Education & engagement theme

Good engagement changes decisions before they become fixed — and ensures their success.

MER designs stakeholder processes that bring local knowledge, technical evidence and practical constraints into marine and coastal decisions early enough to shape the outcome.

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Good engagement is not a meeting at the end — it is a structured process that shapes decisions from the start and helps ensure they succeed in practice. MER applies this across marine protected areas, integrated coastal management, marine spatial planning, fisheries, biodiversity conservation and environmental monitoring, using stakeholder mapping, interviews, consultations and facilitated processes to turn local knowledge and technical evidence into decisions that can actually be implemented.

The focus is on usable participation: advisory groups that contribute meaningfully, local ecological knowledge that is systematically captured, co-designed measures grounded in real conditions, and structured feedback loops that show clearly how contributions shaped the final plan, protocol or management action.

Typical support

Stakeholder mapping and engagement design To identify who matters, why they matter and when they need to be involved.
Interviews, surveys and local ecological knowledge To capture practical knowledge that standard technical reviews often miss.
Facilitated workshops and co-design sessions To move from competing views toward workable options, measures and priorities.
Advisory groups and participatory governance Where projects need structured collaboration between authorities, users and experts.
Training, decision-support and feedback materials So participants understand the process and can keep contributing effectively.
Implementation follow-up and shared decision logs To keep engagement credible after the workshop stage ends.

Example Projects

Management co-design Lara-Toxeftra CARE Stakeholders and local authorities are directly involved in shaping and implementing a climate-adaptive management plan. Co-management Akrotiri Peninsula Bottom-up participatory work with stakeholders to build an Advisory Committee and propose sustainable management measures. Decision support RECONNECT Open-day activities, training seminars and management-support tools linked to sustainable MPA and Natura 2000 governance. Sector engagement SAFE-GUITARFISH Workshops and local ecological knowledge with fishers to improve safe handling, reporting and conservation action.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of stakeholder engagement processes does MER support?

MER can support stakeholder mapping, interviews, consultations, workshops, co-design sessions, advisory groups and participatory processes linked to marine and coastal projects.

Can MER work with authorities, local communities and sector users together?

Yes. MER can help structure processes that bring together authorities, local communities, fishers, NGOs, consultants and other users around shared evidence and workable options.

Does MER only collect opinions, or help translate them into decisions?

MER can help move from consultation to co-design by documenting inputs, clarifying trade-offs and connecting participation to practical measures, protocols or management actions.

Can MER support local ecological knowledge and co-management approaches?

Yes. MER can integrate local ecological knowledge, fisher input and advisory-group structures where participatory management is needed. Use the contact page to discuss a brief.