SocialLicensetoOperateandtheBlueEconomy
AReporttotheWorldOceanCouncil
byANCORSandWageningenUniversity
i
The Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS), University of
Wollongong, is Australia’s only multidisciplinary university-based centre dedicated to research,
educationandtrainingonocean law,maritimesecurityandnaturalmarineresourcemanagement
providingpolicydevelopmentadviceandothersupportservicestogovernmentagenciesinAustralia
andthewiderAsia-Pacificregion,aswellastoregionalandinternationalorganizationsandocean-
relatedindustry.
Websitecontact:http://ancors.uow.edu.au
TheEnvironmentalPolicyGroupofWageningenUniversity,theUniversityoftheLifeScienceinthe
Netherlands,hostsaninternationalandinterdisciplinarygroupofsocialandpoliticalscientistsinthe
field of environmental governance and transformations. The groupproduces fundamental
knowledge on different forms of social and political practices and forms of organization that can
enableabroadrangeofsocietalactorstodealwithnewandcomplexenvironmentalrisksatglobal,
regionalandlocalscales.
Websitecontact:www.enp.wur.nl
Contactfortheauthors:[email protected]
Citation:Voyer,M.&vanLeeuwenJ.(2018).SocialLicensetoOperateandtheBlueEconomy.
ReporttoWorldOceanCouncil.AustralianNationalCentreforOceanResourcesandSecurity,
Wollongong,Australia.
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Contents Contents.................................................................................................................................................ii
ListofTables..........................................................................................................................................iii
ListofFigures........................................................................................................................................iii
Acknowledgements...............................................................................................................................iv
Executivesummary................................................................................................................................v
1. Introduction....................................................................................................................................7
1.1 WhatisSLO?...........................................................................................................................8
1.2 Aboutthisreport....................................................................................................................9
2. Methods.......................................................................................................................................11
2.1 In-depthinterviews..............................................................................................................11
2.2 Workshop.............................................................................................................................12
2.3 Survey...................................................................................................................................12
3. Results..........................................................................................................................................15
3.1 Resourceextractionandgenerationsectors........................................................................15
3.2 Harvestingoflivingresources(fisheries&aquaculture)......................................................21
3.3 Commerceandtradeinandaroundtheocean(shippingandports)..................................25
3.4 CrosssectoralassessmentofSLO.........................................................................................29
4. Discussion.....................................................................................................................................31
4.1 Who?....................................................................................................................................32
4.2 What?...................................................................................................................................32
4.3 How?.....................................................................................................................................33
5. ConclusionsandRecommendations............................................................................................35
6. References....................................................................................................................................37
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ListofTablesTable1:Sectorsthatcontributetotheoceaneconomy(adaptedfromTheEconomist,2015)............7
Table2:Interviewparticipantsbyregionandsector...........................................................................11
Table3:SLOthemes(identifiedthroughtheinterviews)exploredintheonlinesurvey.....................12
Table4:Summaryoffindingsacrosssectors.......................................................................................31
ListofFiguresFigure1:Respondentcountryofbusinessheadquarters.....................................................................14
Figure2:Respondentemploymentpermarinesector........................................................................14
Figure3:Respondentpertypeoforganisation....................................................................................14
Figure4:Sectoralresponsestothelevelofimportanceofrelevantstakeholdergroupsinrelationto
thesocialacceptabilityoftheresourceextractionandgenerationsectors........................................17
Figure5:Sectoralresponsestothelevelofimportanceofcommunityperceptionsorconcernscreate
socialacceptabilitychallengesfortheresourceextractionandgenerationsectors...........................20
Figure6:Sectoralresponsesontheextenttowhichtheyengagewithstrategiestoimproveor
maintainSLO........................................................................................................................................21
Figure7:Sectoralresponses(averaged)tothedegreeofimportanceofrelevantstakeholdersin
relationtothesocialacceptabilityofthesectorsinvolvedinharvestinglivingresources..................22
Figure8:Sectoralresponsestothelevelofimportanceofcommunityperceptionsorconcernscreate
socialacceptabilitychallengesforthesectorsinvolvedinharvestinglivingresources.......................23
Figure9:Sectoralresponsesontheextenttowhichtheyengagewithstrategiestoimproveor
maintainSLO........................................................................................................................................25
Figure10:Sectoralresponses(averaged)tothedegreeofimportanceofrelevantstakeholdergroups
inrelationtothesocialacceptabilityofthesectorsinvolvedincommerceandtradeinandaround
theocean..............................................................................................................................................26
Figure11:Sectoralresponsestothelevelofimportanceofcommunityperceptionsorconcerns
createsocialacceptabilitychallengesforthesectorsinvolvedinportsandshipping.........................27
Figure12:Sectoralresponsesontheextenttowhichtheyengagewithstrategiestoimproveor
maintainSLO........................................................................................................................................29
Figure13:DegreeofSLOperceivedtobeheldbysector....................................................................29
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AcknowledgementsTheauthorswouldliketoacknowledgetheWorldOceanCouncil,particularlyPaulHolthus,JuliaTasseandChristineValentinfortheirsupportintheorganisationandconductoftheworkshops,introductionstoresearchparticipantsanddisseminationoftheonlinesurvey.
Theauthorswouldalsoliketothanktheworkshopspeakersfortheirinvaluablecontributions:• SeabedMining:SamanthaSmith,Director,BlueGlobeSolutions• OffshoreEnergy:BillStaby,CEO,ResoluteMarineEnergy• Shipping:PeterHinchliffe,SecretaryGeneral,InternationalChamberofShipping• Fisheries:JennaLahey,MarketingManager,LouisbourgSeafoods• OilandGas:FionaHick,VicePresidentHSEQ,WoodsideEnergy
Specialthanksalsogoestothemanybusinesspeopleandotherstakeholderswhogaveuptheirtimetocompletethesurveyandparticipateintheinterviewsandworkshop.Withouttheirinputthisresearchwouldnothavebeenpossible.
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ExecutivesummaryTheBlueEconomyisanoceanbasedeconomicgrowthmodeldesignedtoensuresustainableuseof
themarineenvironment.Itincludes‘traditional’offshoreactivities(e.g.oilandgasdevelopment,
shipping,fisheries)andemergingindustriessuchasdeepseaminingandrenewableenergy.The
socialacceptabilityofoceanbasedindustries,sometimesknownas‘sociallicensetooperate’(SLO),
willbeimportanttosecuringthefuturepotentialofaBlueEconomy.WhilstmaintainingaSLOisa
challengethatisexperienceddifferentiallyacrossvarioussectors,thelossofSLOinonesectormay
impactthelevelofsocietaltrustinthebroaderconceptofaBlueEconomy.
TheconceptofSLOintheBlueEconomywasexploredusingthefollowingmethodologies:
• Indepthinterviewswithbusinesspeopleengagedinacrosssectionofmaritimeindustries,
includingdeepseamining,shipping,ports,renewableenergy,fisheriesandaquaculture,
• AninteractiveworkshopwiththeoceanbusinesscommunityconductedaspartoftheWorld
OceanCouncil’sSustainableOceanSummit,and
• Across-sectoralonlinesurveyofmaritimebusinesspeople.
ThesethreemethodsofdatacollectionexploredthedifferentcomponentsofSLOwithintheBlue
Economy.Inparticular,theresearchfocusedonquestionsofwhograntsaSLO,whatkindof
sustainabilityconcernsareimpactingaSLOandhowsectorsareworkingtoobtain,ormaintain,a
SLO.Bycomparingtheresponsesofindividualsectorstothesethreecriticalquestions,weidentified
threebroadtrendsinSLOwithintheBlueEconomywhichprovidesimportantinsightsforboth
industryandGovernmentdecisionmakers.
Firstly,acrossallsectorsthereappearstobecommonissueswithidentifyingwhotherelevant
stakeholdergroupsare.Manyoftheindustryparticipantshighlightedtheenormousscopeand
varietyofstakeholderstheyinteractedwithandthechallengesinengagingeffectivelywithsucha
broaddiversityofactors.Thiswasespeciallychallenginginrelationtospecialinterestgroupswho
areinfluencedintheirconcernsandopinionsbyvalues,beliefsorareasofinterest,whichmayor
maynotbeconsistentwithothercommunitieswithwhichtheindustryinteracts.
Secondly,theresearchidentifiedtwo‘layers’ofSLOchallengescurrentlybeingmanagedacrossthe
rangeofBlueEconomysectors.Thefirstlayerfocusedontangibleimpacts,whichrelatedmostlyto
environmentalrisks,especiallyconcernsoverimpactsonbiodiversityoramenity,pollutionor
contaminationissues.Thesecondlayerfocusedonintangibleimpacts.Theseimpactsareharderto
conceptualise,monitorandcontrolbutarecreatingparticularchallengesformaritimeindustries.
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Theyincludeconflictwithotherusersorsectorsoverspaceandresourceaccess,andclashesof
valuesandideologies.
Finally,theresearchfoundthatacrossallsectorsthe‘BlueEconomy’appearstobewellequippedto
respondtothetechnicalandtechnologicalchallengesassociatedwithmanagingtangibleimpacts,
particularlyenvironmentalrisks,throughinnovation,researchandmitigationstrategies.A
significantlygreaterchallengeappearstolieinthemostappropriateresponsetomoreintangible
impacts,whichhaveastrongrelationshipwiththevalues,beliefsandideologiesofthecommunities
ofinterestwithwhomthedifferentindustriesareinteracting.Thiswillcontinuetobeachallengeas
theBlueEconomygrows.Atpresentitappearstheseoftenintractableissuesareprimarilydealtwith
inthepoliticalrealmwheredecisionmakersareaskedtomediatebetweenconflictingvalues,and
governmentlobbyingcanbeexpectedtooccurfrombothsidesofthesesomewhatpolarised
debates.
