Exploring transition pathways as an alternative approach for the integrated management of Irish estuaries and coasts

Abstract

Human reliance on estuarine and coastal resources for a multitude of goods and services is under threat. Due to the impact of anthropogenic activities such as agriculture, urban development, commercial fishing and shipping, these resources are being over-exploited, habitats are being destroyed and important species are being lost (EPA, 2016; Rilo et al., 2013). These adverse effects are evident at global, national and local scales, which makes their management, involving multi-levels of governance, challenging. Existing governance frameworks, where management is fragmented among sectors and institutions, are unable to respond to complex and dynamic ecosystems or build capacity to cope with change (Bigagli, 2015; Boyes & Elliott, 2015; Virapongse et al., 2016). In Ireland, the management of coastal ecosystems is largely carried out in a fragmented, sectoral and uncoordinated manner. There is no overarching national coastal or marine policy and there is no single body with overall responsibility for Irish estuaries and coasts. A more holistic approach is required to deal with the multi-uses, multi-users, multi-scales and multi-effects of estuarine and coastal ecosystems. The aim of this chapter is to propose an approach for the integrated and sustainable management of estuaries and coasts in Ireland. To do this, it first explores the need for sustainable management, particularly in relation to fragmented governance. Sustainable approaches are analysed and include normative approaches based on the concept of integration.

The Innovation Process in Local Development – The Material, Institutional, and Intellectual Infrastructure Shaping and Shaped by Innovation

“…The process, which in some cases allows for the inference that it could also function to foster innovation more generally, but such inference has to be made cautiously (Latour, 1992). One reason being, again, the always-different forms of multi-level governance, and in this, the functioning of some aspects of governance or development at one scale, as infrastructure for the other scale (Kelly, Ellis, & Flannery, 2018;Noboa & Upham, 2018). What this is, cannot be predicted.…”

From Protest to Participation: Learning from Experience in Irish Inshore Fisheries Management

“…The fragmented nature of the governance of Irish fisheries and Ireland's marine environment more generally is not conducive to effective co-management of Irish inshore fisheries. In total 11 government departments and 21 state bodies are involved in governance of Irish marine affairs (Kelly, Ellis and Flannery, 2018). Maintaining the commitment of fishers to put significant personal efforts into participation in management forums and achieving agreement between diverse, independent-minded fishers and fishing groups (such as island and mainland inshore fishers) will not be straightforward while acknowledging the diversity and nuances within the inshore sector.…”

“…The Marine Strategy Framework Directive team sits in a different government department: the Department of Housing Planning and Local Government (where the priority of the relevant minister has been the housing and homelessness crisis in Ireland over the past decade) and the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht are also relevant for rural coastal and island fishing communities. In total 11 government departments and 21 state bodies are involved in governance of Irish marine affairs(Kelly, Ellis and Flannery, 2018). The fragmented nature of this governance is not conducive to effective co-management of Irish inshore fisheries.…”

The blue economy: Identifying geographic concepts and sensitivities

“…An “Integration Transition Pathway,” described by Kelly et al () offers a promising potential sustainable management approach. Combining a multi‐level perspective, a multi‐stage concept, and transition management, an “Integration Transition Pathway” recognises individual initiatives as important factors contributing to a wider transition (Kelly et al, ). This transition pathway recognises the effects of both scale and region by considering the bottom‐up factors that are part of the entire system that is transitioning to a more sustainable paradigm.…”