The Baltic Sea RAC: from positional to collaborative interest based negotiation

No abstracts are to be cited without prior reference to the author.

The BS RAC is seen as an international boundary organization, mixing scientific and political elements, and mediating between the science institutions, fisheries’ associations, producer organizations, processors, market organizations, environmental NGOs, aquaculture producers, consumers, women’s networks and recreational and sports fishermen, and the institutions of politics. BS RAC acts as successful facilitator of dialogue between fishing industry, scientists and decision makers to encourage research agendas that reflect the interests and needs of fishery industry. Coming age of Ecosystem-based Maritime Spatial Planning and the Integrated Ecosystem Assessments is bringing the Baltic Sea fishing industry at the negotiation table with the representatives of other sea use interests (maritime transport, tourism, wind farms, mineral extraction etc.). In order to meet the challenge the Baltic Sea RAC members should develop sufficient knowledge base and argumentation setting to be efficient partner in a fully comprehensive, integrated, plan led system of governance for the present and future exploitation and development of marine resources, including fisheries. It is believed that the practical application of Participatory GIS based Mutual Learning by BS RAC members would be instrumental in creation of common ground for collaborative interest based negotiations. Focusing discussions explicitly on interests would more likely enable the BS RAC members to reach generally acceptable agreements. Mutual Learning carried out in the course of implementing the 7 FP Project GAP2, the Baltic Sea Case Study created a mutual belief that both the fishing industry and the environmental NGOs should join efforts in the protection of the Baltic Sea EFH.