Feedback Task 1
What was the problem according to whom?
| Actors | Problem definition |
| Politicians (Cabinet, parliament) and policy makers (ministries LNV, EZ, VROM, V&W/RWS) | Devided. Cabinet in favour of gas mining. Parliament against (esp.PdvA). PvdA – what are the long term effects? More research is needed |
| Cockle and shrimp fishermen, fisheries organisation | No problem, fisheries not harmful. Ecosystem is resilient . Fisheries sector needs to survive |
| Scientists (NIOZ, ALTERRA, RIVO) | Devided. General: gas mining not harmfulBiologists: mechanical worm/cockelfisheries destroys sea bed àloss of biodiversity à not enough food for migrating birds |
| Environmental activists (Greenpeace) | Damage because of ground level decline through gas mining |
| NAM (gas mining) | Gas mining not harmful for the environment. (evokes independent research by the KNAW) |
| Nature protection (such as wadden society ) | DevidedDirector Wadden Society in favour of proposal Commission Meijer, members strongly devided.According to opponents sandbars disappear, uncertainty about long term effects. |
What different experts ('knowledge holders') are involved and why? What kind of knowledge do they supply to the policy process?
It is important to recognize that there are many different knowledge holders, including not only researchers at the scientific institutes but also e.g. cockle fishermen and nature conservationists with a lot of local knowledge. In addition, much technical knowledge is available at the Dutch gas company NAM.
What are the uncertainties? What stakes are involved? And what are the conflicts?
You might think of the following issues:
Uncertainties
- Do gas mining and land subsidence harm the environment?
- What are long-term effects of gas mining / land subsidence?
- How harmful is cockle fishing to the environment?
- How resilient is the ecosystem?
- Also: Policy uncertainty: (with regard to decision process: ‘ how to reconcile different interests? What is the room for manoeuvre and negotiation? What will politicians do with the advice of the Meijer Commission?
- And: Can the fisheries sector transform to sustainable fisheries? What would be the time horizon for this?
Stakes and conflicts
- Cockle fisheries: want to continue fishing in the Wadden Sea; fighting for survival
- NAM: wants to mine natural gas in the Wadden Sea (Greenpeace objects).
- Nature conservation organizations are divided. The directors of the organizations want to save the Wadden Sea by buying out cockle fishermen at short notice and compensating them from gas profits. (Cockle fishermen think they need more time for transformation). Opponents within nature conservation societies are against all gas mining.
- Meijer Commission: wants to give cockle fishermen 7 years to transform (Cockle fishermen think they need 15 years, while biologists claim that 7 years is far too long).
Who decides? What parties / persons are ‘in charge'?
Policy development:
- Winsemius Plan; developed further by Wouter van Dieren.
-
Meijer Commission: advice based on scientific knowledge and careful assessment of interests of different groups.
- Political decision making about Meijer Commission's recommendations.
- Large role for lobby groups (NAM, environmental activists) in policy development and political decision making).