Theclearmajorityofmarineindustrieswhoparticipatedinthisresearch,consideredthemselvesto
beinarelativelyvulnerablepositioninrelationtoSLO.Mostfeltthattheirsectorislargelyaccepted
and/ortoleratedbuthasoccasionalissuesofconcernwithsocialacceptability,suchaswith
particularstakeholdergroups.Giventheconsistenciesfoundacrossallsectors,anintegrated
approachtoresearching,monitoringandaddressingSLOisrecommended,withsomepriorityareas
identified:
• Stakeholderidentificationandunderstanding,includingdevelopinganimproved
understandingofthenatureofstakeholderconcernsandthevaluesandbeliefswhich
underpinthem.Understandingwheresharedvaluesexistandwheretheydifferwillassistin
informinghowdialogueandnegotiationcanbestbeapproachedandhowlong-term
relationshipscanbedevelopedovertime.
• Bestpracticedevelopmentandsharing,includingfacilitatingopportunitiesforsectorsto
exchangeknowledgeonSLOchallengesandapproaches.
• ExpandingtheSLOtoolbox,withaparticularfocusonapproachestoaddressinglesstangible
impacts.Thismayincludenewandinnovativeresponsestostakeholderengagement,for
examplethroughparticipatoryBlueEconomyplanning,benefitsharingarrangementsand
improvedincorporationofdataonsocialvaluesintoMarineSpatialPlanningexercises.
• EvaluationandMonitoring,bydevelopingsystemsoftrackingSLOovertimeinorderto
guardagainstSLO‘shocks’toabusinessorsectorandtheBlueEconomyasawhole.
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1. IntroductionTheBlueEconomy,sometimesalsocalled‘BlueGrowth’,aimstouseinnovative,integratedand
crosssectoralmanagementtopromotesociallyequitableandecologicallysustainableuseofthe
natural(blue)capitalprovidedbycoastsandoceans.ThetermBlueEconomyfirstemergedatthe
2012UnitedNationsConventiononSustainableDevelopment(UNCSD),orRio+20Conference.The
conceptwaspromotedattheRio+20Conferenceasthemarinedimensionofthebroader‘green
economy’,whichwasdefinedasaneconomy“thatresultsinimprovedhumanwell-beingandsocial
equity,whilesignificantlyreducingenvironmentalrisksandecologicalscarcities”(UNEP,2011p16).
TheBlueEconomyreflectsthefactthatover70%oftheearth’ssurfaceiswater,andthatgood
oceanhealthisofcentralimportanceforglobalsustainabilityandclimateadaptation(UNEPetal.,
2012).Italsorecognisesthattheoceansareavitalrepositoryandsupporterofglobalbiological
diversity,acriticalsourceoffoodthroughfisheriesandaquacultureandafundamentalcontributor
totheglobaleconomythroughsea-bornetradeandotheruses(WarnerandSchofield,2012p.1).
WhileauniversaldefinitionoftheBlueEconomyisyettobeagreed,itisbaseduponthecore
principlesofSustainableDevelopment.Itrecognisesthemultiplebenefitsofmarineandcoastal
ecosystemsforcurrentandfuturegenerationsandtheneedforsustainableuseanddevelopmentof
theseresources.ThisfocusonsustainabilityandoceanhealthdistinguishestheBlueEconomyfrom
thebroader‘oceaneconomy’.Theoceaneconomy(alsosometimescalledthemarineeconomy)
refersto‘thatportionoftheeconomywhichreliesontheoceanasaninputtotheproduction
processorwhich,byvirtueofgeographiclocation,takesplaceonorundertheocean’(Kildowand
McIlgorm,2010p368).Theoceaneconomythereforeincludesawidevarietyofsectorsasoutlined
inTable1(KildowandMcIlgorm,2010,McIlgorm,2005,TheEconomist,2015).
Table1:Sectorsthatcontributetotheoceaneconomy(adaptedfromTheEconomist,2015)
Extractionofnon-livingresources,orresourcegeneration
Harvestingoflivingresources
Commerceandtradeinandaroundtheocean
Ecosystemprotectionandmanagement
Seabed/Deepseabedmining
Fisheries Shipping(marinetransportation)
BlueCarbon
Oilandgas Aquaculture Shipbuildingandrepair Surveillanceandmaritimesecurity
Water(desalinization) Marinebio-technology Marineconstruction(e.g.jettiesetc.)
Habitatprotection/restoration
Dredging Recreationalfishingandboating HazardprotectionEnergy/renewables(tidal/waveenergy;coastal/offshorewind)
Seafoodprocessing Portinfrastructureandservices
Ecological/ecosystemresearch
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Marineservices(e.g.mapping,monitoring,consulting,maritimeinsurance,etc.)
Wastetreatmentanddisposal
MarineeducationandR&DCoastalDevelopment MarineandcoastaltourismDefense
TheBlueEconomyisoftenthoughtofasasubsetofthisbroaderoceaneconomy.Itincorporates
ideaswhicharedesignedto‘green’existingmarineindustriessuchasfisheries,aquaculture,
shipping,portsandmarinetourism.Italsoembracesnewandemergingsustainableindustriessuch
aswindandwavepower,andpaymentforecosystemsserviceslikeBlueCarbon.Questionsremain
astowhatdifferentiatestheoceanandBlueEconomiesinrelationtotheirgeographicandsectoral
scope,howeveritisclearthatpotentialexistswithinallsectorstoimproveenvironmental
performanceandgrowsocialandeconomicbenefits.Inthisregardatleast,allsectorshavethe
abilitytobecomemore‘Blue’(Voyeretal.,2018).
Thisreportaimstoexploretheroleofsocialexpectationsinthetransitiontoa‘Blue’future.In
particularitwillexplorethenotionofa‘SocialLicensetoOperate’(SLO),andtheroleitiscurrently
playing,andisexpectedtoplay,insecuringthefuturepotentialofoceansectorsandthebroader
BlueEconomy.
1.1 WhatisSLO?TheideaandconceptofaSLOemergedinthe1990s,especiallyintheminingindustry,to
underscoretheobservationthatindustrialactivitiesanddevelopmentsneedsomethingmorethan
politicalsupportandalegallicensethatgrantcompaniesthepermissiontooperatefromthe
government(PrnoandScottSlocombe,2012).Thereisincreasedconcernovernegativesocialand
environmentalimpactsoflocalcommunitiesfacedwithanindustrialdevelopmentintheir
neighbourhoodaswellasfromotherstakeholders.Evidencesuggeststhatstakeholdersare
becomingincreasinglydissatisfiedwiththelegalproceduresandoutcomesofgrantingalegallicense
bythegovernmentandhavebecomemorevocalandpowerfulinexpressingtheirconcerns.This
oftenresultsindelaysinindustrialactivitiesbecomingoperational(PrnoandScottSlocombe,2012).
Furthermore,stakeholdersareoftensuccessfulintheirattemptstogetmoreattentiononthesocial
andenvironmentalimpactsofindustrialactivitiesbecausetheyhaveaccesstoinformationaswellas
waysofmobilizingcitizensandmomentumthroughtheuseofsocialmediaandtheInternet.
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ASLOtypicallyfocusesontheongoingacceptanceandapprovalofindustrialactivitiesby
stakeholdersandarguesfortherelevanceofbuildingarelationshipanddialoguebetween
companiesandthesestakeholders(asopposedtothegovernment).Anumberofscholarsengaged
inresearchintoSLOhavetheorisedaspectrumofSLO,rangingfromfullacceptance(or
identification)throughtocompleterejection,asdetailedbelow:
• Withheld/withdrawn:industrialactivitiesareindangerofbeingdenied,restrictedand/ordiscontinued
• Acceptance:theindustrialactivityisseenaslegitimateandthereisatentativewillingnesstoletthemproceed
• Approval:credibilityexistsandthereisstakeholder’ssupportfortheindustrialactivities• Psychologicalidentification:ahighleveloftrustexistsandstakeholdersidentifythe
contributionoftheindustrialactivitiestotheirinterests(BoutilierandThomson,2011,Boutilieretal.,2012)
Thefocusonstakeholderandcommunitysupportforindustrialoperationsrequiresaninitial
considerationofwhoaretherelevantstakeholders,orinotherwords–who‘grants’thesocial
license?Thesearegenerallythoughtofasgroupsthatareimpactedbyorconcernedabout
developments,orgroupsthatareseenasimportanttoengagewitharoundquestionsofsocial
acceptability.Thesemayinclude‘communitiesofplace’,suchasneighbouringlandholders,and/or
‘communitiesofinterest’,suchasenvironmentalinterestgroupsorusergroupssuchasrecreational
fishers(Harringtonetal.,2008).
Followingidentificationoftherelevantstakeholdergroups,itisthenimportanttounderstandand
identifytheprimaryissuesofconcernwhicharelikelytoinfluenceSLO.Inotherwords,what
impactsandconcernsareraisedbythesestakeholders,andaretherespecificissuesorperceptions
thatareofconcerntothesegroupswhichneedtobeaddressedinordertobuildormaintaintheir
supportandtrust?Thismaydifferacrossandwithinthestakeholdergroups,accordingtoarangeof
influences,includingthevalues,beliefsandworldviewswhichunderpintheirnotionsof
sustainabilityorappropriateuseoftheenvironment(Ratner,2004).Anextstepisthentodiscuss
howtoensureongoingtrustandsupportfromthesestakeholders,thatiswhatapproachesare
beingtakentoaddressstakeholders’concerns,oravoidpotentialconcerns?
1.2 AboutthisreportThisreporthasbeenpreparedbytheAustralianNationalCentreforOceanResourcesandSecurity
(ANCORS)andtheEnvironmentalPolicyGroupofWageningenUniversitytoexaminethedifferent
waysinwhichsectorswithintheBlueEconomyareexperiencing,managingandaddressingSLO.
DifferentindustriesengagedintheBlueEconomymayexperienceSLOindifferentways,yettheloss
ofSLOinonesectormayhaveramificationsforall.Inparticular,thelossofsectoralsociallicense
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mayimpactthelevelofsocietaltrustinthebroaderconceptofaBlueEconomyandleadtoconcerns
about‘blue-washing’.Inaddition,whilesociallicensechallengesmaybedifferentacrosssectors,
therearelikelytobesignificantbenefitsinsharinglessonslearnt–includinginnovativeapproaches
tobuildingcommunitytrustandsupport.
InDecember2017theauthorsorganisedaworkshopattheWorldOceanCouncilSustainableOcean
Summit(WOCSOS).Theobjectiveofthisworkshopwastodevelopastrategic,crosssectoraland
systematicassessmentoftheSLOchallengesandopportunitieswithintheBlueEconomy.The
workshopaimedtofacilitatethesharingofinformationonbestpracticesandlessonslearnedby
differentsectorsinaddressingSLOthroughcasestudiesandinteractivediscussions.Concurrentwith
theworkshop,ashortsurveywasalsodeliveredtoSOSdelegatesandthewidermaritimebusiness
communitywhichaimedtofurtherexploreareasofcommongroundanddivergenceacrossand
betweenBlueEconomysectorsinrelationtoSLO.Theworkshopandsurveywereinformedbya
rangeofindepthinterviewswithbusinessleadersfromanumberofmaritimeindustries.This
researchfocusedonthreeprimaryquestionsrelatingtosectoralunderstandingofthefollowing:
• Whoisperceivedto‘grant’aSLOforindividualsectorsorbusinesseswithintheBlueEconomy,
• Whatprimaryissuesareofconcerntothesestakeholders,and• HowaremaritimesectorsaddressingSLOconcerns?
Theresearchparticipantswerealsoaskedabouttheirperceptioninrelationtotheirsectors’levelof
socialacceptability,usingthescaleofSLOoutlinedabove.Thisreportsynthesizestheresultsof
theseactivitiesandincludesarangeofrecommendationsaboutwaysinwhichacollaborativeand
systematicapproachtoaddressing,monitoringandmaintainingaSLOfortheBlueEconomy,andits
componentindustries,mightbeapproached,includingfutureresearchpriorities.
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2. MethodsTheresearchutilisedacombinationofmethodsincorporatingbothqualitativeandquantitative
techniques.Theseincluded:
1. In-depthinterviewswithbusinesspeopleengagedintheBlueEconomy;
2. AworkshopattheWorldOceanCouncilSustainableOceanSummit;and
3. AnonlinesurveyofbusinesspeopleengagedintheBlueEconomy.
Acrosstheinterviews,surveyandworkshopresearchparticipantstendedtobeinvolvedinsectors
andbusinesseswhichfallintothreecategoriesoftheoceaneconomy(aspreviouslyoutlinedin
Table1).Thesewereextractionofnon-livingresources,orresourcegeneration(especiallyseabed
miningandoilandgasoperationsandmarinerenewableenergy),harvestingoflivingresources
(especiallyfisheriesandaquaculture)andcommerceandtradeinandaroundtheocean(especially
portsandshipping).ThesecategoriesalsotendedtobethesectorsmostrepresentedinWOC
membershipandattendanceattheassociatedconference.Thereforetheyweretheprimarysectors
consideredwithintheanalysisofSLOcontainedwithinthisreport.
2.1 In-depthinterviewsTheinitialfieldworkassociatedwiththisprojectinvolvedaseriesofin-depthinterviewswith
representativesofvariousmaritimesectorsasindicatedinTable2.Theseinterviewsprovideda
frameworkaroundwhichthesubsequentworkshopandsurveyweredesignedasitallowedforthe
identificationofcommonthemesofinterestinrelationtoSLOacrossmultiplesectors.
Table2:Interviewparticipantsbyregionandsector
Sector Region TotalAsia Australia Europe Indian
OceanNorthAmerica/Canada
Mining 2 3 1 6Renewables 1 1Aquaculture 1 1 2Fishing 1 1Ports 2 2Shipping 1 1 1 1 4Other 1 1 2 4Total 1 6 6 1 6 16AnalysisofthedatacollectedfromtheinterviewsinvolvedthematiccodingusingNVIVO11
qualitativedataanalysissoftware.Theprimarythemesidentifiedwereusedtoframekeyquestions
intheworkshopandsurvey(asseenbelow),andprovidedcontextanddepthtothefindingsofthe
survey.
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2.2 Workshop
TheWOCSOSworkshopwasconductedonThursday30thofNovember,2017andwasattendedby
24participants,consistingofbusinesspeople,academicsandGovernmentrepresentativesfromthe
followingsectors:
• Dredging/offshorepilingandmarineconstruction• DeepSeaMining• Shipping• Aquaculture• Fisheries• Marinerenewables• Researchandacademia• Environmentalprotection/NGOs• Finance
Theworkshopinvolvedapresentationbyrepresentativesfromacrossfivemajoroceanindustries,
includingfisheries,seabedmining,offshoreenergy,shippingandoilandgas.Theserepresentatives
discussedhowtheirsectorwasconsideringthethreecentralresearchquestionsof‘who’,‘what’and
‘how’.Theworkshopthenbrokeupintosmallroundtablediscussions,whichagainfocusedonthese
threeresearchquestionswithaparticularemphasisonareasofcommonalityanddivergence
betweenthesectorsrepresented.
2.3 SurveyFinally,asurveywasdistributedtobusinesspeopleinvolvedinmaritimeindustriesthroughtheWOC
membershipandcommunicationchannels,promotionattheSOSworkshop,directemailingof
existingcontactsintheprivatesectorbytheresearchteamandsocialmediapostsviaLinkedinand
Twitter.Table3outlinestheprimarythemestherespondentswereaskedtoaddress,basedon
commonresponsesseenintheindepthinterviews.Theterm‘socialacceptance’orsocial
acceptabilitywasusedinthissurveyinplaceofSLO,givenSLOisnotauniversallyunderstood
conceptinpractice.
Table3:SLOthemes(identifiedthroughtheinterviews)exploredintheonlinesurvey
Researchquestion SurveyoptionsWho:Whichcommunitiesareseenasimportanttoengagewitharoundquestionsofsocialacceptability?
• Immediateneighboursandadjoiningurbanareas• Localcommunities(outsideimmediateneighbourhoode.g.provinceor
localgovernmentarea)• Indigenouscommunities• LocalNGOs• NationalorinternationalNGOs • Othersectorsorusers • Other
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What:Aretherespecificconcernsorissuesorperceptionsthatareofconcerntothesegroupswhichneedtobeaddressedinordertobuildormaintaintheirsupportandtrust?
• Amenityandhumanhealth:Concernsrelatingtoimpactslikenoise,dustandlocalisedpollution
• Economicimpacts:Concernsrelatingtoaccesstoorsharingoftheeconomicbenefitsassociatedwiththesector
• Industrialrelations:Concernsrelatingtotreatmentorremunerationofworkers
• Pollution:Concernsrelatingtoimpactsonwaterorairquality,includingcontaminationandcontributionstoclimatechangethroughcarbonemissions
• Biodiversityimpacts:Concernsrelatedtoimpactsonecosystemhealth,biodiversityormarineanimals,includingfishstocks
• Resourceconflict:Conflictwithotherusersorsectorsoverspace,includingaccessanduseofresources
• Culturalimpacts:Concernsrelatedtodegradationofcultureandwayoflifeforcommunities,includingIndigenouspeoples
• Clashofvaluesandideologies:Opposingethicalviewpointsinrelationtooceansuseandmanagement
• OtherHow:Whatapproachesarebeingtakentoaddresstheseconcerns?
• Publicrelations:Advertisingandcommunicatingthebenefitsandvalueofthesector
• Education:Informingthegeneralpublicandstakeholdersofexistingenvironmentalandsocialimpactmanagementmeasures(includingthroughcertificationschemes)
• Consultationandcommunityparticipation:Engaginglocalcommunitiesthroughconsultationmechanisms,suchasadvisorygroups
• Benefitsharing:Developingandpromotingofappropriatebenefitsharingactivitiesandprogramstoensureeconomicandsocialwellbeingreturnstoimpactedcommunities
• Monitoring:MeasuringandmonitoringSLO/communityperceptions• Managingimpacts:Environmentaland/orsocialimpactassessmentand
mitigationpractices• Innovationandresearch:Developmentofnewapproachestominimising
environmentaland/orsocialimpacts • Resourcesharing:Collaboratingandnegotiatingwithothersectorsover
areasofconflictandcommonality • Governmentrelations:Buildingrelationshipswithgovernments,including
lobbying• Other
Afinalquestionwasaskedinthesurveywhichelicitedaself-assessmentbysurveyparticipantsastotheirsectors’currentlevelofSLO
• Thecommunityisanadvocateforourindustry/sector-theyareourbiggestsupporters
• Oursector/industryhastheapprovalandsupportofthecommunity• Oursectorisacceptedand/ortoleratedbutwehaveoccasionalissuesof
concernwithsocialacceptability,suchaswithparticularstakeholdergroups
• Oursectorisdealingwithalackofsocialacceptability/SLO• Oursectorisfacingcommunityrejection,suchasprotests,boycottsand
legalchallenges
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Thesurveyobtained46completeresponsesfromtwelvecountries,althoughthemajorityof
responsescamefromAustralia,CanadaandtheUSA(Figure1).Therespondentswereengagedina
rangeofmarinesectors,particularlyfisheries,research,shippingandmarinerenewables(Figure2).
