Profiles
Steve Fletcher
Professor of Marine Policy (Research)
School of Biological & Marine Sciences (Faculty of Science & Engineering)
Role
- Director, Centre for Marine and Coastal Policy Research
- Associate Professor in Sustainable Management of Marine and Coastal Systems
- Co-Director of VALMER Project
- Board member, Institute of Sustainable Solutions Research
- Member, School of Marine Science and Engineering Research Committee
Qualifications
BSc (Hons) Geography, University of Aberystwyth, awarded 1994.
MSc Coastal Zone Management, Bournemouth University, awarded 1996
PgC Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, Southampton Solent University, awarded 1999.
PgC Research, Southampton Solent University, awarded 1999.
PhD ‘Stakeholder involvement in coastal partnerships in the UK: towards secure representation’ awarded 2003.
Professional membership
Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
Member of the Higher Education Academy
Roles on external bodies
Professional positions external to Plymouth University
Current:
• Chair, Royal Geographical Society Coastal and Marine Research Group
• Associate Editor, Coastal Management Journal
• Member, Port of Plymouth Marine Liaison Committee
• Member, Dorset Coast Forum
• Member, Devon Maritime Forum
• External Examiner, University of Chester
• External Examiner, Glamorgan University
Completed:
• Editorial Board, Journal of Geography in Higher Education (2009-12)
• Board member of the charity CoastNET (2008-2010)
• External Examiner, University of Malta (2007-2011)
• External Examiner, Swansea Metropolitan University (2006-10)
Referee for:
Marine Policy
Ocean and Coastal Management
Coastal Management Journal
Global Environmental Change
Geoforum
The Geographical Journal
Marine Pollution Bulletin
Journal of Geography in Higher Education
Teaching interests
My teaching interests are in marine and coastal governance, including Marine Spatial Planning, Integrated Coastal Zone Management, marine ecosystem services, and marine policy. My teaching approach is focused on student-centred learning, in which students are actively engaged in the process of learning through discussions, debates, engagement with external researchers and practitioners, and fieldwork.
Research interests
My key interests are focused upon various aspects of marine and coastal policy. This includes:
Using marine ecosystem services to support marine governance. I am interested in the identification, classification and valuation of marine ecosystem services. In particular, I am interested in how marine ecosystem services can be used to support improved marine and coastal governance.
Marine spatial planning and Integrated Coastal Zone Management. I am interested in the process and outcomes of MSP and ICZM, including the evaluation of MSP and ICZM processes, co-location analyses, stakeholder engagement with MSP and ICZM, and national and international MSP and ICZM policy change.
Marine citizenship: connecting society and the sea. I am interested in how individual behaviour can be harnessed to support the delivery of effective marine conservation outcomes. This includes the mechanisms through which citizens learn about and interact with the marine environment. I developed the idea of ‘marine citizenship’ to encapsulate this study area.
Since 2005, I have been Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-PI on over 25 funding awards with a total value of over£4.7m, including projects funded by:
Defra
Natural England
British Academy
Sasakawa Foundation
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
Daiwa Foundation
European Commission
Joint Nature Conservation Committee
The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
River Dart Naivigation and Harbour Authority
WWF Cymru
Editorship of special issues:
Fletcher, S. 2013. ‘Marine and Coastal Policy in the United Kingdom: challenges and opportunities in a new era’ Marine Policy.
Fletcher, S. & Potts, J. 2008. ‘Coastal and marine governance in the UK’ The Geographical Journal.
Fletcher, S. & Smith, H. 2007. ‘The role of geography in contemporary coastal management policy and practice’ Coastal Management.
Fletcher, S., Hewett, T. & Johnson, D. 2007. ‘Coastal management in the Solent’ Marine Policy.
In Press:
Dawson, K., Fletcher, S., Johnson, D., Packeiser, T. and von Nordheim, H. Progress towards a coherent network of well-managed Marine Protected Areas in the North-East Atlantic. Marine Pollution Bulletin .
Fletcher, S., Jefferson, R., Glegg, G. Rodwell, L. and Dodds, W. In Press. England’s evolving marine and coastal governance framework. Marine Policy.
Published papers:
Rees, S., Fletcher, S., Glegg, G., Marshall, C., Rodwell, L., Jefferson, R., Campbell, M., Langmead, O., Ashley, M., Bloomfield, H., Brutto, D., Colenutt, A., Conversi, A., Earll, B., Hamid, I. A., Hattam, C., Ingram, S., McKinley, E., Mee, L., Oates, J., Peckett, F., Portus, J., Reed, M., Rogers, S., Saunders, J., Scales, K. & Wynn, R. 2013. Priority questions to shape the marine and coastal policy research agenda in the United Kingdom." Marine Policy 38: 531-537.
