This practice has developed and applied templates to visualise the relationships and dependencies between actors and instruments in Marine Policy.
Questions this practice may help answer
- What method can I used to understand and visualise the relationships and dependencies between actors in Marine Policy?
Implementation Context
Understanding the relationships and dependencies in the development and implementation of environmental policy is essential to the effective management of the marine environment. A new method of policy network analysis called ‘Rapid Policy Network Mapping’ was developed that delivers an insight to both technical and non-technical users into the lifecycle, relationships and dependencies of policy development.
Aspects / Objectives
Understand the relationships and dependencies between actors in Marine Policy by using Rapid Policy Network Mapping
Method
- Two templates have been developed for this method: An actor template and a instruments template.
- The two templates have been used to understand the actor and instruments relationships in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the Water Framework Directive in the UK on two levels: The MSDF on the UK level and two case studies (Anglia and Scotland) for the Water Framework Directive.
Main Outputs / Results
These studies highlight the environmental policy challenges to protect the UK’s marine coastal environment. They identify differences in the styles of policy implementation between the devolved authorities of the UK. Rapid Policy Network Mapping provides an opportunity to create a collaborative policy data environment with a relatively small investment. As a tool for civil society it should assist in their ability to understand and influence policy making and implementation.
The results on the UK MSFD Mapping, Anglia and Scottish Water Framework Directive Mapping can be found here.
Transferability
The method can, with minor changes in the templates, be applied for in other countries and regions.
Responsible Entity and Contact Person
Dr Tim O'Higgins
Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), Scottish Marine Institute
Email: Knowseas-coordination
sams.ac.uk