Finallytherespondentswereemployedinavarietyoforganisations,fromstart-upsthroughtolarge
corporations,governmentinstitutionsanduniversities(Figure3).
Figure1:Respondentcountryofbusiness
headquarters
Figure2:Respondentemploymentpermarinesector
Figure3:Respondentpertypeoforganisation
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3. ResultsTheresultspresentedbelowarecategorisedaccordingtosectoraluses.Foreachofthesecategoriesofusetheresultsoftheinterviews,workshopandsurveyareorganisedaroundthethreeprimaryresearchquestionsof:
• Whoisperceivedto‘grant’aSLOforindividualsectorsorbusinesseswithintheBlueEconomy,
• Whatprimaryissuesareofconcerntothesestakeholders,and• HowmaritimesectorsareaddressingSLOconcerns.
3.1 ResourceextractionandgenerationsectorsThiscategoryoftheoceaneconomyrelatestolargelystatic,andgeographicallydiscreteoperations
suchasoilandgasextraction,seabedminingoperations,waterdesalination,andmaritime
renewableenergysuchastidal,windorwaveenergygeneration.Allthesesectorswererepresented
inthedatacollectedthroughtheinterviews,workshopandsurvey.
3.1.1 Who?
Interviewswiththeseabedminingsectorindicatedthatsignificanteffortshadbeenmadetoengage
‘communitiesofplace’suchaslocalandIndigenouscommunities.However,thelargelyoffshore,
andremotenatureofmanyproposedminingoperations(notingthatdeepseabedminingisyetto
commenceanywhereintheworld)meansitwasoftenunclearexactlywhoshouldbeconsidereda
stakeholderintheseoperations.
Sowherewehadourlicences…wellitwasallwithintheEEZ.Butthesouthernpartofthe
licencewasstillatleast100kilometresoffshorenorthandthenjustwentfurthernorthfrom
there….it'sverymuchlocalised.Ifyouputathree-mileboundaryaroundanyislandthenI
wouldsuggestthatwouldbewheretheirfishingterritorialrightswouldbeexisting.They're
notgoingtobefishingfordeepsea,800metresplus[namesfishspecies]culturally.
Resourceextractioninterviewparticipant
TheinterviewparticipantsconsideredinternationalNGOstobeofparticularrelevancetotheir
sector.Assuch,seabedmininginterviewparticipantsoftenfocusedontheinfluenceofactivist
environmentalNGOgroupsonbroaderpublicsentiment,particularlythroughactiveonline
campaigns.InteractionswithenvironmentalNGOswereoftenregardedashighlyadversarial,with
theargumentsforandagainstextractionactivitiescouchedintermsofabattlefortheheartsand
mindsofawiderconstituency.
Ithinksomuchworkandthoughtwentintoitandalwayswhenweengagewesaywhoelse
doweneedtobeengagingwithandalwaystakingalltheadvice.…therewasapointthough
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whereitwastoughandit'sreallywhenan..NGO…launchedacampaignandreally,really
triedveryhardtobreakdownsomerelationshipswe'dworkedsohardtoget.
Resourceextractioninterviewparticipant
Theworkshopprovidedfurtherinsightsintothecomplexitiesassociatedwithidentifying
stakeholdersofrelevancetotheresourceextractionsectors.Itincludedaspeakerfromoilandgas
(FionaHickfromWoodsideEnergy)andseabedmining(SamanthaSmithfromBlueGlobeSolutions-
aconsultanttotheseabedminingsector).MsHickindicatedthecomplexityofmanagingSLOgiven
itis‘intangible,informal,andnotpermanent’butsherecognisedthatallbusinesses‘mustrespond
totheneedsofthewidercommunity’.AssuchsheindicatedthatWoodsideactivelyengageswith
‘communitygroups,NGOs,regulators,investors,suppliers,employees,contractors.’MsSmith
highlightedthediversityofSLOstakeholderrequirementswhich‘variestremendouslydependingon
thenatureoftheproject’.InthecaseofprojectswithinExclusiveEconomicZones(EEZs)she
indicatedthereisagreaterfocusonlocalcommunitiesaswellasnationalandinternational
regulatorssuchastheInternationalSeabedAuthorityandtheWorldTradeOrganization.Shealso
citedcommercialcompetitors,NGOsandenvironmentalistsasbeingrelevantstakeholdersfor
miningwithinanEEZ,notingthatthesegroups‘couldbemorestrictlyopposedtonewprojects’.For
miningproposalsinareasbeyondnationaljurisdictionsshenotedthat‘concernedstakeholdersare
everyoneworldwide’.
Thistendencytoconsider‘everyone’asrelevantstakeholderswasalsoseeninthesurveyresponses
fromtheresourceextractionsector(whichincludedbothoilandgasandminingresponses).Figure4
indicatesafairlyconsistentresponsetothequestionsaboutthelevelofimportanceofeachofthe
identifiedgroups,withaslightlygreaterweightingtowardsnationalandinternationalNGOs–a
trendalsoreflectedintheinterviewsandworkshop.
Asimilartrendwasseeninthesurveyresponsestoanothermajorsectorwithinthiscategoryofuse
-marinerenewableenergyproduction.Aswithresourceextraction,theaveragelevelofimportance
ofeachstakeholdergroupwaslargelyconsistent.Incontrasttotheresourceextractionsectors,
however,thetrendwasmoretowardsagreateremphasison‘communitiesofplace’,including
Indigenousandlocalcommunities,reflectingtheirphysicallocationinmorecoastalornearshore
areas(Figure4).
17
Figure4:Sectoralresponsestothelevelofimportanceofrelevantstakeholdergroupsinrelationto
thesocialacceptabilityoftheresourceextractionandgenerationsectors.
Oneoftheclearthemesoftheanalysisofboththeinterviewandworkshopdatawasafocuson
regulatoryresponsibilitiestoengagewithstakeholdersandtheneedtomaintainproductive
stakeholderrelationshipstoavoidreputationaldamage.Giventheemergingnatureofmarine
renewableenergyandthedeepseaminingsector,interviewandworkshopparticipantsfromthese
sectorsoftenfocusedonthepre-approvalphaseofoperationswhenconsultationandcommunity
engagementwereseenascrucialinconvincinglegislatorsandpoliticaldecisionmakersaboutthe
legitimacyandworthoftheiractivities.
SomytheoryisthatifyoucangetanythingdeployedintheoceanintheUnitedStates,and
particularlyCalifornia,youcandoitanywhereintheworld,becauseagainthissociallicence
comesfromamilliondifferentdirectionsandeveryoneofthemhastobeaddressed.We
havearegulatoryenvironment[whichincludes]probably10ormoredifferentagenciesthat
havetoknowwhatyou'redoing;signoffonit.Fiveofthosearefederalagencies;another
fivearestateagencies.Youstillhavetogothroughlocal[approval]processesandthen
you'vegottheotherstakeholders.Theycanbesurfers;theycanbecommercialfisherman.
Theyallhavesomethingtosayaboutitandyou'vegottoaddresseverysingleoneofthem.
Renewableenergyinterviewparticipant
Theemergingtechnologies,ideasandprocessesassociatedwithnewoceanusesofdeepseamining
and renewables also required broad engagement with relevant experts. Ms Smith particularly
highlightedtheimportanceofengagingwith,andseekingfeedbackfrom,thesciencecommunityas
partofabroaderSLOstrategy:
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‘The strategies togain social licenseare to start early, transparent, inclusive, engagement
includingthemostcriticalaspectsoftheactivity;toapproachtherisksandpotential issues
with the world’s best scientists while providing them with independence. These external
expertsrepresentanoutsourcingofcredibility.
SamanthaSmith(seabedmining)–workshoppresentation
Onceinoperation,interviewsandworkshopparticipantshighlightedtheireffortstodemonstrate
ongoingcompliancewithenvironmentallegislationanddemonstrationsoftheirCorporateSocial
Responsibility(CSR).CSRactivitiesofteninvolvedengagingdirectlywithNGOsandlocal
communities,includingIndigenouscommunities.
3.1.2 What?
Duringinterviewswithseabedminingrepresentatives,itwasacknowledgedthatthesectorhadthe
potentialtocreatesignificantenvironmentalimpacts,howeverparticipantswenttogreatlengthsto
detailthescaleandrangeofmitigationandmanagementstrategiesemployedtominimise,
remediateoroffsettheseimpacts.Whilstthenatureandtypeofenvironmentalimpactswerequite
different,thereweremanysimilaritiesbetweentheapproachesofseabedminingandrenewable
energysectorsinmanagingimpacts,withbothsectorshighlightingtheinherentdifficulties
associatedwithdoingsomething‘new’intheoceans.Forexample,workshoppresenter,BillStaby,
fromtherenewableenergysector,indicatedthat‘themainproblemistheremainingscepticism
aboutthesetechnologies.Ittakesalonguphillbattletodevelopthenecessarytrust’.
Inresponsetofeelingsoffrustrationoverthisscepticismresearchparticipantsfromthesesectors
occasionallyusedcomparativeapproachestohighlightaperceivedlevelofscrutinyontheir
operationswhichtheybelievedwasinconsistentwithlevelsofriskorwiththescrutinyonother
industries.Some,forexample,discussedtherelativeenvironmentalimpactoftheiractivitiesin
comparisonwithothersectorsorwithinabroaderglobalcontext.Thisincludedcomparisonsofthe
levelofenvironmentaldamagefromdeepseaminingwithbottomtrawling,orlargescaleopencut
miningonland.
