Stakeholder Roles in Marine Spatial Planning

Abstract

The rapidly growing world population and different users’ urge for development of new activities in the oceans is leading to overlaps in uses, conflicts among user groups, and increasing pressure on natural resources in the marine environment. It is vital that this development be sustainable in the long term, and that an ecosystem-based approach be applied to understand the ecological processes at risk and develop ways to effectively mitigate the environmental impacts of expanding and intensifying marine activities. Marine spatial planning (MSP) is a planning and management tool and process to regulate the use of marine resources, especially by separating uses spatially and/or temporally. Through the involvement of many stakeholders, the MSP process can thereby decrease conflicts among users. Proper MSP can also help in improving planning and regulation, decreasing associated costs and delays, engaging communities and stakeholders, and conserving important ecosystem and services. This study examines how stakeholder engagement and involvement in MSP processes have contributed to the efficacy of those processes. It does so by comparing MSP cases from various countries and regions to see how the extent and nature of stakeholders' involvement can be measured and described. The study examines how stakeholders' involvement in MSP processes can improve the outcomes of the process. The results may help countries all over the world to develop their own MSP process and find ways to better integrate stakeholders.