec.org.uk/sharedvalues). The method used a combination of stakeholder workshop exercises to identify and evaluate shared values for the cultural benefits of the marine environment and activities within it, particularly inshore fishing (example benefits: shared sense of place and identity). The focus within the Hastings case study was to situate these cultural ecosystem services or benefits within wider societal considerations such as economic development, education and employment. Such an approach is particularly relevant given the context of the European Commission focus on a more integrated approach to marine and coastal management, and the development of mechanisms for co-management within inshore fishing and marine conservation that integrate local and wider marine stakeholder/user values.

This balance of exercises within the stakeholder workshop environment creates a model for other areas of policy planning where shared learning, consensus making, co-development of policy goals, and capture of intangible benefits is desirable. These exercises are particularly valuable for encouraging greater engagement locally with marine environment issues and eliciting views not often expressed.

For the details of the Hastings results and full explanation of the methods used please see Chapter 4.3 p.135 of the UK National Ecosystems Assessment Follow-On (NEAFO) Report (Kenter et al., 2014).
Link to full report: http://www.lwec.org.uk/sites/default/files/attachments_video/WP6_FinalReport.pdf
Or for a brief introduction to the method watch this video: http://www.lwec.org.uk/sharedvalues/
To access a useful handbook for decision-makers about this method go to: http://www.lwec.org.uk/sites/default/files/attachments_video/HandBook-revised7-final2.pdf