Becausetheeasywindepositsareallgone.Nowthey'regoingtoeitherdeeperdepositsor
morechallengingareas,geopolitically[or]locationally.Thosesortsofareasarereally
puttingchallengesontheminingindustrytosayokay,where'sthenextbigopportunityof
wins.Nowit'snottosaythatoffshoreisgoingtoprovidelongtermsustainableresources
forallmineralsthatwerequire.Butitdoesprovideandit'smovingmoretowards
economicallyviableandenvironmentallysustainablesourcesofsupply.
Resourceextractioninterviewparticipant
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Resourceextractionindustryrepresentativesalsohighlightedtheimportantfunctionalroleoftheir
sector,andthesocietalbenefitsthatcomefromtheproductsthesectorsalreadyprovide,orhave
thepotentialtoprovide.
TheyallhavetheiriMacsandwanttoflybusinessclasseverywhereandhavetheiriPhone
andstuff…well,you'vegottogetthemetalfromsomewhere.Theirstandardcatchcallis
we'llrecycle.Yougowellthat'sjustgoingtodrivethepricesupanditmeansonlythe
wealthycanaffordthesethings.Soyeah,Ithinkminingisgoodfortheworldifit'sdone
appropriately.
Resourceextractioninterviewparticipant
Therenewableenergysectorsalsohighlightedthesocietalbenefitsderivedfromtheirsectorasan
importantcomponentoftheirstrategytoobtainandmaintainSLO.
..wedon'texpectmuchpushbackatall.Partofithastodowiththefactthatwe'reproviding
themalifesavingcommoditythattheyreally,reallyneed.
Renewableenergyinterviewparticipant
Forthemoreestablishedoilandgasindustrytherewasagreaterfocusondemonstratingcorporate
responsibility.WorkshoppresenterFionaHickhighlightedthat‘environmentalimpactsusedtobe
intangible,butarenowmoretangibleintermsofreputationandeconomicimpacts’.Sheidentified
themajorSLOissuestheirsectorwasaddressingrelatedtoclimatechange,demonstrating
regulatorycompliance,ensuringtransparency,anti-briberymeasuresandmajorincidentprevention.
Thesurveyresponsesoftheresourceextractionsectorsreflectedahighlevelofengagementacross
alltheidentifiedSLOchallenges,withaparticularfocusonpotentialorperceivedimpactson
biodiversityaswellasconcernsrelatingtoaccesstoorsharingoftheeconomicbenefitsassociated
withthesector(Figure5).This,alongwiththeinterviewsandworkshopdata,suggestaprimary
focusoftheireffortstoimproveSLOliesindemonstratingthattheenvironmentalcostsoftheir
activitiesareoutweighedbythebenefits.Therenewablesindustrygenerallyhadlowerlevelsof
concernwithalltheidentifiedsocialacceptabilitychallenges,incomparisonwiththeresource
extractionsectors.Inparticulartherewasalowerlevelofagreementwiththesuggestionthatthe
valuesandbeliefsofthesectorwereatoddswithstakeholdersorthebroadercommunity.Thismay
inpartbeduetoanexisting‘green’imageofrenewableenergy,wherebyenvironmentalbenefits
areobtainedthroughprovidinganalternativetocarbonintensive,non-renewableenergysources.
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Figure5:Sectoralresponsestothelevelofimportanceofcommunityperceptionsorconcernscreate
socialacceptabilitychallengesfortheresourceextractionandgenerationsectors.
3.1.3 How?
Throughouttheinterviewsandworkshop,participantsengagedinseabedmining,oilandgasand
renewableenergyindicatedarangeofapproachestomanagingtheidentifiedSLOchallengesfor
theirsectors.Therewasaclearemphasisondevelopingnewtechnologiesandinnovativeresponses
toconductingoperationsandreducingimpacts,andresearchparticipantsoutlinedtheoften
extensivemeasuresundertakentodetect,monitorandaddressenvironmentalimpacts.
There'snodrilling,blastingrequired.Itreallyisjustcutting,suckingandpumpingtothe
surface…[then]theprocessingshouldbethatallthematerialthat'sbroughttothesurfaceis
dewatered.Thewaterthat'sbroughtuphastobepumpedbackdowntotheareathatit
camefrom.
Resourceextractioninterviewparticipant
WorkshoppresenterBillStabyoutlinedastrategic,andstepbystepapproachto‘retiringrisk’by
addressingeachoftheidentifiedchallengesfortherenewableenergyprojecthewasmanaging.Ms
Hickhighlightedhowhercompanyhasbeenworkingonbuilding‘genuinetwo-wayengagement-
notone-waycommunication’withcommunities.Sheindicatedaneedto‘sharetheirgoal
achievements,theirissues,theirhealthandsafetyperformances…asoutcomesspeaklouderthan
words’.Theseengagementstrategieshavebeenunderpinnedbytheincreasinglyactiverole
regulatorsarebeginningtoplayindrivingandmandatingconsultativeprocesses.InAustralia,Ms
HickindicatedthattheFederalGovernmenthaveproposedtoimprovepublicconsultation
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mechanismswithinthepetroleumindustrythrougharegisterofinterestforfutureconsultation,and
theimplementationofcommunityengagementprogramstoprovidethepublicmoreinformationon
petroleum.
Thesurveyresponsesindicatedthatinmostcases,acrossboththerenewableenergyandresource
extractionsectors,therewasafeelingthattheirsectordidnotengageparticularlywellwitha
varietyofstrategiestodevelopandmaintainSLO(Figure6).However,theresourceextraction
participantsfelttheyperformedstronglyinthecategoriesof‘researchandinnovation’and
‘managingimpacts’.
Figure6:Sectoralresponsesontheextenttowhichtheyengagewithstrategiestoimproveor
maintainSLO.
3.2 Harvestingoflivingresources(fisheries&aquaculture)Thiscategoryofthemarineindustriesrelatestoavarietyofmethodsoflivingresourceextraction
fromtheoceans,includingfisheries,aquacultureandmarinebio-technology.Thedatacollected
focusedonthefisheriesandaquaculturesectors.
3.2.1 Who?
Interviewswithrepresentativesfromfisheriesandaquaculturetendedtofocusoninteractionswith
otherusersasaparticularcategoryofstakeholderofinteresttotheirsectors.Forthefisheries
sectortherewereconcernsinrelationtorecreationalfishersandtheincreasingprevalenceof
offshorewindfarmsandotherfixedinfrastructure,particularlywithinEuropeanwaters.
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Butthereareanumberofrecreationalfishermenwhoaresemi-professionalfishermenwho
havenoproblemwithlicensingandthequotas,whoselltheirfishontheblackmarket.So
that'sunfaircompetition.
Commercialfishingindustryinterviewparticipant
Workshoppresenterfromthefisheriessector,JennaLahey,outlinedtheimportanceofhomeport
communitiesinherpresentationandparticularlyhighlightedthebenefitofalongterm,historic
engagementwiththatcommunityascrucialtotheirsuccessinmaintainingahighlevelofSLO.
Aquacultureproducerscitedoppositionfromcommercialfishersasanexampleofconflictwith
otherresourceusers.Theyalsodiscussedsignificantstakeholdergroupswithintheirlocal
communities,includingcloseneighbourstotheironshorefacilitiesandresidentswithviewsthat
mighttakeintheiroffshorefacilities.
…we'regoingtohavetruckscominginandoutandyoudon'twantyourneighbours
complainingsoyoudon'twanttobeinthemiddleofaresidentialpocket.
Aquacultureindustryinterviewparticipant
Thesurveyresponsesindicatedthatstakeholdersforfisheriesandaquaculturewerelargely
consistentacrossthetwosectorsandcanbestbesummarizedasencompassingahighlevelof
interactionwithallrelevantstakeholdergroups(Figure7).
Figure7:Sectoralresponses(averaged)tothedegreeofimportanceofrelevantstakeholdersinrelationtothesocialacceptabilityofthesectorsinvolvedinharvestinglivingresources.
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3.2.2 What?
Interviewandworkshopparticipantsfromfisheriesfocusedparticularlyonquestionsofresource
conflictasamajorissueofconcernfortheirsector,alongwithperceivedoractualenvironmental
impactssuchasoverfishing,by-catchandhabitatdamage.Ideologicaldifferenceswerealso
consideredofconcernforthefisheriessector,withasensethatsomesectionsofthecommunityare
opposedtocommercialfishinginanyform.
ThereareNGOswhoareveryorthodox,verystrictineverythingandit'salmostareligious
discussion.They'reverydifficulttodealwithbecauseit'stheirbeliefagainstourbelief.Then
youhaveastandoff.Butontheotherareaswecanwork-soiftheNGOsandthefishing
industryworktogetherinthediscussionwithwindfarmsonnatureconservation,fisherieset
ceteraandifwesupporteachotherwearemuch,muchstronger.
Commercialfishingindustryinterviewparticipant
Aquacultureparticipantsdiscussedarangeofenvironmentalimpactstheirindustrywererequiredto
address,includingmanagingescapes,sustainablefeedoptionsandwaterquality.
Ingeneralsurveyrespondentsfromthefisheriesandaquaculturesectorsindicatedarangeof
potentialorperceivedSLOchallengesasbeingparticularlyrelevanttotheirindustries(Figure8).Of
mostsignificanceforthefisheriessectorwereconcernsoversharingeconomicbenefits,impactson
biodiversityorecosystemhealth,conflictwithotherusersorsectorsandaclashofvaluesor
ideologies.Fortheaquaculturesector,slightlyhigheremphasiswasplacedonbiodiversityimpacts
andresourceconflicts.
