A total of 231 stakeholders were interviewed or surveyed at 15 study areas within the projects Marine SABRES and MARBEFES. The stakeholders perceived Nature, Biodiversity, Economy, Large-scale Tourism, and Pollution to be the most important factors in their socio-economic and ecological environment. For many environmental factors a clear north-south gradient in the importance was clear. In south and north Europe conservation, protected areas, and iconic or exotic species, are more important than in the middle of Europe. Many economic activities, as large-scale fisheries, harbour activities, infrastructure and transport, are more important In the middle of Europe than in the south and north of Europe. Whereas small-scale local economic activities, as small-scale tourism or local fisheries, and socio-cultural factors, as societal integrity, are more important in the south and north of Europe.
The stakeholders indicated that the collaboration between government bodies and stakeholders should improve, whereby the governance bodies and agencies should communicate more and improve their coordination with regard to the management and monitoring of the coastal zone. See here the report.