New Report on Analysis of public confidence in scientific results related to northern European estuaries
IMMERSE Partner Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) has published a new tendered report under its Task 6.3: Analysis of public confidence in scientific results related to northern European estuaries. European estuaries often are heavily used and are at the same also important nature areas. Therefore, conflicts can arise between the different users. Scientific studies can mediate in these conflict situations by providing a factual basis for discussion. However, at the Elbe estuary scientific studies have themselves become the subject of ongoing controversy. What is the reason for the skepticism and mistrust in these scientific studies? Does it also occur at other estuaries, for example the Humber – or even globally? This study provides answers, as the authors investigated the background for existing mistrust of scientific results by conducting literature and media research, and carried out stakeholder interviews at the Elbe and Humber estuaries. The report presents results on the reasons of mistrust as well as several recommendations on how it may be overcome - for estuary managers but also for scientists.