Cabinet Office Strategy Unit – the future of UK fisheries stakeholder consultation event

Client challenge

The Prime Minister commissioned a Strategy Unit project team to investigate the UK policy options for the UK fishing industry, which was in serious jeopardy due to over-fishing in the North Sea and European Commission fishing quotas. Stakeholders from across the British Isles wanted a say in their shared future, an emotive issue for many people who rely upon the industry for their livelihood.

What did we do?

Article 13 assisted the UK Government’s Cabinet Office Strategy Unit in the development of the UK national fisheries policy in October 2003. The UK Government ran a consultation process over a six-month period, exploring issues from a variety of perspectives within the fishing industry (fishermen, industry, processing, environmentalists, policy makers and regulators).

We were asked to assist in the final stage of the consultation process. We designed a one-day stakeholder event to provide stakeholders with the latest thinking from the Cabinet Office based on the results of the Cabinet Office consultation process to date. The design of the event used the combined strengths of the Cabinet Office team, including policy presentations and communications, with our leading edge facilitation and expertise in event management and natural resource management.

Stakeholders learnt from each other as well as from the input from the Cabinet Office, as all responses were captured in “real time” on a projected computer screen utilising the latest wireless technology. The end result was that everyone felt that they had contributed, there was increased shared understanding and instead of resentment and anger, stakeholders felt that they had a collective responsibility to help the UK Government develop the best policy for the benefit of all.

How did we break the cycle?

Through advanced stakeholder engagement techniques, Article 13 were able to involve all stakeholder groups in order to define the range of policy options available, and reduce conflict in the situation.

INTERESTING?  Then talk to our expert CSR and sustainability facilitators on +44 (0)20 8840 4450.

Also in this section:

• Stakeholder event on sustainable consumption and production, including the role of sustainability focused new product development 
• Focus group facilitation using visual techniques to involve stakeholders across the eight service areas in the Fit for the Future review 

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