On 6–7 May 2026, the VALMAS consortium came together at Cardiff University and online for a two-day workshop to bring together ‘Critical Friends’ and project partners to review progress and shape key outputs.

Updates highlighted strong momentum across research themes, including stakeholder mapping of over 400 organisations, evidence reviews on carbon and fisheries, and ongoing review of biodiversity research. Participants also discussed fieldwork plans and the development of ecosystem models, which will underpin future analysis.

Interactive sessions played a central role, enabling participants to refine the project’s Natural Capital Framework (Research Theme 2) and explore future management scenarios (Research Theme 1). These scenarios, built using a flexible “Lego brick” approach, combined climate, policy and industry factors into five narrative futures, helping identify uncertainties and priorities.

Participants also tested emerging decision support tools – ORIES, ASPACE and StrathE2E – designed to translate complex evidence into practical insights. Feedback emphasised the need for a user-friendly design, clear guidance and strong integration between tools.

Day 2 focused on internal coordination and technical discussions. Key themes included the complexity of governance frameworks, particularly around marine net gain, and the importance of aligning policy, environmental and energy systems. Plans were also developed to expand stakeholder engagement through a growing community of practice, supported by webinars, workshops and outreach activities.

Further sessions explored data management, modelling integration and economic valuation, highlighting the importance of combining scientific evidence with social values, fairness and stakeholder perspectives.

Overall, the workshop reinforced the importance of integration, stakeholder engagement and iterative development. With clear next steps agreed, VALMAS is well positioned to deliver impactful insights to support sustainable marine management in the North Sea and beyond.

Presentations