A generic method of engagement to elicit regional coastal management options

Type Article
Date 2016-05
Language English
Author(s) Dichmont Catherine M.1, Dutra Leo X. C.2, 3, Owens Randall4, Jebreen Eddie5, Thompson Carolyn6, Deng Roy A.2, Van Putten Elizabeth I.7, Pascual Ricardo2, Dambacher Jeffrey M.7, Warne Michael St J.8, 9, Quinn Ross H.5, Thebaud OlivierORCID1, 10, Bennett John11, Read Mark4, Wachenfeld David4, Davies Julia5, Garland Anna5, Dunning Malcolm5, Collier Catherine12, Waycott Michelle13, Playford Julia8
Affiliation(s) 1 : CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere, Ecosci Precinct, 41 Boggo Rd, Dutton Pk, Qld 4102, Australia.
2 : CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere, Queensland Biosci Precinct, 306 Carmody Rd, St Lucia, Qld 4067, Australia.
3 : Univ S Pacific, Sch Marine Studies, Fac Sci Technol & Environm, Laucala Bay Rd, Suva, Fiji.
4 : Great Barrier Reef Marine Pk Author, 2-68 Flinders St,POB 1379, Townsville, Qld, Australia.
5 : Queensland Dept Agr & Fisheries, Primary Ind Bldg,80 Ann St, Brisbane, Qld 4001, Australia.
6 : Great Barrier Reef Marine Pk Author, 43 River St, Mackay, Qld 4740, Australia.
7 : CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, Tas 7001, Australia.
8 : Queensland Dept Sci Informat Technol & Innovat, Ecosci Precinct, 41 Boggo Rd, Dutton Pk, Qld 4102, Australia.
9 : Coventry Univ, CAWR, Coventry CV1 5FB, W Midlands, England.
10 : IFREMER, UMR M101, AMURE, Unite Econ Maritime, BP 70, F-29280 Plouzane, France.
11 : Queensland Dept Environm & Heritage Protect, Ecosci Precinct, 41 Boggo Rd, Dutton Pk, Qld 4102, Australia.
12 : James Cook Univ, Ctr Trop Water & Aquat Ecosyst Res TropWATER, Cairns, Qld 4870, Australia.
13 : Univ Adelaide, Sch Biol Sci, Inst Environm, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
Source Ocean & Coastal Management (0964-5691) (Elsevier Sci Ltd), 2016-05 , Vol. 124 , P. 22-32
DOI 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2016.02.003
WOS© Times Cited 7
Keyword(s) Regional management, Community engagement, Generic framework, Management strategies, Objective weights
Abstract Stakeholder engagement is important for successful management of natural resources, both to make effective decisions and to obtain support. However, in the context of coastal management, questions remain unanswered on how to effectively link decisions made at the catchment level with objectives for marine biodiversity and fisheries productivity. Moreover, there is much uncertainty on how to best elicit community input in a rigorous manner that supports management decisions. A decision support process is described that uses the adaptive management loop as its basis to elicit management objectives, priorities and management options using two case studies in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. The approach described is then generalised for international interest. A hierarchical engagement model of local stakeholders, regional and senior managers is used. The result is a semi-quantitative generic elicitation framework that ultimately provides a prioritised list of management options in the context of clearly articulated management objectives that has widespread application for coastal communities worldwide.

The case studies show that demand for local input and regional management is high, but local influences affect the relative success of both engagement processes and uptake by managers. Differences between case study outcomes highlight the importance of discussing objectives prior to suggesting management actions, and avoiding or minimising conflicts at the early stages of the process. Strong contributors to success are a) the provision of local information to the community group, and b) the early inclusion of senior managers and influencers in the group to ensure the intellectual and time investment is not compromised at the final stages of the process.

The project has uncovered a conundrum in the significant gap between the way managers perceive their management actions and outcomes, and community's perception of the effectiveness (and wisdom) of these same management actions.
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Dichmont Catherine M., Dutra Leo X. C., Owens Randall, Jebreen Eddie, Thompson Carolyn, Deng Roy A., Van Putten Elizabeth I., Pascual Ricardo, Dambacher Jeffrey M., Warne Michael St J., Quinn Ross H., Thebaud Olivier, Bennett John, Read Mark, Wachenfeld David, Davies Julia, Garland Anna, Dunning Malcolm, Collier Catherine, Waycott Michelle, Playford Julia (2016). A generic method of engagement to elicit regional coastal management options. Ocean & Coastal Management, 124, 22-32. Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2016.02.003 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00316/42683/