Assessing the viability of Stakeholders’ Engagement in Marine Spatial Planning and its Implications for a Sustainable Blue Economy

Abstract

Abstract Marine spatial planning (MSP) is the key to attaining global ocean sustainability targets related to the blue economy (BE) and inclusive tapping of ocean resources. Although there has been robust progress in promoting MSP, e.g., in the European Union (EU), most countries have yet to develop comprehensive strategies focused on MSP, which could affect fragile ecosystems and vulnerable livelihoods that are already affected by anthropogenic impacts and natural/environmental pressures. Even within the EU, comprehensive MSPs have been developed only in individual countries or specific maritime zones. One of the gaps identified in the literature is related to the limited knowledge of stakeholder engagement in the MSP process. Our study tries to bridge this gap, and we used a mixed research approach—i.e., systematically reviewed 86 articles on MSP—and conducted a key informant interview intending to identify what type of stakeholders or which stakeholders are needed in the MSP process; how, when, and where could they be involved; and how could they impact a sustainable blue economy? The findings revealed that MSP is a systematic process in which different stakeholders are needed at different levels at different temporal and spatial scales. In addition, the approach used to involve stakeholders is required to be based on a given region's governance targets in that region. The study revealed that marine resource user conflicts that hamper sustainable governance and the use of blue economy resources could be solved through MSP. The approach for stakeholder engagement that we bring to the fore in this study could help in the design of more effective participatory conservation interventions that meet ocean sustainability targets.