The Partnerships Involving Stakeholders in the Celtic Sea Ecosystem (PISCES) project has produced a practical guide, titled "Toward Sustainability in the Celtic Sea," for decision-makers and stakeholders on implementing the ecosystem approach in marine policy, with a focus on marine spatial planning and implementation of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).
11 December 2012: The WWF-UK led project, Partnerships Involving Stakeholders in the Celtic Sea Ecosystem (PISCES), has produced a practical guide for stakeholders and government decision-makers on implementing the ecosystem approach in marine policy. The guide has a focus on marine spatial planning and implementation of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).
Key messages underscore the need for: new governance mechanisms such as marine spatial planning; stakeholder engagement in the MFSD; regional multi-stakeholder forums; and voluntary stakeholder implementation of sustainable activities.
Additional recommendations for government include: clear and transparent stakeholder engagement strategies; use of stakeholder knowledge and experience; and exploration of voluntary measures to meet MFSD targets. The guide also outlines the role of stakeholders in each of five steps of MFSD implementation in the Celtic Sea.
The guide is the result of five stakeholder workshops consisting of fishermen, communities and other stakeholders in the Celtic Sea and Western Channel, organized through a three-year partnership among WWF-UK, WWF-Spain, and The Environment Council, and is co-funded by Life+. [European Commission Press Release] [Publication: Toward Sustainability in the Celtic Sea]