Figure8:Sectoralresponsestothelevelofimportanceofcommunityperceptionsorconcernscreate
socialacceptabilitychallengesforthesectorsinvolvedinharvestinglivingresources.
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3.2.3 How?
SomeofthestrategiesidentifiedintheinterviewsandworkshoptoaddressingSLOconcerns
includedeffortsto‘humanise’thefisheriesandaquacultureindustries,aswellasactiveengagement
incommunitylife.Forexample,workshoppresenterMsLaheysharedthehistoryofhercompany,
LouisbourgSeafoods,whichstartedasaresultofcodstockscollapseinCanada.Shehighlighteda
rangeofstrategieswhichhavecontributedtoahighlevelofcommunitysupportfortheirbusiness.
Thishasincludedmakingthehealthofoceanasacentralelementoftheirbusiness,ensuringstocks
aremanagedinaresponsiblewayusingin-housescienceandcontributinginarangeofwaystothe
localcommunity,includingthroughemployment,financialassistanceandsponsorshipactivities.
ArangeofotherstrategiesforimprovingSLOwerealsohighlightedintheworkshop.Thisincludeda
scallopbusinessintheUSwhichwasusingcooperativeresearchtoreduceturtlemortalitytozero
andapublicrelationscampaignbytheseafoodindustryinNewZealand,whichtoldthestoryof
someofthepeopleinvolvedintheindustry,andendedwithapledgetolookaftertheenvironment
andtheresource.Theworkshopparticipantstalkedabouttheimportanceofhumanisingthe
industrythroughstorytellingandlinkingconsumerswiththefacesoftheindustry.Thiswas
particularlystronginthefisheriessectorwherethehistoryandincreasingly‘romantic’notionsof
fishingareseenaskeyassetsforthesectorinbuildingSLOandconnectionswithcommunities.
Similarly,workshopparticipantsfromtheaquacultureindustryparticipantshighlightedarangeof
strategiestheyhademployedtobuildSLO.Theseincludedafocusontheinnovationandresearch
currentlybeingconductedaroundoffshoreaquacultureandimprovedfeedopportunitieswith
technicaladvancementssoughttoaddressenvironmentalconcernsrelatingtoescapeandwater
quality.
It'sveryimportantthatwehaveafeedthat'snotintroducinganythingintotheocean
environmentthat'sforeignsowe'relookingintofeeddevelopments.
Aquacultureindustryinterviewparticipant
Oneworkshopparticipantalsodiscussedthebenefitsharingstrategiesherbusinessproposedto
employinordertobuildSLO,whichincludedaplantodonateafullcageoffishtofoodcharities.
AnothercommonstrategyforbuildingSLOencounteredwithinthefisheriesandaquaculturesectors
werecertificationprogramssuchasMarineStewardshipCouncil(MSC)andAquaculture
StewardshipCouncil(ASC)accreditationschemes.
Inthesurvey,boththeaquacultureandfisheriessectorsresponsestoSLOchallengeswerestrongest
inthe‘innovationandresearch’categoryandweakestinthemonitoringofSLOorcommunity
perceptionsofthesector(Figure9).Fisheriesrespondentstothesurveyalsofelttheirsectorwere
25
moderatelystrongacrossalltheotherresponses,whiletheaquaculturesectorfelttheywere
weakerinthecategoriesof‘Governmentrelations’(e.g.lobbying)andcollaboratingwithother
sectors(resourcesharing).
Figure9:Sectoralresponsesontheextenttowhichtheyengagewithstrategiestoimproveor
maintainSLO.
3.3 Commerceandtradeinandaroundtheocean(shippingandports)Thiscategoryoftheoceaneconomyrelatestoshippingandtransportation,ports,coastal
developmentandmarineandcoastaltourism.Thesectorsofportsandshippingwererepresentedin
thedatacollectedforthisreport.
3.3.1 Who?
Therewas a clear trend in the interviewswithmembers of the shipping industry to focus on the
‘hidden’natureofshippingasamajorchallengefortheirsectorinbuildingSLO.Intheworkshopand
interviewstheytalkedparticularlyaboutthe‘generalpublic’astheirmajorstakeholdergroupgiven
thefundamentalimportanceofshippingforinternationaltrade,yettherewasafeelingthatthiswas
notwellappreciatedorunderstood.Forexample,workshoppresenterPeterHinchliffe(International
ChamberofShipping)indicatedthat‘eveniftheshippingsectorcarries90%ofworldtrade,thereis
stillawidemisunderstandingfromthesocialorpoliticalspheresregardingthesocialimportanceof
theshippingsector’.
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Forportinterviewparticipantstherewasagreaterfocusonimmediateneighbours,particularlywith
referencetoconcernsoverurbanencroachmentandchangingdemographicsorgentrification
aroundportlands.
Alotoftheoldertypeofpeoplearecomingtolivehere.Alotofthemarelawyersandthat
kindofthing.Theystarttocomplain,becausetheydon'thaveanyinterestwith[our
company].Theyseeitasaburden.
Shipbuildingindustryinterviewparticipant
Thesurveyidentifiedcleardifferencesbetweenportsandshippinginregardtorelevantstakeholder
groups(Figure10).Portsappearedtohaveastrongerfocuson‘communitiesofplace’,especially
immediateneighbours,reflectingthestaticandlocalizednatureoftheseactivities.Thesurvey
indicatedthattheyhadthelowestlevelofconcerninrelationtointeractionwithothersectors,
perhapsreflectingthatportlandsareoftenprotectedandprioritisedincoastalplanningand
management.
Figure10:Sectoralresponses(averaged)tothedegreeofimportanceofrelevantstakeholdergroups
inrelationtothesocialacceptabilityofthesectorsinvolvedincommerceandtradeinandaroundthe
ocean.
3.3.2 What?
TheworkshopandinterviewsidentifiedarangeofSLOconcernswhichthesectorisworkingto
address.Workshoppresenter,MrHinchliffe,forexample,highlightedtheoftennegativereputation
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oftheshippingindustryinrelationtolabourstandards.HealsoindicatedtheSLOwouldrequire
goingbeyondregulatedstandards,includinginrelationtocarbonemissionsandfuelemissions.
ThesurveyresponsesindicatedthatSLOchallengesfortheshippingandportssectorsfocusedmost
stronglyonamenityandhumanhealthandpollutionandcontamination,forshippingbiodiversity
impactswerealsoanotableconcern(Figure11).Thisreflectsthenatureofthemostlikely
environmentalconcernsforthesesectorswhichincludesfuelspills,emissions,noiseanddustfrom
portactivitiesandintroducedmarinepests.
Figure11:Sectoralresponsestothelevelofimportanceofcommunityperceptionsorconcernscreate
socialacceptabilitychallengesforthesectorsinvolvedinportsandshipping.
3.3.3 How?
InterviewandworkshopparticipantsconsiderededucationascriticaltoSLOforshippingandport
sectors.Theneedtoinformthegeneralpublicabouttheroleofportsandshippingintheeconomy
wereoftenseenasimportant,andincludedexercisessuchasopendaysandeducationcampaigns.
TheexperienceofaCanadianshippingcompanywassharedintheworkshop.Itincludedasixmonth
advertisingcampaignabouttheroleofshippingandwasseentohavehadaverypositiveimpact.
Socially,thecompanywaslargelyacceptedandeconomically,itimproveditscommercialactivities.
Thissuccesswasnotalwaysreplicated,however,withatleastoneinterviewparticipantsceptical
abouttheextenttowhichthepublicwereinterestedinportsorshipping:
Wearetheport,wemanagetheportbutthisisnotourfreight.Wearefacilitatingthe
peopleandthebusinessesof[ourregion]tothriveandtomaintainahighstandardof
living..youcanactivelyinformpeopleabouthowthatworks,butI'veheardthatpeople
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generallyarenotthatinterestedinhearingaboutthat.Theybasicallyjustdon'twantto
hearaboutfreight,theyjustwantittowork.They'renotthatinterested.
Portsectorinterviewparticipant
Anotherinterviewparticipantpointedtorecalcitrancefromwithintheshippingindustrytoany
movetoraisetheprofileofthesector.Hesuggestedthatthecombinedeffectoflowlevelsof
scrutiny,alongsidetheextremerelianceofglobaleconomiesonthesector,servesasshield,which
inhibitslongtermchange:
..evenwhenthescrutinycomeson,itdoesn'tmeanthatthere'sgoingtobeawide-rangingimpact.Nobodyit'sgoingtocallfor,right,that'stheendofshipping…Sothereisaflurryofactivity,probablyresultsinsomeunwantedregulationorprobablyunneededregulationandthenbecausepoliticianshavetobeseentobedoingsomethingandthenitallgoesquietagainandwegetonwithbusinessasnormal….I'dlovetoseemuchmoreproactivity,buttheindustryisnot-itdoesn'tlikeproactivity.Sotheindustryismuchmorecontenttokeepitsheaddownandgetonwithitsnormalbusinessandthenrespondreactivelywhensomethinggoeswrong...[thiscomesfrom]…two-thousandyearsofhistory,thefactthatshipownersknowiftheykeeptheirheadsdown,thenthey'llprobablybeleftalonemoreorless.Shippingindustryworkshopparticipant
Despitethis,somewithinthesectorareworkingtoencourageandpromotemoreresponsibleand
proactiveapproachestoshippingandportmanagement.Theworkshopandinterviewparticipants
indicatedthatenvironmentalcertificationschemesareanemergingtrendastheshippingandports
sectorsbegintorespondtovarioussocialandpoliticalpressurestodemonstratetheir
environmentalresponsibility.‘GreenPort’andgreenshippingaccreditationschemesarebeginning
tobuildmomentuminmanyareasbuttheircoverageofthesectorasawholeremainslow.
