Partners
GRID-Arendal's activities are nearly always a cooperative undertaking
made possible through collaboration with partners and donors.
Between February 28th and March 2nd, selected staff joined a workshop co-hosted by the Institute of Marine Research (IMR) in Flødevigen and GRID-Arendal. The workshop was also attended by members of IMR, the Raet National Park and SeaSketch. The main goal of the workshop was to advance the collection of spatial data about the uses and value of the ocean space in the Raet National Park using the mapping tool SeaSketch. The SeaSketch tool will help strengthen the potential for broad stakeholder participation and inform management decisions for improved marine conservation in this area.
"The collaboration with the SeaSketch team is important to secure an open process all the way from mapping usage in the national park to stakeholder participation for design of marine protected areas" says Alf Ring Kleiven, scientist at the Institute of Marine Research.
Workshop participants discussing potential applications of SeaSketch at IMR Flødevigen. Photo: Mario Caña
SeaSketch is an easy-to-use tool for engaging stakeholders in decision making for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Marine Spatial Planning (MSP). The pilot study in Raet National Park could serve as a reference and be upscaled in other MPAs in Norway. Moreover, GRID-Arendal and the SeaSketch team explored potential partnerships at the global level for building capacities in MSP as tool for ocean sustainable development. The following themes and activities were covered during the workshop:
· Introduction to the new version of SeaSketch (SeaSketch Next)
· How to set up the survey for Raet National Park (and the national pilot on increased protection in Skagerrak national parks)
· Field trip to the Raet National Park by boat
· Improving and adapting Bakul SeaSketch to SeaSketch Next for capacity development
Ocean Governance Expert, Mario Caña was very pleased with the outcomes of these initial discussions and is excited about how the partnership might develop in the coming year.
Release date: 15 Mar 2022