Socio-economic benefits assessment of Celtic Seas Partnership guidelines

WWF commissioned NEF Consulting to conduct an socio-economic benefits assessment of co-existence guidelines produced by the Celtic Seas Partnership.

The Celtic Seas is an area of the Atlantic Ocean west of Ireland and Scotland which supports a diverse array of wildlife. The area also contains a variety of species that human beings depend on for food, with many people depending on them to support their livelihoods and wellbeing.

The Celtic Seas Partnership

The Celtic Seas Partnership project was formed in the context of increasing threats to the world’s oceans. It brings together a variety of stakeholders to collaborate on innovative approaches to management of the marine environment in the Celtic Seas and to create more harmonious ways of working.

The challenge

The Celtic Seas Partnership has produced a series of best practice guidelines to provide examples of possible approaches, tools, and mechanisms that could be used as solutions to environmental challenges facing the area. To understand the potential impact of implementing the set of guidelines focused on ‘Encouraging harmonious co-existence of marine renewables with other marine uses and interests’, WWF-UK commissioned NEF Consulting to conduct a socio-economic benefits assessment.

The findings from the socio-economic assessment

The results suggest an overall potential benefit from implementation of the co-existence guidelines of nearly £8 million over the five year assessment period. This rises to over £36 million with upper bound assumptions, or £18 million as an alternative upper estimate with sensitivity testing.

“I highly recommend NEF – they are professional, knowledgeable and explain things in easy-to-understand ways!”
Dawn Sellars, Celtic Seas Partnership Project Officer

For more information download the report here.