A 2-day stakeholder and researcher engagement workshop conducted within the framework of the Horizon Europe projects Marine SABRES and MARBEFES, was held on 19-20 March 2024 in Zandvoort, the Netherlands. The objective of the workshop is to share the overview of results gathered from previous stakeholder interviews and surveys, to engage stakeholders and researchers in meaningful discussions to get feedback on accuracy of impressions, suggestions and further input for development and co-creation of decision support tools in the marine and coastal management of research areas. A total of 13 stakeholders were selected from the 231 representatives that were interviewed in the previous phases, to come together with 19 researchers for more focused and dedicated discussions.
These 2 days served as a crucial platform for engaging with stakeholders, policy, and researchers to consolidate perceptions on the social-ecological systems of coastal areas, taking a crucial step towards achieving stakeholder-supported management practices in coastal areas, fostering collaboration, and enhancing the impact of research outcomes for both MarineSABRES and MARBEFES projects. This workshop definitely bridged perspectives and fostered closer camaraderie among stakeholders and researchers and was successful for all involved to get acquainted for future collaborations and cooperation