Butwerespecttheenvironmentmorethantheregulatoryrequirements.Ourshipsarenow
classifiedforwhatwecallISO14000.It'saverydifficultcertificationtoget.ISO,
InternationalStandardOrganisation,theyassignedthiscertificateafteraverymeticulous,
verycarefulevaluationandaudit.
Shippingindustryworkshopparticipant
Thesurveyresultsindicatethattheshippingsectorismostactivelyengagedinthecategoriesof
governmentrelations(buildingrelationshipswithgovernment/lobbying),innovationandresearch
andimpactmanagement.Theportsindustryrespondentsfelttheywereweakestintheareasof
innovationandresearchandmonitoringofSLO(Figure12).
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Figure12:SectoralresponsesontheextenttowhichtheyengagewithstrategiestoimproveormaintainSLO.
3.4 CrosssectoralassessmentofSLOThefinalquestionofthesurveyaskedparticipantstocompleteaself-assessmentoftheirperceived
levelofSLOfortheirsector(Figure13).Sectorsconsistentlyconsideredthemselvesinthemiddle
groundofSLO,largelyacceptedbutwithoccasionalissueswithparticularstakeholdergroups.While
fisheriesandaquaculturerespondentshadabroadspreadacrossthefullrangeofresponsestothe
questionsabouttheirperceivedlevelofSLO,theresourceextractionsectorsandrenewableenergy
sectorsweremorelikelytoconsiderthattheywereaccepted,atriskoflosingtheirSLO(withheld)or
wereunsure.
Figure13:DegreeofSLOperceivedtobeheldbysector.
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TheinterviewsandworkshophighlightedtheficklenatureofSLOandageneralleveloffrustration
overthedifficultiesinadequatelyprosecutingthecasethatindividualsectorsareworthyof
communitysupport.Manyofthesediscussionshighlightedthefundamentalroleofemotion,values,
beliefsandworldviewsininfluencingSLO,andhowdifficultthiscouldbetoaddressusingscience
basedortechnicalresponses.
Evenifaprojecthasasociallicenceyoucansoeasilyloseit,sometimesaswe'veheard
throughnofaultofyourownbecausesomebody'sdecidedthey'refundamentallyopposedto
miningandsowantstotrytowreaksomehavoc…sohowdowepreventthat?BecauseI'm
allforintellectualconversationsandintellectualchallengesbasedonscience,butnobody
shouldbeablejustto……makesomethingup,spreadlies,orbeviolent.
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4. DiscussionTherewerearangeofdifferencesandsimilaritiesexperiencedacrosstheoceanindustrieswho
participatedinthisresearch,inrelationtounderstandingandmanagingSLO(Table4).
Table4:Summaryoffindingsacrosssectors
Sector Who What How SLOlevelResourceExtraction(oilandgasandseabedmining)
All,especiallyInternationalNGOs
Benefitsharing,managingenvironmentalimpacts
Technicalresponsesthroughinnovationandresearch,oftentodemonstratetoGovernmentandcommunitiesacommitmenttominimisingenvironmentalimpacts
Lowerlevelsofsupportonaverage–mostparticipantsunsureorafeelingthatSLOiscurrentlywithheldoracceptedtosomedegree.
MarineRenewables
All,withslightlyhigheremphasisonlocal&Indigenouscommunities
Resourceconflict/competinguses
Nocleartrends,butemphasisonpre-approvalphaseindemonstratingenvironmentalcompliance
Lowerlevelsofsupportonaverage–mostparticipantsunsureorafeelingthatSLOiscurrentlywithheldoracceptedtosomedegree.
Fisheries Broad‘generalpublic’statementsandcrosssectionofstakeholdersidentified
Conflictwithotherusers,ideologicaldifferences
Certificationschemesandotherformsofpublicrelations
VaryinglevelsofSLO,fromapprovalthroughtowithdrawn.Onaverageafeelingofprecariousacceptance.
Aquaculture Conflictwithotherusers,andmanagingenvironmentalimpacts
Focusoninnovationandresearch
VaryinglevelsofSLO,fromidentificationthroughtowithheld.Likelytorelatecloselytotypeandnatureofaquacultureoperation.
Shipping Broad‘generalpublic’statementsandcrosssectionofstakeholdersidentified–mostwithinthecontextofbeing‘invisible’
Amenity(e.g.noiseanddust)andcontaminationconcerns(egpollution,oilspillsetc)
Focusongovernmentrelationsandlobbyingaswellasinnovationandresearchintotechnicalresponsestoimproveenvironmentalperformance.Emergingaccreditationschemes.
Feelingofacceptancewithoccasionalissuesofconcern,senseoflargelyflying‘undertheradar’.
Ports Immediateneighbours
32
4.1 Who?Oneofthemostfundamentalchallengesformarineindustriesisunderstandingwhotherelevant
stakeholdergroupsareforeachsector.Thisisinpartrelatedtothetransboundary,mobileand
transientnatureofsomeoceanbasedindustries–especiallyfishingandshipping–andthelargely
remoteandoffshorenatureofothers–especiallytheresourceextractionsectors.Whilethemore
staticindustries,suchasoffshoreenergy,aquacultureandports,tendedtopredominatelyfocus
theirSLOengagementaround‘communitiesofplace’,especiallyneighbouringcommunities,the
remainingsectorshadastrongeremphasison‘communitiesofinterest’,suchasNGOsandother
usergroups.Thishascreatedarangeofchallengesforthesesectorsbecausecommunitiesof
interest,bytheirverynature,areinfluencedintheirconcernsandopinionsbyasharedsetofvalues,
beliefsorareasofinterest,whichmayormaynotbeconsistentwithothercommunitieswithwhich
theindustryinteracts.Asaconsequencemanyoftheindustryparticipantshighlightedtheenormous
scopeandvarietyofstakeholderstheyinteractedwitheithervoluntarilyoraspartoftheir
regulatoryrequirements.Thebreadthandvarietyofstakeholderengagementwascharacterisedby
manyparticipantsthroughcatch-allstatementslike‘thegeneralpublic’asadescriptionoftheir
primarystakeholdergroups,orthroughlonglistsofthedifferentgroupswithwhichtheyengaged.
Morestaticindustries,suchasaquacultureandrenewableenergysectors,alsoexperiencedsimilar
challengesinarticulatingthefullarrayofstakeholderswhichwererelevanttotheirinterests.In
theseinstancesthechallengeoftenlayintherelative‘youth’ofthesesectors,withemerging
technologiesandnewusesoftheoceanspacecreatingscrutinynotjustfromneighbouring
communitiesbutalsoarangeofcommunitiesofinterestwithconcernsorscepticismabouthow
thesenewusesoftheoceanmayimpactexistingsocial,economicorenvironmentalvalues.
4.2 What?
Asmightbeexpected,thevastnumberofcommunitiesofbothplaceandinterestwithastakein
oceandevelopmentandusecreatesanequallyvastarrayofissuesandconcernswhichthesegroups
willprosecute.Ingeneralthearrayofissuescanbelooselyclassifiedintotwomainareas:
4.2.1 Tangibleimpacts
Tangibleimpactsrelatedmostlytoconcernsoverimpactsonbiodiversityoramenity,pollutionor
contaminationissues,andsomeofthemoreconcreteexpressionofeconomicimpact.
EnvironmentalriskswereacleartrendacrossallsectorsinrelationtoissuesofconcernforSLO,
although,aswouldbeexpected,thenatureoftheserisksvariedacrosssectors.
33
4.2.2 Intangibleimpacts
Whilsthardertoconceptualise,monitorandcontroltherewerealsostrongexamplesofintangible
impactswhichwereofconcerntoparticipants.Inparticular,conflictwithotherusersorsectorsover
space,includingaccessanduseofresourceswasamajorissueformanysectors.Alsoproblematic
wereclashesofvaluesandideologies,includingopposingethicalviewpointsinrelationtooceans
useandmanagement.Thepaceofchangeinusesoftheoceansisalsolikelytocreatesome
additional,butintangible,challengesforemergingsectorsorsectorsengagingwithdisruptive
technologies,includingfear,resistancetochangeandscepticismandmistrust.
4.3 How?
4.3.1 Tangibleimpacts
Inalmostallcasestechnicalortechnologicalresponseswerebeingactivelypursuedtoaddress
environmentalimpacts,withparticularemphasisondemonstratingtoregulatorsandstakeholders
environmentalresponsibilityandcompliancewithlegislation.Manysectorsformalisethese
demonstrationsofenvironmentalresponsibilitythroughCSRreportingand/oraccreditationand
certificationschemes.Formanyparticipantsacrosstheworkshop,interviewsandsurveysthe
emphasiswasonmanagingrisk,withtheriskofreputationaldamageamajordriverinengagement
withquestionsaroundSLO.ThispointstothepotentiallypowerfulrolethatSLOmayplayin
improvingenvironmentalperformanceacrosstheentireBlueEconomy.
