Blue New Deal. Good jobs for coastal communities through healthier seas. Chris Williams New Economics Foundation (NEF)

Transcription

1 Blue New Deal Good jobs for coastal communities through healthier seas Chris Williams New Economics Foundation (NEF)

2 Introduction Why the Blue New Deal? Context of economic and social decline Communities in need of increased resilience against economic and environmental challenges Healthier coastal and marine ecosystems can play a key role Providing a fresh and hopeful perspective to engage communities Reconciling economic prosperity with marine conservation

3 Blue New Deal A hopeful perspective Healthier seas as engine for better jobs and increased resilience in the future Our coast and seas are incredible assets Community pride in coastal identity Context of increasing environmental and economic pressures Reversing a story of unfulfilled potential Post-Brexit opportunity to reverse years of socio-economic decline, reduce inequality and close the gaps

4 Blue New Deal Co-developing an action plan Collaborating with a range of voices and interests in the UK coast Long-terms solutions to help transform coastal economies Sectoral working groups What needs to happen in order to deliver the vision? Economic analysis to support it

5 Blue New Deal Inspired by positive stories

6 Blue New Deal Action Plan Underlying challenges systemic Community regeneration Local power Investment Resilience Shared priorities Holistic approach to development Infrastructure and connectivity Specific coastal focus

7 Sectoral working groups: Energy Coastal Management Fisheries and Aquaculture Tourism

8 Aquaculture Summary of working groups Draft of action plan Opportunity to comment Opportunity to collaborate Ideas

9 Wales workshop 8 July, Swansea University More action. Welsh brand, with government support. The sector needs more resources, more support, contact with policy makers. A national vision already exists: double production by 2020; needs animation Focus on innovation and training. Realise the potential (offshore, huge tidal ranges, algae, etc) - MSP. Aquaponics Public image of shellfish versus finfish is a priority. Expansion of the sector needs greater economic considerations Measures to support entrepreneurship and investment There are trade-offs between big and small (food / lifestyle / tourism). New products and innovation are possible (mussel fingers); + increasing shelf-life. Mussel seed in Wales is a key resource for the rest of the UK. Needs to adapt to differentiated markets; needs to strike a balance. Scaling up supply massively is possible, but it requires Government leadership.

10 Scotland workshop 26 July, Aberdeen University A general disengagement in seafood is a cross-cutting theme with fisheries. Scottish communities have different geographic contexts Priorities Improve governance and vision for the aquaculture sector Reform the public image of aquaculture, especially regarding shellfish aquaculture. Whole system approach, i.e. industrial salmon farming & other types of mariculture. Schools should be encouraged to add topics about aquaculture- role of education in changing images. Aquaculture has a negative connotation in places Development of aquaculture sector linked to a healthier environment and the wellbeing of communities > Encourage businesses models, which have the potential to maximise social and environmental benefits. Use of closed containment similar to the Norway model; seaweed is currently a neglected resource. Develop local and regional structures to support the aquaculture sector, which accommodate expansion in-line with local community and environmental needs, and in compliance with relevant policy and frameworks. Community empowerment, more motherhood. The potential for co-location

11 From vision to reality; Aquaculture Combining stakeholder and community views from across the UK > LAUNCH NOV 2016 Key messages: 1. Growth potential for sector consider environmental needs 2. Community involvement and opportunity 3. Funding and legislative / policy frameworks to champion UK aquaculture as world leader

12 Blue New Deal Engaging policy makers Cross-party parliamentary briefing in Westminster (Nov 2015) Coastal MPs of all parties share similar challenges and opportunities An opportunity to strengthen crossparty efforts that can support coastal communities and the marine environment Continued engagement as we develop the initiative Met MPs (SNP and Labour) yesterday

13 THANK YOU! Submit stories and find out more Get in touch: Project Lead Fisheries & Aquaculture: Thank you to the John Ellerman Foundation and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation for their support to this initiative.