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Aim of the First BeNCoRe ConferenceIntroduction and background of the BeNCoRe conference
On 30 April 2003 a first workshop about the possible creation of a Belgian Network for Coastal Research was organised. Following networking activities where a future BeNCoRe could and should play a role were considered:
- Mobility of researchers
- Stages and education
- Share infrastructures
- Interdisciplinary work
- To take a position as a ‘Belgian Network’ in European matters
- Interface with Integrated Coastal Zone Management
- Link marine science/marine policy
The Belgian Network had been approved since then and was created as BeNCoRe, the Belgian Network For Coastal Research. This network is since February 2006 part of ENCORA, the European Network For Coastal Research (Coordination Action, funded under FP. 6) and is managed through a coordinator, a NCO (National Coordination Office) or secretariat and the BeNCoRe Bureau. The latter executes the daily management of the BeNCoRe network and includes marine scientists from the Flemish region (3), marine scientists from the Walloon region (2), policy makers from the Flemish government (1) and policy makers from the Federal government (1). Two to three meetings of the BeNCoRe Bureau are organised every year where the future activities and implementations of the BeNCoRe network are discussed. Last year the BeNCoRe Bureau appointed 10 Network Ambassadors. These persons kindly agreed on becoming the key contact persons of the Network and were invited to give their ‘personal vision’ on their theme within Belgium and across Europe during the First BeNCORe Conference.
Each Network Ambassador of BeNCoRe will try to summarize the current activities within their theme in Belgium, highlight gaps, discuss the role that BeNCoRe could fulfil towards ENCORA and give his ‘personal view’ on his thematic network. Questions and issue related to the above-mentioned networking activities will be also be tackled during four sessions:
- Coastal Engineering and Observation Techniques
- ICZM Implementation and Stakeholder Involvement
- The Natural System and Human Impact
- Land-Sea Interface and Marine and Coastal Spatial Planning
Each of these sessions will be chaired by one of the members of the BeNCoRe Bureau and will address some issues ‘hot at the moment’ from the Green Paper on a European Maritime Policy. The European Commission has prepared a consultation process started in June 2006, lasting until the end of June 2007 (Green Paper) outlining an European Maritime Policy aimed at developing a thriving maritime economy in an environmentally sustainable manner.(http://www.ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/).
ENCORA has drafted a reaction to the Green Paper, underlining the great European resource of knowledge and experience to deal with coastal and marine issues. During this First BeNCoRe conference a few statements from the Green Paper will be kept in mind and possible outcomes or suggestions from the conference will be communicated through ENCORA to the EU. The First BeNCoRe Conference is also included in the ‘EU Green Paper on Maritime Strategy’ event calendar.
A special focus of this workshop will be the link of the Belgian marine scientific community and interaction with policy and management. The main objective of ENCORA is to integrate coastal science, policy and practice and therefore a critical reflection on how to improve this link will be explored. During the last SUMANOS workshop (this cluster project fits within the framework of the SPSD-II research action) the idea of the creation of a Belgian Marine Forum/Platform as a structural intermediate to overcome the identified communication problems was proposed. Also the need of a long-term vision on Belgian Marine Policy, next to the Green Paper will be examined.
The BeNCoRe Conference Sessions - background Green Paper on European Maritime Policy
Session 1: Coastal Engineering and Observation Techniques
Original ENCORA theme description of Sustainable coastal engineering techniques
Original ENCORA theme description of Assessment of field observation techniques
This session will be chaired by Dr. Marilaure Grégoire and will keep in mind following European Issue from the Green Paper- How can a European Marine Observation and Data Network be set up, maintained and financed on a sustainable basis? Such a network would provide a sustainable focus for improving systematic observation, interoperability and increasing access to data.
The EU could consider setting up a European Marine Observation and Data Network
which would provide a sustainable focus for improving systematic observation (in situ and from space), interoperability and increasing access to data, based on robust, open and generic ICT solutions. Such a Network would allow for an EU integrated analysis of different types of data and meta-data assembled from various sources. It would aim to provide a source of primary data for implementing in particular forecasting and monitoring services, to public authorities, maritime services and related industries and researchers, integrating existing, but fragmented initiatives.
The improvement and dissemination of marine data would also open up opportunities
for high-technology commercial companies in the maritime sector and improve the efficiency of activities such as maritime surveillance, management of marine resources and marine research in European laboratories. It would also contribute significantly towards reducing the current uncertainty about the oceanic system and climate change, bringing accurate seasonal weather forecasting a step closer.
Creating such a network would require the EU to take legislative, institutional and financial steps. Legislation may be needed, for example, to facilitate better access to data from sources such as that of the Common Fisheries Policy and the Framework Programmes for Research. Institutional changes could include the strengthening of existing bodies at a national, regional and European level and the creation of a permanent secretariat with scientific and information technology expertise. Financial support should aim to be sustainable and long-term. Representatives of those who need the data – including Member States, the Commission, the European Environment Agency (EEA), the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), the European Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Supervisory Authority, the climate change community, industry and service providers should continually review priorities and set objectives.
Efforts are underway for the inventory and collection of existing datasets and information retrieval systems, such as EIONET, SeaDataNet and ECOOP. EEA, HELCOM, OSPAR and MAP aim to streamline marine monitoring policies and EUROGOOS endeavors to harmonize monitoring practices. The INSPIRE initiative aims at harmonizing data description protocols in Europe.
The European Marine Strategy should support these efforts and broaden their scope to the entire maritime field. European networks of coastal and marine scientists, practitioners and policymakers should be invited to advice on the rationalization of marine monitoring and on the harmonization of data acquisition and data access facilities.