Fletcher S, McKinley E, Buchan KC, Smith N, McHugh K. Effective practice in marine spatial planning: A participatory evaluation of experience in Southern England. Marine Policy. 2013; 39:341-8.
Maguire, B., Potts, J.P., and Fletcher, S. 2012. The role of stakeholders in the marine planning process—Stakeholder analysis within the Solent, United Kingdom. Marine Policy 36: 246-257.
Fletcher, S., Kawabe, M. & Rewhon, S. 2011. Wetland conservation and sustainable coastal governance in Japan and England. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 62, 956-962.
McKinley, E. and Fletcher, S. 2011. Improving marine environmental health through marine citizenship: A call for debate. Marine Policy 36: 839-843.
Pike, K., D. Johnson, S. Fletcher, and P. Wright, 2011. Seeking spirituality: respecting the social value of coastal recreation resources in England and Wales. Journal of Coastal Research 61: 194-204.
Fletcher, S., Saunders, J. & Herbert, R. 2011. A review of the ecosystem services provided by broadscale habitats in England’s Marine Protected Area Network. Journal of Coastal Research 64: 378-383.
Maguire, B., Potts, J.P., and Fletcher, S. 2011. Who, when, and how? Marine planning stakeholder involvement preferences – A case study of the Solent, United Kingdom. Marine Pollution Bulletin 62: 2288-2292.
Fletcher, S., Bateman, P. & Emery, A. 2011. The governance of the Boscombe Artificial Surf Reef. Land Use Policy 28: 395-401.
McKinley, E. & Fletcher, S. 2010. Individual responsibility for the oceans? An evaluation of marine citizenship by UK marine practitioners Ocean & Coastal Management, 53: 379-384.
Pike, K., Johnson. D.E., Fletcher, S., Wright, P. & Lee, B. 2010. Social Value of Marine and Coastal Protected Areas in England and Wales. Coastal Management, 38: 412–432.
Hewett, T. & Fletcher, S. 2010. The emergence of service-based integrated coastal management in the UK Area 42: 313-327.
Fletcher, S. 2010. Review of: Introduction to Coastal Processes and Geomorphology – By Robin Davidson-Arnott. Geographical Journal, 176: 377–378.
Fletcher, S., Kawabe, M., Rewhorn, S., Tan, C-K., Emery, A., Waikita, K., Sturgess, M., Furukawa, K., Castle, Z. and Dufton, F., 2009. International Learning Pathways for Coastal Professionals: A Japan–UK Example. Coastal Management, 37: 154 -169.
Fletcher, S., Potts, J. S., Heeps, C. and Pike, K., 2009. Public Awareness of Marine Environmental Issues in the UK. Marine Policy, 33: 370-375.
Fletcher, S., Potts, J. S. and Ballinger, R., 2008. The Pedagogy of Integrated Coastal Management. The Geographical Journal, 174: 374-386.
Bednarz, S., Chalkley, B., Fletcher, S., Hay, I., Le Heron, E., Mohan, A. and Trafford, J., 2008. Community Engagement for Student Learning in Geography. Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 32: 87-100.
Fletcher, S., 2008. The Role of Universities in Supporting Integrated Coastal Management in the United Kingdom. Coastal Management, 36: 67-80.
Fletcher, S. and Potts, J. S., 2008. Coastal and Marine Governance in the United Kingdom. The Geographical Journal, 174: 295-298.
Fletcher, S., 2007. Converting Science to Policy Through Stakeholder Involvement: An Analysis of the European Marine Strategy Directive. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 54: 1881-1886.
Fletcher, S., Beagley, E., Hewett, T., Williams, A. and McHugh, K., 2007. The Hamble Estuary Partnership and Solent Forum: Duplication or Integration? Marine Policy, 31: 619-627.
Fletcher, S., Johnson, D. and Hewett, T., 2007. Coastal Management in the Solent: An Introduction. Marine Policy, 31: 585-590.
Fletcher, S. and Pike, K., 2007. Coastal Management in the Solent: The Stakeholder Perspective. Marine Policy, 31: 638-644.
Fletcher, S. and Potts, J. S., 2007. Ocean Citizenship: An Emergent Geographical Concept. Coastal Management, 35: 511-524.
Fletcher, S. and Smith, H.D., 2007. Geography and Coastal Management. Coastal Management, 35: 419-427.
Fletcher, S., France, D., Moore, K. and Robinson, G., 2007. Practitioner Perspectives on the Use of Technology in Fieldwork Teaching. Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 31: 319-330.
