ORCID

Abstract

Executive summaryNorth Devon’s coastline sits within a layered governance setting, including statutory marine plans, inshore fisheries management, coastal and shoreline planning, protected areas, and seasonal bathing water monitoring, led by national regulators and local authorities. Within this wider context, this study focuses on how two non-statutory designations, the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the North Devon World Surfing Reserve (WSR), canwork together. The work forms part of a PhD on Transformative Ocean Governance and was motivated by the North Devon WSR’s designation and the opportunity to understand how the two designations might complement each other in practice. We convened a workshop with the Biosphere Marine Forum and a focus group with the WSR Local Stewardship Council, then synthesised insights with a desk review.This study finds common ground in a shared commitment to coastal stewardship, inclusive participation, and evidence-led decision making. Their areas of focus differ in complementary ways: the Biosphere provides continuity, convening, and clear interfaces with statutory processes, while the WSR emphasises beach-level delivery, rapid communications, and wave-sensitive planning and surf amenity.Looking ahead, there are several ways in which the two could work together to advance shared objectives, amplify impact, and make better use of complementary strengths. First, align evidence and indicators in a single open hub to improve transparency and reduce duplication. Next, coordinate positions on wave-relevant planning and access to strengthen advocacy. Demonstrate near-term results through visible actions, such as year-round bathing-water reporting, to build momentum and trust. Pair a rapid surf-economy assessment with relational value capture: the former as a streamlined, low-cost appraisalusing a small set of core indicators (e.g., visitor spend and local jobs), the latter to record community meanings, identities, and well-being connections with place. Taken together, these steps can better connect community energy with statutory conversations, strengthen cases for investment, and deliver tangible benefits at beach, bay, and biosphere scales.This report forms part of an ongoing PhD research project on Transformative Ocean Governance, undertaken by Kizzy Beaumont at the University of Plymouth within the UK, with a focus on surf reserves and community-led marine stewardship.

Publication Date

2025-01-01

Publisher

University of Plymouth

Deposit Date

2025-10-06

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