Two Thesis Presentations
At 14.00 Jonathan Eberlein will defend his 60 ECTS thesis, entitled: The Scarcity and Vulnerability of Surfing Recourses - An Analysis of the Value of Surfing from a Social Economic Perspective in Matosinhos, Portugal. Jonathan's thesis advisor is Dr. Andreas Kannen, University of Hamburg and the external reader is Dr. Roland Wennersten, head of the Department of Industrial Ecology at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm, Sweden.
Both presentations will take place in Classroom 1-2 at the University of the Westfjords and will be followed by a public question and answer period.
Abstract
There is an increasing demand from public, private, and government sectors for a coastal resource management regime that ensures sustainability of coastal natural resources while meeting local needs of the people it serves. It is the objective of this master's thesis to explore the suitability of Community-Based Coastal Resource Management (CBCRM) as a contributor to meeting specific sustainability goals in Ísafjörður, Iceland. While focusing on the local needs of a specific community, CBCRM encourages a participatory role in the management of resources. Research aimed to evaluate how CBCRM can and cannot contribute to Ísafjörður's sustainability goals using a combination of research methods. Additionally, a feasibility study exploring the suitability of CBCRM as a contributor to the town's sustainability goals was conducted. This study compared components of CBCRM with specific sustainability goals of Ísafjörður. Results showed that CBCRM was well suited to contribute to environmental sustainability goals. Furthermore, CBCRM has potential to positively contribute to certain economic and socio-cultural goals however several challenges were identified. Recommendations include utilizing methods and principles of CBCRM to work towards several sustainability goals while continuing to use principles of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) to achieve a holistic approach that meets the town´s needs.
Jamie is originally from New Hampshire in the United States. She earned her B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY. She is currently living and working in Ísafjörður as the head volleyball coach for the adult and youth Skellur volleyball teams. She is interested in pursuing a career in environmental education and community outreach.
14.00: Jonathan Eberlein: The Scarcity and Vulnerability of Surfing Recourses - An Analysis of the Value of Surfing from a Social Economic Perspective in Matosinhos, Portugal
Abstract
The thesis investigates the potential socioeconomic value of surfing and improvement of recreational ocean water for the City of Matosinhos, Portugal. For that reason a beach survey was developed and carried out in order to find out about beach users activities, perceptions and demands. Results showed that user activities were dominated by sunbathing/relaxation on the beach and surfing and body boarding in the water. The main environmental concern of beach users was water pollution. Furthermore, the thesis recommends including surfing breaks as natural and cultural recourses within future coastal management plans and investigates the possibilities for the implementation of a local beach management strategy for Matosinhos under the umbrella of Integrated Coastal Management in Portugal.
Jonathan Eberlein is originally from the North Sea Coast of Germany and has lived and worked in both Hamburg and the Island of Sylt. He has an undergraduate degree in Journalism from Hochschule Bremen University of Applied Sciences.