Fletcher, S., 2007. Influences on Stakeholder Representation in Participatory Coastal Management Programmes. Ocean & Coastal Management, 50: 314-328.
Fletcher, S., 2007. Representing Stakeholder Interests in Partnership Approaches to Coastal Management: Experiences from the United Kingdom. Ocean &Coastal Management, 50: 606-622.
Fletcher, S., 2007. Introduction to the Theme Issue: The Role of Geography in Contemporary Coastal Management Policy and Practice. Coastal Management, 35: 413-417.
France, D. & Fletcher, S., 2007. E-learning in the Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Disciplines: Practitioner Perspectives from the United Kingdom. Geographie und ihre Didaktik, 35: 260-271.
Fletcher, S. 2006. Review of: Managing Britain's Marine and Coastal Environment: Towards a sustainable future edited by Hance D Smith and Jonathan S Potts Geographical Journal, Volume 172: 176–177
Fletcher, S., 2005. Review of ‘Engaging Students in Active Learning: Case Studies in Geography, Environment and Related Disciplines’. Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 29: 313-315.
Fletcher, S., 2005. Launch of the Coastal and Marine Working Group. The Geographical Journal, 171: 6-8.
France, D. & Fletcher, S., 2004. The Motivations and Professional Development Needs of Aspiring and Serving External Examiners in the GEES Disciplines. Planet, 13: 30-34.
Dodds, W. & Fletcher, S., 2003. The use of a virtual learning environment to enhance ICM capacity building. Marine Policy, 27: 241-247.
Fletcher, S., 2003. Stakeholder representation and the democratic basis of coastal partnerships in the UK. Marine Policy, 27: 229-240.
Fletcher, S., France, D., Moore, K. and Robinson, G., 2002. Fieldwork Education and Technology: A GEES Perspective. Planet, 4: 17-19.
Fletcher, S., 2001. Using stakeholder decision-making simulation to teach integrated coastal management. Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 25: 367-378.
Fletcher, S., 2001. Empowering learning through design: a comparative analysis of ICM course development for web-based and classroom delivery. Marine Policy, 25: 457-466.
Gupta, M. & Fletcher, S., 2001. The Application of a Proposed Generic Institutional Framework for Integrated Coastal Management to India. Ocean & Coastal Management, 44: 757-786.
Fletcher, S. 2000. The evolution of coastal management policy in the state of Israel. Marine Policy, 24: 395-405.
Johnson, D., Fletcher, S., Shibaev, S.V., Shkitsky, V.A., Upton, A.C. and Zagarodny, A.V., 2000. Integrated coastal management in the Russian Federation through academic partnership. Ocean & Coastal Management, 43: 953-962.
Book chapters:
Castle, Z., Fletcher, S. & McKinley, E. 2010. Coastal and Marine Education in Schools: Constraints and Opportunities Created by the Curriculum, Schools, and Teachers in England. In: Chircop, A., Coffen-Smout, S. & McConnell, M. (eds) Ocean Yearbook 24. Martinus Nijhoff.
Bednarz, S., Chalkley, B., Fletcher, S., Hay, I., Le Heron, E., Mohan, A. and Trafford, J., 2010. Community Engagement for Student Learning in Geography. In: Healey, M., ed. Collection arising from International Learning and Teaching Network, Brisbane. Taylor and Francis.
Fletcher, S., 2003. Managing Marine Resources: The Role of GIS in EEZ Management. In: Green, D.R. and King, S.D., eds. Coastal and Marine Geo-information Systems: Applying the Technology to the Environment (Coastal Systems and Continental Margins). Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers, pp. 97-104.
Consultancy and unpublished reports:
Fletcher, S., Rees, S., Gall, S. Jackson, E., Friedrich, L., and Rodwell, L. (2012) Securing the benefits of the Marine Conservation Zone Network. A report to The Wildlife Trusts by the Centre for Marine and Coastal Policy Research, Plymouth University.
Fletcher S., Rees S., Gall S., Jackson E., Friedrich L., and Rodwell L. (2012) Securing the benefits of the Marine Conservation Zone Network: A case study of Holderness Inshore rMCZ. A report to The Wildlife Trusts by the Centre for Marine and Coastal Policy Research, Plymouth University.
Fletcher S., Rees S., Gall S., Jackson E., Friedrich L., and Rodwell, L. (2012) Securing the benefits of the Marine Conservation Zone Network: A case study of Kingmere rMCZ. A report to The Wildlife Trusts by the Centre for Marine and Coastal Policy Research, Plymouth University.
