Blue Governance Group

This project aims to understand the regional development and well-being futures envisaged by residents of NW Tasmania and how marine industries can contribute to meeting these shared values.

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To understand the foundation for social license for aquaculture in Norway, we will investigate the characteristics of trust towards aquaculture activities and public regulation on a national (macro) level, distinguishing between society-industry-government, rural-urban, and centre-periphery dimensions. SoLic focuses on the context of Norwegian aquaculture but also includes smaller comparative cases in Australia and Iceland. A case study approach will be used to address the question: How does social license (or a lack of) play out in Tasmanian salmon aquaculture? A single-case study design will be used (to understand social license at the state level), but with multiple embedded units of analysis (i.e. cases at the local level). 

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The Marine Atlas project, funded by the FRDC, will identify, compile, and standardise geographical datasets relevant to marine socio-ecological systems in Tasmanian waters. Informal consultations with data holders will help the research team ensure the Marine Atlas both captures all relevant information and is useful to stakeholders including industry, government, researchers, and other stakeholders.

This project will develop a sustainable Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) model that supports commercial seaweed production. To do this, the research will i) define the seaweed culture proposition (identify species, growing techniques, and products) and ii) develop a regionally relevant IMTA partnership model that brings together salmon, shellfish, and seaweed producers to ensure economic, environmental and societal benefits. Blue Governance is responsible for WP3 of this project - developing optimal governance, social, economic, and environmental models for operation.

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This project aims to address science-policy-management constraints that have hindered the development of an integrated marine ecosystem-based approach.  The focus is upon the management of 'sectoral interplay' - the conflicts and tensions which prevent ‘whole of government’ cooperation and political consensus among the conflicting user and interest groups

The Victorian Statewide Assessment is being undertaken to determine marine planning areas and priorities for undertaking Marine Spatial Planning across Victoria. It will examine the spatial distribution of activities and uses, associated values, and current or future threats, and will build on the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council’s (VEAC) 2019 Assessment of the Values of Victoria’s Marine Environment.