The Malta Sociological Association (MSA) notes the public consultation on the update to Malta’s marine strategy, pursuant to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive 2008/56/EC (MSFD). The MSA strongly recommends incorporating social impact assessments to evaluate and monitor the relationship between the marine environment and social life, including the social impact on fisheries, coastal communities, tourism, and leisure activities, among others.
The International Association for Impact Assessment defines SIA as being “the processes of analysing, monitoring and managing the intended and unintended social consequences, both positive and negative, of planned interventions (policies, programs, plans, projects) and any social change processes invoked by those interventions”. An SIA is an interdisciplinary process, and should employ various methods, both quantitative and qualitative. Social impact assessments should not be one-off exercises, but ongoing processes which engage with various stakeholders and report back so as to ensure effective policy processes.
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