TIDES: Transition and Innovation - Developing Europe's Seascapes

European coastal and maritime cultural landscapes are in transition and at risk from the transforming economic activities and entrepreneurial practices. The socio-economic challenges in coastal regions include urbanization, out-migration, unemployment, transforming fisheries and the janus-faced ?gift? of tourism, bringing new tastes, pressures and demands to coastal place-in-motion. At the same time as potential for economic development is released, it can bring about environmental degradation and have severe socio-cultural consequences which in turn can impact on the preservation of natural and cultural heritage. A major challenge is thus how policy, governance and regulations can be reimagined to recognize and sustain old as well as new practices. An important aspect is how values associated with coastal and maritime economic practices can be integrated into planning to facilitate a balanced use of cultural and natural heritage resources. The values and understandings of material and non-material benefits of coastal and maritime areas, as held by experts, stakeholders, local residents as well as tourists are of crucial importance in providing a sustainable sound planning context. The project outcome will be a knowledge base and best practice advices for policy-making and planning procedures to accommodate developments in coastal and maritime landscapes, thus contributing to its sustainability, i.e. economically robust, environmental based, socially productive and culturally aligned with people?s values and aspirations.