Once bitten, twice shy: Aquaculture, stakeholder adaptive capacity, and policy implications of iterative stakeholder workshops; the case of Froya, Norway

Stakeholder inclusion in coastal zone management is part of the Norwegian fabric of inclusive government, and essential for the legitimacy of the distribution of coastal areas for a variety of uses. Norway is currently dependent upon the commitment and motivations of the municipalities to fulfil its ICZM initiatives. These municipalities in turn are dependent upon the goodwill of their constituents, among which are the fishers, for the distribution of area rights, especially when distributing to the aquaculture industry. In Froya, these fishers have seldom made complaints against possible aquaculture localities, and have usually supported the governing institutions when coastal allocations are made in favour of aquaculture. With the possibility of a forthcoming supersized offshore salmon aquaculture facility in an important crabbing area, however, these stakeholders have come to the end of their goodwill. The following paper explores the use of iterative stakeholder workshops as a management tool. Ensuring that stakeholders are included in the management process can provide legitimacy thereof and minimize conflict. Insisting on iterative stakeholder workshops or consultations in processes that span longer time periods demonstrates that managers also take into account that constituent opinions are dynamic, and not static, and need to be accounted for, which could further legitimize their later decisions. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.