A framework for the integrated assessment of social and economic values associated with man-made marine structures

Man-made marine structures (MMS) are increasingly prevalent in the marine environment, reflecting the growth and diversity of economic and recreational activities in both onshore and offshore settings. The presence of MMS presents opportunities and conflicts for marine planners, particularly in relation to reconciling competing stakeholder interests arising from their placement and long-term fate, including decommissioning and/or removal. This necessitates the development of an integrated framework which encapsulates the complexity of social and economic values and perceptions held by differing stakeholders. Through research conducted with MMS stakeholders in Australia, we present the first framework of this type which identifies three principal categories of socio-economic values and explores the inter-relationships between these groupings. The research further underlines the pivotal significance of rules and norms which impact across all three categories. These findings will assist planners in understanding the preferences of relevant marine stakeholders in order to enhance benefits and minimise conflicts related to MMS