Session 2: ICZM Implementation and Stakeholder Involvement
Original ENCORA theme description of ICZM Participation and Implementation
Original ENCORA theme description of Social and economic aspects ICZM functionality and Valuation
Original ENCORA theme description of Capacity building, training and education in ICZM
Session two will be chaired by David Cox and will address EU Green Paper issues about ICZM implementation and stakeholder involvement. Main discussion point of this session could be the question if the EU should actually have an integrated maritime policy. So far our policies on maritime transport, industry, coastal regions, offshore energy, fisheries, the marine environment and other relevant areas have been developed separately. No one was examining in a systematic manner how these policies could be combined to reinforce each other. The green paper states however that it is now time to bring all these elements together and forge a new vision for the management of our relations with the oceans. This will require new ways of designing and implementing policies at the EU, national and local levels, as well as at international level through the external dimension of our internal policies.
Green paper topic ‘How an integrated approach to maritime affairs can be implemented in the EU and what principles should underlie it’ will be addressed during the theme presentation ICZM Participation and Implementation.
Particularly related to the thematic network Social and economic aspects ICZM functionality and Valuation is the issue on how quality of life in coastal regions of Europe can be maintained, while continuing to develop sustainable income and jobs? Development inevitably brings with it pressures on space and the environment. It requires improvements in accessibility to, and internal mobility within, coastal zones, in particular small islands, through transport infrastructure improvements. It also calls for the supply of general interest services (health, education, water and energy supply, telecommunications, postal services, waste water and waste treatment) in order to improve the quality of life in coastal zones, in particular during peak tourist seasons.
The theme Capacity building, training and education in ICZM could explore the green paper issue: what role can be played by regional centres of maritime excellence, and extent this to the need of ICZM centres of excellence?
Session 3: The Natural System and human impact
Original ENCORA theme description of Pollution, prevention, detection and mitigation
Original ENCORA theme description of Marine Biodiversity
Original ENCORA theme description of Effect of Development and Use on Eco-morphology and Coastal Habitats
Prof Dr. Magda Vincx will chair the session on the Natural System and Human Impact. The European Issue in the Green Paper –How can maritime policy contribute to maintaining our ocean resources and environment- will be brought under attention.
The Commission has proposed a Thematic Strategy for the Marine Environment (=Marine Strategy, http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/marine.htm), which will be the environmental pillar of a future maritime policy. The key aim is to achieve good status of the EU’s marine environment by 2021. It introduces the principle of eco-system based spatial planning. Without this, we will soon be unable to manage the increasing, and often conflicting, uses of the oceans. It may lead to the designation of further marine protected areas, which will help to safeguard biodiversity and to ensure the rapid transition to sustainable levels of fishing. The proposed Directive will establish European Marine Regions as management units for implementation. For their marine waters within each Marine Region, Member States will be required to develop Marine Strategies on the basis of the completion of a number of steps. In developing Marine Strategies, Member States will be invited to co-operate actively among themselves and also with relevant third countries.
This ‘Marine Strategy’ states that measures to control and reduce pressures and impacts on the marine environment do exist but have so far been developed in a sector by sector approach resulting in a patchwork of policies, legislation, programmes and actions plans at national, regional, EU and international level, which contribute to the protection of the marine environment. At the EU level, while there are a number of policies affecting the marine environment, and while a reflection has begun on a future all-encompassing Maritime Policy for the Union, there is no overall, integrated policy for the protection of the marine environment. The general picture that emerges from this policy framework is a mixed one. On the positive side, some progress has been made in certain areas, e.g. in reducing nutrient inputs or pollution from hazardous substances in particular heavy metals. However, overall, the state of the marine environment has been deteriorating significantly over recent decades. As a result, Europe's oceans and seas are under threat, in some cases to the extent that their structure and function is being jeopardised. The current policy framework is not delivering a high level of protection of the marine environment. A strong, integrated, EU policy on marine protection is therefore required.
The ‘Marine Strategy’ focused notably on (a) the application of the ecosystem-based approach to management of human activities impacting the marine environment; (b) monitoring and assessment issues; and (c) the particular challenge of hazardous substances.
Session 4: Land-Sea Interface and Marine and Coastal Spatial Planning
Original ENCORA theme description of Coastal geo-morphological Change and land-sea interface
Original ENCORA theme description of Marine and Coastal Spatial Planning:
Rudy Herman will chair the session related to the issue in the Green Paper - What are the principles and mechanisms that should underpin maritime spatial planning systems and how can systems for planning on land and sea be made compatible?
As maritime activities continue to thrive, there will be increasing competition between them for the use of European coastal waters. Without some form of indicative planning, investment decisions will be hampered by uncertainty with respect to whether the activity in question will be licensed for a particular site. The Commission believes that a system of spatial planning for maritime activities on the waters under the jurisdiction of or controlled by the Member States should be created. It should build on the ecosystem-based approach laid down in the Thematic Strategy for the Marine Environment, but should also deal with licensing, promoting or placing restrictions on maritime activities.
A future maritime policy has to build instruments and methods consistency between land and marine systems in order to avoid regulations, or the transfer of unsolved land-planning problems to would be to associate as closely as possible the same stakeholders processes of each. A common vision in the form of an overall coastal
spatial development plan could provide a coherent set of policy principles. As economic activity moves further offshore it will increasingly take which are subject to the right of innocent passage. The EU and its will need to take the lead in ensuring that multilateral rules evolve reconciling this right with the need for offshore spatial planning.
Consideration should also be given to setting up European programmes to develop the comprehensive mapping of European coastal waters for purposes of spatial planning, security and safety. The mapping of existing and planned activities in the water and on the seabed is essential. Mapping of the location of marine flora and fauna is needed for ecosystem analysis.
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