Croatian Marine and Coastal Strategy – 2nd round of workshops

Within the activities on the preparation of the Croatian and Marine Strategy, implemented by the Croatian Ministry of Environmental and Nature Protection in cooperation with PAP/RAC, through the “Medpartnership” project financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), a first round of workshops was organised in April - May 2015 in order to secure a wide participatory approach and get feedback from the stakeholders at the local level. Based on the comments gathered in those workshops the document was amended and the final draft prepared. The second round of workshops has now been organised to present it to the local stakeholders and get their final comments.

Three workshops were organised. The first was for the stakeholders from the Dubrovnik-Neretva and Split-Dalmatia Counties, and was organised in Dubrovnik on October 15, while the third workshop, for Istria, Primorje-Gorski Kotar and Lika-Senj Counties, took place in Pula on October 26. The workshops were each attended by 50-odd participants from relevant governmental and non-governmental institutions, as well as other members of civil society. The second workshop was somewhat different. It was organised for the stakeholders from the Šibenik-Knin and Zadar Counties, but was extended to two days (October 21 - 22) and combined with the 7th meeting of the Croatian Inter-ministerial committee created for the preparation of the Croatian Marine and Coastal Strategy. Apart from the presentation of the Strategy, the participants were informed on the ICZM Plan for the Šibenik-Knin County which is nearing its completion. There were also presentations on the relevant experience of some other countries and organisations made by the representatives of Greece, UNEP/MAP’s Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC), and the Scottish Coastal Forum. This workshop was attended by 70-odd participants. All the workshops were organised in cooperation with and support by the hosting counties.