4.3.2 Intangibleimpacts
ThedatacollectedthroughthisresearchindicatesthatindustriesoperatingwithintheBlueEconomy
maybewellequippedtorespondtothetechnicalandtechnologicalchallengesassociatedwith
managingtangibleimpacts,particularlyenvironmentalrisks,throughinnovation,researchand
mitigationstrategies.Asignificantlygreaterchallengeappearstolieinthemostappropriate
responsetomoreintangibleimpacts,whichhaveastrongrelationshipwiththevalues,beliefsand
ideologiesofthecommunitiesofinterestwithwhomthedifferentindustriesareinteracting.This
willcontinuetobeachallengeastheBlueEconomygrows.Withthisgrowthwillcomeincreased
scrutinyacrossallthecomponentsectorsoftheBlueEconomy,includingthoselargelyconsidered
‘invisible’inthepast.
Therearearangeofapproachesavailabletosectorstoaddressandconsiderintangibleimpacts.
Theseincluderesourcesharingandnegotiation,participatoryapproachestobusinessdevelopment
andmanagementandbenefitsharing.Inmanycasesthemorecommonresponse,however,isdirect
lobbyingofGovernment.Thisisperhapsadirectreflectionofanappreciationthatformany
34
communitiesofinterestSLOchallengesmaybeintractable,iftheyarebasedaroundfundamentally
opposingvaluessystems.Intheseinstancesquestionsoflegitimacyfalltothepoliticalrealmwhere
decisionmakersareaskedtomediatebetweenconflictingvalues,andgovernmentlobbyingcanbe
expectedtooccurfrombothsidesofthesesomewhatpolariseddebates.
35
5. ConclusionsandRecommendationsItisclearthatthevastmajorityofmarineindustrieswhoparticipatedinthisresearch,acrossthe
breadthoftheBlueEconomy,considerthemselvestobeinarelativelyvulnerablepositionin
relationtoSLO.Mostfeelthattheirsectorislargelyacceptedand/ortoleratedbuthasoccasional
issuesofconcernwithsocialacceptability,suchaswithparticularstakeholdergroups.Theanalysis
indicatesthatinthoseinstanceswherethechallengesrelatetotangibleimpacts,andcommunities
ofplace,theoceansectorsarerelativelywellequippedtodealwiththesechallengesthrough
technicalortechnologicalinnovations,benefitsharingexercisesorotherformsofcommunity
engagement.Whereconcernsconcentrateparticularlyon‘communitiesofinterest’(suchasNGOs
orusergroups)orarefocusedonintangibleimpactsorconflictsbetweenvaluesystemsofuses,
levelsofvulnerabilitymaybehigher.WhilsttheBlueEconomyisthereforepositionedwellto
respondtotangibleimpactsthatcanbeaddressedthroughitsstrongfocusoninnovationand
technicalsolutionstoriskssuchasenvironmentalimpacts,itmaymeetsignificantchallengesin
addressingthesemuchmorefundamentalandoftenintractableconcerns.Thenatureandscaleof
thechallengesassociatedwithintangibleimpactsareunlikelytobewithintheexpertiseor
capabilitiesofindividualbusinesses,orevensectorsandmaythereforebenefitfromstrategic,cross
sectoralengagementaroundanumberofcoreareas.
1. Stakeholderidentificationandunderstanding
Understandingthe‘who’questioninSLOisacriticalfirststepforanysectorandfortheBlue
Economyasawhole.Oncethe‘who’isestablisheditisimportanttobetterunderstandthenatureof
stakeholderconcernsandthevaluesandbeliefswhichunderpinthem(WilburnandWilburn2011).
Understandingwheresharedvaluesexistandwheretheydifferwillassistininforminghowdialogue
andnegotiationcanbestbeapproachedandhowlong-termrelationshipscanbedevelopedover
time.
2. Bestpracticedevelopmentandsharing
Thereareclearoverlapsinthemanyissuesandchallengesbeingfacedacrossthevariousmarine
industriesandsectorsinrelationtoSLO.Facilitatingopportunitiesforsectorstoexchange
knowledgeonSLOchallengesandapproaches,throughtheWOCorothermechanisms,mayprovide
fruitfulavenuesnotjusttosharelessonslearnedbutalsotobuildandstrengthenrelationshipsand
encouragecollaborationswhichmayassistinaddressingcurrentandfutureintangibleimpacts,
includingmanaginginter-userconflicts.
3. ExpandingtheSLOtoolbox
36
Acrossthesectorsinvolvedinthisresearchtherewasaclearengagementwithinnovationand
research,andtechnicalsolutionstotangibleimpactsandissues.Gapsexistinapproachesto
addressinglesstangibleimpacts.Broadeningthescopeandnatureoftoolsandstrategiesusedby
marinesectorstoengagewithstakeholders,particularly‘communitiesofinterest’(suchasNGOS
andusergroups),isacurrentopportunitywhichcouldbeexplored.Thismayincludenewand
innovativeresponsestostakeholderengagement,forexamplethroughparticipatoryBlueEconomy
planning,benefitsharingarrangementsandincorporationofdataonsocialvaluesintoMarine
SpatialPlanningexercises.
4. EvaluationandMonitoring
Finally,manysectorsindicatedthattheyarenotcurrentlyactivelyinvolvedinmonitoring
communityperceptionsinrelationtotheirsectororbusiness.WithoutsystemsoftrackingSLOover
time,challengesorlossofSLOaremorelikelytocomeasashocktoabusinessorsectorandmay
havelargerimplicationsfortheBlueEconomyasawhole.Largescale,longtermandcrosssectoral
analysisofSLOmaybebestachievedthroughacollaborativeapproachwhichpoolsresourcesand
createsefficienciesofscale.
37
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KILDOW,J.T.&MCILGORM,A.2010.Theimportanceofestimatingthecontributionoftheoceanstonationaleconomies.MarinePolicy,34,367-374.
MCILGORM,A.2005.EconomicValueoftheMarineSectorAcrosstheAPECMarineEconomies.DraftreporttotheAPECMarineResourceConservationWorkingGroupProject(05/2004),.TheCentreforMarinePolicy:UniversityofWollongong.
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BOUTILIER,R.G.,BLACK,L.&THOMSON,I.Frommetaphortomanagementtool:HowtheSocialLicensetoOperatecanstabilisethesocio-politicalenvironmentforbusiness..InternationalMineManagement,2012.227-237.
HARRINGTON,C.,CURTIS,A.&BLACK,R.2008.LocatingCommunitiesinNaturalResourceManagement.JournalofEnvironmentalPolicy&Planning,10,199-215.
KILDOW,J.T.&MCILGORM,A.2010.Theimportanceofestimatingthecontributionoftheoceanstonationaleconomies.MarinePolicy,34,367-374.
MCILGORM,A.2005.EconomicValueoftheMarineSectorAcrosstheAPECMarineEconomies.DraftreporttotheAPECMarineResourceConservationWorkingGroupProject(05/2004),.TheCentreforMarinePolicy:UniversityofWollongong.
PRNO,J.&SCOTTSLOCOMBE,D.2012.Exploringtheoriginsof‘sociallicensetooperate’intheminingsector:Perspectivesfromgovernanceandsustainabilitytheories.ResourcesPolicy,37,346-357.
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39
THECHALLENGETheoceanisaninter-connectedglobalecosystemsupportingawiderangeofuses.Maintainingahealthyoceanrequiresresponsiblestewardshipbyallusers.Concernsabouttheimpactsofeconomicactivityonoceanhealthfromagrowingrangeandlevelofcommercial uses are on the rise. These concerns may limit industry access to marine areas andresources.Oceanusersare increasinglybeingheldaccountablebygovernmentsandNGOs for thestate of the ocean. Continued ocean access and usewill increasingly require the social licence tooperate – above and beyond simple regulatory compliance – and participation in the SustainableDevelopmentGoals.The best efforts by a single company or an entire sector will not be enough to address thecumulativeimpactsontheinter-connectedmarineecosystemfromgrowinguseacrossthesectors.Companiesdependentontheoceancanachievebusinessvaluefromworkingwithotherstoaddresssharedchallengesregardingsustainabledevelopment,scienceandstewardship.WOC–OCEANBUSINESSALLIANCEFORSUSTAINABILITYTheWorldOceanCouncilistheinternational,cross-sectoralindustryleadershipallianceon“CorporateOceanResponsibility”.The WOC brings together leadership companies from the diverse ocean business community toachievethebusinessbenefitsofcross-sectoralleadershipandcollaborationonsustainability.The WOC develops global “platforms” to address cross-cutting ocean business and sustainabilitychallenges,e.g.oceanpolicyandgovernance,marineplanning,marinedebris,marinesound,marinemammal impacts,waterpollution,datacollectionby industryvesselsandplatforms, sea level riseand extremeevent impacts, priority regions (e.g. Arctic, IndianOcean), and investment for oceansustainabledevelopment.THEINVITATIONTORESPONSIBLEOCEANCOMPANIESResponsibleoceancompaniesareinvitedtojointhegrowingnumberoforganizationsdistinguishingthemselvesasleadersin“CorporateOceanResponsibility”throughtheWOC.In addition to the 75+ WOC Members from the diverse Ocean Business Community, the WOCNetworkincludes35,000+oceanindustrystakeholdersaroundtheworld.TheWOCisrecognizedoraccreditedbynumerousU.N.agenciesandotherinternationalorganizationsasthecredible,globalleadershipbodyonoceanbusinessandsustainability.TheWOCSustainableOceanSummit(SOS)–2010Belfast;2013WashingtonDC;2015Singapore;2016Rotterdam;2017Halifax;2018HongKong;2019 Paris – is acknowledged as the international business conference on ocean sustainabledevelopment,scienceandstewardship.
JoinourgrouponLinkedInwww.linkedin.com/company/world-ocean-council
FollowourlatestnewsonTwitter@OceanCouncilandtweetaboutthe#SustainableOceanSummit
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