social license to operate and the blue economy · the australian national centre for ocean...

SocialLicensetoOperateandtheBlueEconomy

AReporttotheWorldOceanCouncil

byANCORSandWageningenUniversity

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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


socialacceptabilitychallengesforthesectorsinvolvedinharvestinglivingresources.......................23


maintainSLO........................................................................................................................................25

Figure10:Sectoralresponses(averaged)tothedegreeofimportanceofrelevantstakeholdergroups

inrelationtothesocialacceptabilityofthesectorsinvolvedincommerceandtradeinandaround

theocean..............................................................................................................................................26

Figure11:Sectoralresponsestothelevelofimportanceofcommunityperceptionsorconcerns

createsocialacceptabilitychallengesforthesectorsinvolvedinportsandshipping.........................27


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.


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.


19

Resourceextractionindustryrepresentativesalsohighlightedtheimportantfunctionalroleoftheir

sector,andthesocietalbenefitsthatcomefromtheproductsthesectorsalreadyprovide,orhave

thepotentialtoprovide.

TheyallhavetheiriMacsandwanttoflybusinessclasseverywhereandhavetheiriPhone

andstuff…well,you'vegottogetthemetalfromsomewhere.Theirstandardcatchcallis

we'llrecycle.Yougowellthat'sjustgoingtodrivethepricesupanditmeansonlythe

wealthycanaffordthesethings.Soyeah,Ithinkminingisgoodfortheworldifit'sdone

appropriately.


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.

20


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.


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’.


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.


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).


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.


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

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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.

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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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adialoguebetweentheoryandpractice.Socialicense.com[Online].[AccessedAugust2018].BOUTILIER,R.G.,BLACK,L.&THOMSON,I.Frommetaphortomanagementtool:HowtheSocial

LicensetoOperatecanstabilisethesocio-politicalenvironmentforbusiness..InternationalMineManagement,2012.227-237.

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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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UNEP2011.TowardsaGreenEconomy:PathwaystoSustainableDevelopmentandPovertyEradication.

UNEP,FAO,IMO,UNDP,IUCN,CENTER,W.F.&GRIDARENDAL2012.GreenEconomyinaBlueWorld.Nairobi,Kenya:UnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme.

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WARNER,R.&SCHOFIELD,C.H.2012.ClimateChangeandtheOceans:LegalandPolicyPortentsfortheAsia-PacificRegionandBeyond.In:WARNER,R.&SCHOFIELD,C.H.(eds.)ClimateChangeandtheOceans:GaugingtheLegalandPolicyCurrentsintheAsiaPacificRegion.Cheltenham:EdwardElgarPublishers.

BOUTILIER,R.&THOMSON,I.2011.Modellingandmeasuringthesociallicensetooperate:fruitsofadialoguebetweentheoryandpractice.

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.

RATNER,B.D.2004.“Sustainability”asaDialogueofValues:ChallengestotheSociologyofDevelopment.SociologicalInquiry,74,50-69.

38

THEECONOMIST2015.Theblueeconomy:Growth,opportunityandasustainableoceaneconomy.AnEconomistIntelligenceUnitbriefingpaperfortheWorldOceanSummit2015.London:TheEconomist,IntelligenceUnit.

UNEP2011.TowardsaGreenEconomy:PathwaystoSustainableDevelopmentandPovertyEradication.

UNEP,FAO,IMO,UNDP,IUCN,CENTER,W.F.&GRIDARENDAL2012.GreenEconomyinaBlueWorld.Nairobi,Kenya:UnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme.

VOYER,M.,QUIRK,G.,MCILGORM,A.,AZMI,K.&KAYE,S.2017.TheBlueEconomyinAustralia:conceptualisingtheBlueEconomy,itsrelationshipwithmaritimesecurityanditsroleinAustralianoceansgovernance..Canberra:ANCORS.

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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

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