On April 1st and 2nd, 2025, the second overarching workshop for stakeholders and researchers took place in Zandvoort, Netherlands. Within the framework of the Horizon Europe projects Marine SABRES and MARBEFES, selected researchers and stakeholders from various regions came together to discuss the results that emerged from the recently completed second round of interviews and surveys and the various planning and policy instruments developed for both projects. The researchers and stakeholders evaluated and discussed these together.
This confirmed that islanders are more involved in local policy and governance compared to those on the mainland, where national policy and governance are considered more important. In addition to important, previously addressed, policy issues (such as a good balance between nature and large-scale tourism), the workshop also highlighted that Cultural Heritage and Climate Change are aspects that policy need to take into greater consideration.
From these consultations, valuable insights and feedback were obtained for the further development of management tools for coastal areas. The prototypes developed within the projects, the “Toolbox” and a “Shiny App” for a Decision Support System for policy, which weighs important relationships between nature, society and the economy, were received with great enthusiasm.
The workshop in Zandvoort not only led to valuable insights for the Marine SABRES and MARBEFES projects but also a strengthened connection between academia and practice through the exchanges that took place between stakeholders and researchers.
