The workshop took place 5-7 April 2016 in Stanley, Falkland Islands and gathered 22 local government and stakeholder representatives and 3 international guest speakers. Its aims were to:
The workshop report can be downloaded below:
MSP Falkands Framing Workshop report 7th April 2016 ('Framing the Process')
The Falkland Islands Government (FIG) has committed to producing the first FIMSP and this final workshop provided a great platform for stakeholder engagement in and consultation on the proposed MSP framework as recommendations from the Darwin-Plus process (delivered during the Foundation Phase). The outcomes of this report and the other outputs of the Darwin-Plus project will inform the next phase of MSP implementation (Development Phase) during which the first FIMSP will be developed, the MSP Forum formed, terms of reference produced, and the tools for FIG to implement and legislate MSP established.
Main priorities identified during the workshop as part of the MSP process:
One of the recommendations emerging from the “Developing the tools” workshop was to develop a tool that would allow stakeholders to visualise the spatial data produced for MSP, and later management measures. The MSP team has been working in partnership with Dr iLaria Marengo from the IMS-GIS Centre to produce the first prototype of a webGIS for MSP in the Falkland Islands. It allows users to display the different layers and peruse the area at different scales, and also to overlap different types of data such as environmental values and human activities. Due to limited internet access in the Falkland Islands, the possibility of using an-intranet like access for people in the Falkland Islands is currently looked at; logistical difficulties need to be overcome.
Click below to access the webpage of the MSP webGIS:
MSP Falklands webGIS prototype
You can download a short user guide to help you navigate the functions of the webGIS below:
WebGIS user guide 28-4-16
Following the recommendations from the “Developing the tools” workshop, efforts were made to ensure political and financial support for implementation of MSP in the Falkland Islands so that the momentum given by the initial Darwin Plus project is not lost when it comes to an end. A paper was submitted to the FIG Executive Council in December 2015 to fulfil this recommendation. The draft paper was firs submitted for feedbacks to the MSP project steering committee, then submitted to the FIG Environmental Committee. Feedbacks were incorporated. Presentations were given at meetings of the FIG Environmental Committee and of the FIG Fisheries Committee. During a 2-month period prior to submission, there was also a large effort in communication with stakeholders and the public (see examples in section “Public outreach”).
The paper submitted to the Executive Council
The minutes of the 16 Dec 2015 Executive Council meeting where the paper was presented and discussed were:
“Executive Council:
acknowledged the importance of implementing an MSP process for the long-term sustainable and safe management of the coastal and marine environments of the Falkland Islands and that such a process is grounded in objective and sound science;
agreed to support and the creation of an MSP Plan, according to the framework and details provided in this paper and with the addition of a finer scale delivery and financial plan;
referred the request for funding to the 2016/17 Budget Select Committee; and
agreed to make this paper and all appendices public.”
A paper was submitted to the Budget Select Committee with fine-scale details of the framework proposed and estimated costs to FIG at the end of January 2016. These will also be refined during the “Framing” workshop.
The workshop took place on 13-14 April 2015 in Cambridge, UK, as part of the ‘Developing the tools’ workshop step of the MSP project but focussing only on developing analyses for marine megafauna data to feed in the MSP process. Its aims were to:
Develop the methodology to analyse a multi-species (seabirds and pinnipeds) tracking dataset, and incorporate at-sea sighting data
Identify the best methodology to create layer(s) corresponding to key areas for marine megafauna
Inventory knowledge about cetaceans in Falkland Islands’ waters
Discuss a manuscript to present the multi-species tracking analyses and key areas
The workshop report can be downloaded below:
MSP Falklands Megafauna workshop report 13-14_April_2015 (PDF, 2.31MB)
Seventy seabird species and 29 marine mammal species have been recorded in Falklands’ waters. The project team gathered over 60 tracking datasets in collaboration with BirdLife International, at-sea sighting data and colony location data. Assessments of key areas are required on a species by species basis first, which can then be combined to develop a layer for all marine megafauna. The conclusion was that species density use maps should be created for each species, with an indication of seasonal use and data quality. The species maps can be aggregated, with weightings or not, to produce a map of key areas for marine megafauna in the Falkland Islands to feed in the MSP process. Further studies are also recommended to deliver efficient planning for sustainable development.
The workshop took place 16-17 April 2015 in Cambridge, UK, and gathered 7 local government and stakeholder representatives and 15 UK-based MSP experts. Its aims were to:
Workshop report (Developing the tools)
The MSP process applies to the entire EEZ from the low tide mark to the offshore boundary of the EEZ. It is a Falklands-led science-based stakeholder-informed process. The critical components needed to achieve a successful MSP process are Ecosystem services assessment, Seascape character assessment, Stakeholder and public engagement and consultation, Governance assessment, and Political engagement. Decision-support tools that the MSP process can provide managers and policy makers include regional case studies (e.g. Berkeley Sound), scenario analyses, sectorial analyses and risk-specific analyses (e.g. biosecurity). The ultimate outputs of the MSP process can be comprehensive and targeted strategies for marine economic development, marine conservation and public awareness promotion and enjoyment of the marine environment by the local community.
The main advice from MSP experts were to:
The workshop took place on 24-25 November 2014 in Stanley, Falkland Islands and gathered 16 local stakeholders, government representatives and scientists, and 3 international experts. Its aims were to:
The vision for the marine environment developed from stakeholders’ consultation is: “Well managed marine and coastal areas and resources of the Falkland Islands to support sustainable economic development whilst protecting our biodiversity and wild unspoilt areas, and supporting the safe use of the sea and celebration of our maritime heritage”.
The following objectives were formulated as needed to ensure the vision is reached:
Within the next 10 years, the Plan will provide the decision-making tools to:
- Facilitate the responsible and sustainable development of current and new economic activities to contribute to the national economy
- Identify and safeguard the most ecologically important and unspoilt marine and coastal areas, many of which are of global significance
- Enable the provision of safe and appropriate internal and international sea links for Islanders and business development
- Celebrate and maintain the maritime Falkland Islands’ identity, including via the protection of historically and culturally important areas
- Facilitate the enjoyment provided by marine and coastal areas for current and future recreational activities
The need to establish a Marine Spatial Plan in the Falkland Islands was endorsed by stakeholders with the following agreed statement:
“With the level of use of the marine environment in the marine area of the Falkland Islands and its planned increase, it is deemed to be the appropriate time to look for a more active coordination of the use of the marine environment. Growing marine traffic, initiating oil exploitation and expanding the cruise-based tourism sector are goals of the Falkland Islands Government’s economic development, but they bring risks for the environment and the values of Falkland Islanders. These risks are potentially easily mitigated with discussion and coordination such as that provided by an MSP process. This Plan will aim to ensure that existing and developing industries can work together with minimal impact and sustainable use of our marine environment by us and our future generations.”
Before this first workshop, a public consultation took place in Stanley to present the MSP project and consult members of the public about their values of the marine environment. A report of the first public consultation can be downloaded below:
