The work required to undertake Phase I of the study was sub divided into six stages, each with its own discrete work programmes and outputs. These stages were:
Stage 1 - Baseline Survey and Review
This stage compiled and collated a concise 'directory' of information and data to support the lifetime of the subsequent phases of the SSMEI project. The review comprises:
- Identification and assessment of the nature, scale, trends and potential of the environmental, social and economic resources within the limits of the Scottish territorial waters
- Identification and assessment of the data and information resources available
- Identification and assessment of the policy and legislative framework relevant to the study
- Identification and assessment of the existing measures for protecting and managing the marine environment
- Identification and assessment of research work and reports of relevance to the scope of the study; and
- Identification and assessment of the tools and techniques available to support management approaches, e.g. GIS, consultation, etc
This stage involved a considerable engagement and consultation with relevant stakeholders.
Stage 2 - Comparative Analysis
This stage compared other approaches, legislative frameworks, work and techniques both from the terrestrial environmental management arena and from overseas. Reporting was provided in a concise 'standardised reporting template' to allow comparison between the different approaches.
Stage 3 - Rationalisation
This stage was essentially a debate, conceptualisation and brainstorming stage whereby the 'Expert Panel' analysed and considered the key issues in question in light of the findings from Stages 1 and 2, and in the context of the aims of the study. This included:
- Summarising the current, emerging and future challenges and opportunities facing the Scottish marine environment in a sectoral, integrated and cumulative manner
- Analysing the meaning of the ecosystem approach to management for the marine environment
- Analysing the meaning of the precautionary principle for the marine environment
- Analysing the issues of sustainability for the marine environment
- Consideration of the local economies and communities in the context of the study; and
- Consideration of the meaning of sustainable development in the context of Scotland's marine environment; and
- Highlighting the problems and hurdles preventing a sustainable development approach occurring
Stage 4 - Participatory Objective Setting
The stage took the results from stage 3 and comments from stakeholders on the Discussion Document, and through a participatory one-day workshop sought to develop shared sustainable development management objectives. The workshop will involve inviting a wide range of stakeholders to participate in a process whereby the recognised management tool of the 'Logical Framework' was employed.
The Logical Framework, (LogFrame), is a management tool that emphasises sustainable development objectives as the central activity rather than activities. The method involves the presentation of the results of analysis in such a way that it is possible to set out the project/programme's objectives in a systematic and logical way. This should reflect the causal relationships between the different levels of objectives, to indicate how to check whether these objectives have been achieved, and to establish what assumptions outside the control of the project/programme may influence its success.
In addition to analysis and design, the LogFrame is also useful for the implementation of a project/programme, as well as for its evaluation. Using the LogFrame approach in a participatory manner ensures that stakeholders 'buy-in' to the process at the earliest possible stage, developing shared and agreed objectives in a logical manner.
Stage 5 - Framework Design
Once shared objectives have been set within a LogFrame, it was further developed to prepare, manage and evaluate 'management frameworks'. The next stage of the BMT Cordah study was to design and outline the framework of various approaches for the sustainable development of Scotland's marine environment.
Stage 5 would take the objectives developed in Stage 4 and carry-on to complete the remainder of the LogFrame matrix, (but not in a participatory setting). Completing the remaining sections of the LogFrame essentially designs management framework options that would deliver the proposed objectives. The information contained in the remainder of the LogFrame includes details of expected outputs, activities, actions, indicators, targets, risks and assumptions.
Stage 6 - Pilot Study Design
Stage 6 of the work udertaken by Cordah aimed to take the completed LogFrame from stage 5 and produce 'operational plans' for each pilot study area. These would detail strategic and operational requirements including outline work programmes, time scales and 'project' specific specifications.
Expert Panel
The work was guided by an expert panel consisting of:
- Professor Bill Ritchie, Director of Aberdeen Institute of Coastal Science and Management, Aberdeen University (Chair)
- Carl Lundin, Head, Global Marine Programme, IUCN Geneva
- John Firn, Director, Firn Crichton Roberts Ltd
Economic Development Consultants - Ron Bisset, Director, BMT Cordah Ltd
Environmental Management Consultants - Professor Peter Burbridge, ex-Chair of Coastal Management, Newcastle University
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