Fletcher S., Rees S., Gall S., Jackson E., Friedrich L., and Rodwell, L. (2012) Securing the benefits of the Marine Conservation Zone Network: A case study of North of Celtic Deep rMCZ. A report to The Wildlife Trusts by the Centre for Marine and Coastal Policy Research, Plymouth University.
Fletcher S., Rees S., Gall S., Jackson E., Friedrich L., and Rodwell, L. (2012) Securing the benefits of the Marine Conservation Zone Network: A case study of Torbay rMCZ. A report to The Wildlife Trusts by the Centre for Marine and Coastal Policy Research, Plymouth University.
Fletcher, S., Friedrich, L., Glegg, G. and Jefferson, R. (2012) Dart Forward Vision. A report for Dart Harbour by the Centre for Marine and Coastal Policy Research, Plymouth University.
Fletcher, S., Smith, N., and Ashley, M. 2012. Co-location in the marine environment. Report for WWF Cymru.
Glegg, G., Fletcher, S., Jefferson, R., Pike, K., Rees, S. and Rodwell, L. 2012. Marine Biodiversity Valuation: a proposal for action. A report for Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation by the Centre for Marine and Coastal Policy Research, Plymouth University.
Herbert, R., Saunders, J., and Fletcher, S. 2012. The impacts of marine protected areas on the provision of marine ecosystem services in UK waters. JNCC Report C10 – 0205 – 0374.
Herbert, R.J.H., Roberts, C., Humphreys, J. and Fletcher, S. 2012. The Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas) in the UK: Economic, Legal and Environmental Issues Associated with its Cultivation, Wild Establishment and Exploitation. Report for the Shellfish Association of Great Britain.
Fletcher S, Saunders J, Herbert R. 2011. Description of the ecosystem services provided by broad-scale habitats and features of conservation importance that are likely to be protected by Marine Protected Areas in the Marine Conservation Zone Project area. Natural England Research Report RP0334.
Fletcher, S. 2010. An assessment of opportunities for enhanced collaboration between Poole Borough Council and Bournemouth Borough Council in the management of Poole Bay. Report for Poole Borough Council and Bournemouth Borough Council.
Fletcher, S., Saunders, J. & Herbert, R. 2010. Description of the ecosystem services provided by broad-scale habitats and features of conservation importance that are likely to be protected by Marine Protected Areas in the Marine Conservation Zone Project area. Report for Natural England.
Fletcher, S. & Bateman, P. 2009. The management of the Boscombe Artificial Surf Reef. A report to Bournemouth Borough Council and The Crown Estate.
Tolcher, B. and Fletcher, S., 2009. The uses of Poole Harbour 2009. Project Report. Poole Harbour Study Group.
Fletcher, S., 2005. The Funding of Coastal Partnerships in the United Kingdom: Contrasting Expectations of Funders and Partnerships. Project Report. The Crown Estate.
Fletcher, S., 2005. Planet Ocean education pack review and public marine environmental awareness evaluation. A report commissioned by The Crown Estate and the National Maritime Museum. Project Report. London: National Maritime Museum.
Fletcher, S., 2005. Professional Development Needs of Coastal Management Practitioners in the United Kingdom. Project Report. UK: DEFRA.
Fletcher, S. and France, D., 2005. E-Learning in the Geography, Earth and Environmental Studies Disciplines. Technical Report. Higher Education Academy Subject Centre for Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences.
Fletcher, S., 2004. Evaluation of the Terms of Reference: Severn Estuary Partnership. Working Paper. Severn Estuary Partnership.
Fletcher, S. and France, D., 2004. Professional Development Needs of External Examiners in the Geography, Earth and Environmental Studies Disciplines. Working Paper. Geography, Earth and Environmental Studies (GEES) Subject Centre.
Reports & invited lectures
Conference presentations:
Saunders, J., Fletcher, S. & Herbert, R. 2011. Highlighting the ecosystem service benefits of protecting biodiversity. For presentation at the World Conference on Marine Biodiversity, 26–30 September 2011, Aberdeen.
Fletcher, S., Saunders, J. & Herbert, R. 2011. A review of the ecosystem services provided by the United Kingdom MPA network. For presentation at ICS2011 - 11th International Coastal Symposium, 9-14 May 2011, Sczcecin, Poland.
Fletcher, S., Saunders, J. & Herbert, R. 2010. Ecosystem goods and services from European protected habitats and species. Dorset Coast Forum / C-SCOPE conference, November 2010, Poole.
Fletcher, S., Potts, J. and Butler, C. 2010. Effective marine planning: a systematic review of the evidence. Littoral European Conference, September 2010, London.
Fletcher, S., Buchan, K., Smith, N. & McHugh, K. 2010. Marine planning in southern England: reflections on initial experiences. Littoral European Conference, September 2010, London.
