On November 27, 2024, the vibrant Blue Mission Arena in Amsterdam became a hub for productive and forward looking discussions on marine conservation. The session, titled “Stakeholder Engagement in Innovative Marine Solutions: Marine Conservation Management, Financing, and Beyond,” brought together an impressive array of participants, including research institutions, industry leaders, and policymakers from across Europe—especially from the North Sea Region. The session brought in knowledge gained from the MSP4BIO and BLUE4ALL Projects that BLUE CONNECT will profit from and build upon.
The session opened with a compelling keynote from Eef Silver, from the North Sea Council, who delved into the transformative potential of the North Sea Agreement (2020-2030). This groundbreaking initiative by the North Sea Council sets an inspiring benchmark for integrated marine spatial planning. Silver’s address emphasised:
- Bold Protection Goals: Dedicating 15% of the Dutch North Sea to marine conservation by 2030.
- Industry-Driven Sustainability: Encouraging infrastructure development that aligns with biodiversity goals.
- Dedicated Transition Funding: Allocating €126 million for innovative efforts such as fleet restructuring and ecosystem monitoring.
- Future-Oriented Vision: Planning for offshore wind energy and ecosystem restoration beyond 2030.
Following Silver’s keynote, the session focused on two topics: Stakeholder Engagement and Innovative Finance and Business Opportunities.
Stakeholder Engagement
Inne Withouck and Mieke Eggermont from Gent University presented the Belgian North Sea as a pioneering space for marine governance experiments. The shared actionable insights into fostering stakeholder partnerships and navigating complex marine governance landscapes. They highlighted the shift from fragmented priorities to unified biodiversity-focused strategies. They also focused on innovative approaches to minimizing stakeholder fatigue, such as consolidated stakeholder days and integrated project consultations.
Following their presentation Simon Petit of Jan de Nul illustrated industry’s indispensable role in advancing marine conservation. Petit showcased three initiatives: 1) Oyster Reef Restoration: Cutting-edge eco-engineering projects monitored by both professional divers and local enthusiasts; 2) Dual-Use Innovations: Examples like the Belwind aquaculture project combining wind farms with marine restoration efforts and 3) Mangrove Restoration in Guayaquil: Using dredged sediments to create sustainable ecosystems, compensating for shrimp aquaculture impacts.
Innovative Finance and Business Opportunities
Introducing this topic, Franziska Drews-von Rucketschell from SUBMARINER, shared innovative financing schemes for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) from the BLUE4ALL project. She highlighted diverse MPA financing mechanisms, including impact-only approaches (governmental and philanthropic funding), revenue streams (user payments and offset payments), and return-oriented investments (such as loans, bonds, and impact investments). The discussion also showcased cutting-edge examples like blended finance schemes and the integration of a “business mindset” into MPA planning.
Next, Ivana Stojanovic from the SUBMARINER Network took the stage to discuss Nature-Inclusive Operations of Blue Economy Sectors. Drawing from the MSP4BIO project, she introduced a comprehensive framework for biodiversity mainstreaming in Marine Spatial Planning (MSP). This included an ecological and socio-economic management framework, trade-off analysis, and the potential application of the methodology in evaluating other blue economy sectors.
Rounding off the presentations, George Birch from Oyster Heaven delivered an inspiring talk on oyster reef restoration as a smart investment opportunity. He demonstrated how his company collaborates with a major global pet food producer to develop supply chain resilience projects, incorporating oyster reef restoration into their operations—a prime example of how ecological projects can align with business objectives.
After the presentations, participants broke into four groups to tackle session-related questions. They explored challenges, action points, and opportunities, aiming to identify ways to leverage existing resources and build on them effectively. The session concluded with participants voting to prioritize action points. These outcomes were integrated into the final session, contributing to the Roadmap for 2030 for the Region.
