Marine Policy

Sea & Shore Solutions brings unique experience and skills to the planning and development of marine policies, while also providing the knowledge and organization to assist with policy development and implementation measures.

 

Our Services

Overhead image of the ocean waters with two humpback whale tails above the surface, and the shadow of their bodies diving underwater.

Marine Conservation

  • Facilitation of public meetings and workshops.

  • Scoping and siting for establishment of marine protected area/marine reserve systems or networks.

  • Holistic evaluation accounting for fisheries, biodiversity, habitat, and community perspectives.

  • Conflict mediation and facilitation of high-risk, emotional, and/or controversial conversations.

 
Two women walking together on the ocean shore, towards the water line. On the left is a large rock coming out of the ocean waves.

Marine Social Science

  • Assessment of values, attitudes, and behaviors that a community of practice or interest may experience toward marine policy and management outcomes.

  • Position social science alongside natural science through reports, spatial analyses, and conceptual mapping to inform policy & management decisions and highlight the social value of marine systems.

  • Conduct social surveys, interviews, and focus groups (online, phone, in person); deliver social data that can be utilized within your existing policy and management decision-making process.

 
A gloved hand holding up plastic rings that hold together aluminum beverage cans, dusted with sand. In the background is a beautiful ocean landscape, with a child on the right who appears to be recovering marine debris.

Marine Debris

  • Conduct social surveys, interviews, and focus groups (online, phone, in person), and literature reviews to deliver social data that can be utilized to identify and address the key concerns surrounding marine debris.

  • Development and facilitation of outreach and engagement to support the collaborative development of key concerns, action items, and long term solution-based planning.

  • Develop marine debris prevention planning based on current trends and research that can be incorporated into policy development and guidance.

  • Facilitation of creative collaborative approaches to address marine debris at a local level in partnership with local jurisdictions and businesses.

  • Communication planning to support the implementation of best practices in marine debris prevention and reduction.

 
An illustrated map of Belgium's territorial ocean, with colored polygons depicting different ocean uses. These include fishing, zones for renewable energy, extraction areas, marine protected areas, dredging dumps, and test zones for coastal defense.

Marine Spatial Planning

  • Develop GIS tools to facilitate geographic analyses and visualizations.

  • Support policy development through transparent public process, community engagement, tribal relations, and incorporation of best available science and practices established by NOAA and academic literature.

  • Stakeholder and working group facilitation to support equitable, two-way communication from various perspectives. 

  • Conflict mediation and facilitation of high-risk, emotional, and/or controversial conversations.

  • Process organization and documentation.