The FREIIA project partners from Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden are set to showcase their latest research findings at the esteemed MARE People and the Sea Conference, taking place at the University of Amsterdam in June 2025. This significant international event provides a platform to discuss pressing maritime issues, and the FREIIA panel session will focus on Transformative Governance for Small Islands. The panel aligns with the conference’s overarching theme: Tensions, Trade-offs, and Transformations for the Ocean Decade and Beyond.
A Collaborative Approach to Small Island Governance
Chaired by Dr. Cormac Walsh (University of Oldenburg, Germany) and Prof. Laurence Piper (University West, Sweden), the panel will feature four research papers presented by scholars from the Province of Fryslân, the University of Groningen, University West, and the University of Oldenburg. Each paper will explore the challenges, opportunities, and innovative practices related to transformative governance on small islands. The session will integrate research findings from the FREIIA project along with broader international insights.
Addressing Pressing Challenges in the North Sea
The North Sea has become an increasingly complex and contested space, serving as a frontier for marine industrialisation while simultaneously facing growing concerns over marine conservation, climate change, and sustainable resource management. While ambitious policies advocate for extensive protected marine areas and coastal restoration, offshore islands and low-lying coastlines remain at the forefront of climate adaptation efforts. Despite these pressing concerns, small islands have often been overlooked in maritime spatial planning and policy discussions.
The Role of Small Islands in Transformative Change
Small islands are uniquely positioned at the intersection of marine industrialisation, conservation, and climate adaptation. However, due to their small size, remote locations, and distinctive socio-political structures, they face specific governance challenges. At the same time, these islands can serve as hubs for innovation and transformative change, providing locally driven solutions that require flexibility within existing institutional frameworks.
The FREIIA panel session will explore:
- The integration of small island governance within broader multi-level governance systems.
- The capacity of small island communities to leverage connections within broader networks.
- The influence of elite actors in place-based island governance.
- The potential for small islands to develop governance capacities in response to contemporary socio-environmental challenges.
A Critical and Applied Perspective
Reflecting the objectives of the FREIIA project, the session will combine critical academic insights with applied, practice-based perspectives. By shedding light on the governance dynamics of small islands, the panel aims to contribute to a more cohesive and inclusive approach to maritime spatial planning and sustainable ocean governance.
The international MARE People and the Sea Conference promises to be a pivotal moment for discussing these urgent matters. With small islands increasingly at the center of key marine policy debates, the FREIIA session will provide valuable contributions to shaping the future of maritime governance in the North Sea and beyond.