McKinley, E. & Fletcher, S. Public involvement in marine management? An evaluation by UK practitioners. Littoral European Conference, September 2010, London.
McKinley, E. & Fletcher, S. The application of marine citizenship in the planning and policies of the marine environment. Royal Geographical Society – IGB Annual Conference, September 2010, London.
Fletcher, S. 2010. The re-imaging and rebranding of Boscombe. Hampshre Geographical Association, April 2010, Winchester.
Fletcher, S. 2010. Effective marine planning: a systematic review of the evidence. Solent Forum Southern Marine Planning Conference, October 2010, Southampton.
Pike, K., Johnson, D., Fletcher, S. & Wright, P. Seeking spirituality: respecting the social value of coastal recreational resources in England and Wales. Third International Conference on the Management of Coastal Recreational Resources, October 2010, Grosseto, Italy.
McKinley, E. & Fletcher, S. Evaluation of the role of Marine Citizenship in marine management in the UK. Association of American Geographers Annual Conference, April 2010, Washington DC.
McKinley, E. & Fletcher, S. Evaluation of the role of Marine Citizenship in marine management. Porcupine Marine Natural History Society Changing Seas Conference, April 2010, St. Andrews.
Fletcher, S., 2009. "Everybody's surfing now"... Surfing as a driver of coastal regeneration: The Boscombe Artificial Surf Reef. In: RGS - IBG Annual International Conference 2009: Geography, Knowledge and Society, 26-28 August 2009, Manchester.
Jones, S. and Fletcher, S., 2009. Integrated coastal zone management in the UK: A question of opportunities lost. In: RGS - IBG Annual International Conference 2009: Geography, Knowledge and Society, 26-28 August 2009, Manchester.
McKinley, E. & Fletcher, S. 2009. The application of Marine Citizenship to marine management in the UK. RGS - IBG Annual International Conference 2009: Geography, Knowledge and Society, 26-28 August 2009, Manchester.
Pike, K., Johnson, D., Wright, P., Fletcher, S. and Lee, B., 2009. Determining social value of coastal and marine protected areas in England and Wales. In: RGS - IBG Annual International Conference 2009: Geography, Knowledge and Society, 26-28 August 2009, Manchester.
Hewett, T. and Fletcher, S. 2008. Service Models for Partnerships: A Coastal Partnership. In: RGS-IBG 2008: Royal Geographical Society with Institute of British Geographers Annual Conference: Geographies that Matter, 27-29 August 2008, London.
Fletcher, S. 2008. The British coastline: adaptation to environmental change. Environment and Society Forum (an RGS-IBG and Tourism Society joint event), London.
Fletcher, S. 2007. Stakeholder involvement in the European Marine Strategy Directive. In: EU Marine Strategy Directive Conference, Helsinki.
Fletcher, S. 2007. Stakeholder Conversion of Science to Policy in Large Marine Ecosystems. In: RGS-IGB (Royal Geographical Society with Institute of British Geographers) Annual Conference: Sustainability & Quality of Life, 29-31 August 2007, London.
Fletcher, S. 2007. Stakeholder involvement in the process of converting science into policy: Perspectives from the European Marine Strategy Directive. In: AAG (Association of American Geographers) 2007 Conference, 17-21 April 2007, San Francisco, USA.
Fletcher, S. 2006. The Funding of Coastal Partnerships in the United Kingdom: Contrasting Expectations of Funders and Partnerships. In: RGS-IBG 2006 (Royal Geographical Society with Institute of British Geographers) Annual Conference, 30 August - 1 September 2006, London.
Fletcher, S., 2005. The Governance and Funding of Coastal Partnerships. In: Launch of the Devon Maritime Partnership, Devon County Council, 2005, Devon, England.
Fletcher, S. 2005. Partnerships for Integrated Coastal Zone Management: Perspectives from the United Kingdom. In: Caricostas 2005: 2nd International Conference on Integrated Coastal Zone Management, 11-13 May 2005, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.
Fletcher, S. and Potts, J. S., 2005. The Emergence of Marine and Coastal Citizenship in the United Kingdom. In: RGS - IBG Annual International Conference, 31 August- 2 September 2005, London.
Fletcher, S., 2004. Engaging in the Process: Stakeholder Representation in Coastal Management. In: Solent Forum Coastal Management Conference, 27-28 April 2004, Portsmouth, England.
Fletcher, S. and Dodds, W., 2004. Dipping Toes in the Water: An International Survey of Residential Fieldwork within ICM Degree Course Curricula. In: Littoral 2004, 20-22 September 2004, Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, Scotland.