The Malta Sociological Association welcomes the European Commission’s initiative to develop a dedicated Strategy for Coastal Communities under the European Ocean Pact. We consider this a timely and necessary step, particularly in light of the multiple and overlapping pressures facing coastal regions, including climate change, biodiversity loss, housing pressures, and overtourism.
From a sociological perspective, coastal communities should not be treated merely as sites of economic activity within the blue economy, but as lived social spaces characterised by identity, heritage, power relations, and everyday practices. In this regard, policy frameworks must move beyond technocratic and growth-oriented approaches to incorporate Social Impact Assessment (SIA) as a central pillar of governance.
1. Coastal communities as socio-ecological systems
Coastal communities represent complex socio-ecological systems where economic, environmental, and social dynamics are deeply intertwined. While the proposed strategy rightly emphasises competitiveness, resilience, and inclusion, these objectives must be grounded in an understanding of how different social groups experience and negotiate change.
In small island states such as Malta, coastal zones are subject to intense and often conflicting pressures, including tourism development, real estate expansion, maritime infrastructure, and environmental degradation. These dynamics can lead to uneven outcomes, where certain actors benefit disproportionately while others—such as small-scale fishers, local residents, and younger generations - face marginalisation.
2. The centrality of Social Impact Assessment (SIA)
The MSA strongly recommends that SIA be embedded systematically within the design, implementation, and evaluation of the EU Coastal Communities Strategy.
SIA provides a framework to:
• assess how policies affect different social groups, particularly vulnerable and underrepresented communities;
• identify cumulative and long-term impacts, including those related to displacement, loss of livelihoods, and cultural erosion;
• enhance participatory governance by incorporating local knowledge and stakeholder engagement into decision-making processes.
Without such an approach, there is a risk that policy interventions - however well-intentioned - may reproduce existing inequalities or generate new forms of social exclusion.
3. Power, participation, and governance
A key challenge facing coastal communities is the asymmetrical distribution of power in decision-making processes. Coastal governance often privileges large-scale economic actors and centralised planning frameworks, while local communities have limited influence over developments that directly affect their lives.
The MSA therefore calls for:
• strengthened mechanisms for meaningful participation of coastal
communities in planning and policy processes;
• support for civil society organisations and local stakeholders as key actors in governance;
• transparency and accountability in decision-making, particularly in relation to coastal development and maritime spatial planning.
Such measures are essential for fostering democratic legitimacy and ensuring that coastal strategies reflect the needs and aspirations of communities on the ground.
4. Beyond economic competitiveness: towards social sustainability
While the strategy highlights the importance of unlocking the potential of the blue economy, it is crucial that economic development is aligned with social sustainability. Coastal communities are not only economic assets but also carriers of cultural heritage, social cohesion, and collective identity.
Policies should therefore:
• prioritise decent work, generational renewal, and social protection within coastal economies;
• safeguard cultural and maritime heritage as integral to community resilience;
• address structural challenges such as housing affordability, accessibility of services, and connectivity, particularly in peripheral and island regions.
This is particularly relevant given that many coastal areas experience acute social pressures alongside environmental risks.
5. Policy integration and place-based approaches
The MSA emphasises the need for stronger integration across EU policy domains, including fisheries, regional development, environmental protection, and social policy. Fragmented approaches risk undermining the effectiveness of interventions and overlooking the cumulative impacts on communities.
We advocate for:
• place-based policies that are sensitive to local contexts, especially in small island states and peripheral coastal regions;
• alignment between EU, national, and local governance frameworks;
• the incorporation of sociological knowledge and interdisciplinary research into policy design.
Conclusion
The proposed EU Strategy for Coastal Communities represents an important opportunity to reorient blue economy governance towards more inclusive, participatory, and socially just outcomes.
For this potential to be realised, the strategy must place coastal communities - not just coastal economies - at its centre. Embedding Social Impact Assessment, addressing power asymmetries, and prioritising social sustainability will be key to ensuring that coastal development is both equitable and resilient.
The Malta Sociological Association stands ready to contribute further to this process through research, stakeholder engagement, and policy dialogue.
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