Five actions to close the gap between marine spatial planning research and practice

Julie M. Reimer, Rodolphe Devillers, Natalie C. Ban, Maxine Westhead and Joachim Claudet

Chapter 14 in A Research Agenda for Sustainable Ocean Governance, 2025, pp 163-174 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Marine spatial planning (MSP) has emerged prominently in ocean governance literature and international guidance as a more holistic, inclusive, and proactive alternative to contemporary sectoral or ecosystem-specific management. MSP is, at its core, a governance transformation, though in practice it has often failed to catalyze transformative action. Despite MSP research and practice evolving side-by-side, much of the academic literature shows little awareness of the complex socio-political and planning dimensions of MSP, while MSP initiatives fail to uphold MSP good practices. Much current academic literature on MSP fails to properly account for the complex realities of ocean governance. As MSP becomes increasingly central to achieving global ocean conservation and sustainability goals, it is a critical time to better bridge MSP research and practice. We identify five actions that researchers and practitioners could take to help narrow this gap: (1) find allies across research and governance agencies, (2) better understand the realities of the researcher's and practitioner's day-to-day, (3) co-develop research that is fit-for-purpose to current MSP needs, (4) challenge barriers to transforming the status quo, and (5) speak truth to power by leveraging the collective, powerful voice of researchers and practitioners. By working together with intention and shared purpose, researchers and practitioners can enable MSP to reach its full potential in sustainable governance that ensures a healthy ocean for all.

Keywords: Ocean Planning; Science–Policy Gap; Co-Development; Ocean Sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781035325740
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