Exploring barriers to the implementation of geospatial technologies in marine spatial planning: Reports from practitioners

Abstract

This paper aims to contribute to the current discourse regarding the incorporation of geospatial technology in marine spatial planning (MSP) by drawing lessons from some existing initiatives. MSP is a continuously growing policy field under extensive research, and geospatial technologies (e.g., remote sensing, GPS, and GIS) are well-suited for acquiring and analyzing location-based data for marine planning needs. However, the role, extent, and nature of geospatial technology in the MSP process remain relatively underexplored. Here, we draw insights from interviews with seventeen global marine practitioners involved in developing or implementing eleven marine spatial plans worldwide to understand how extensively geospatial technology-derived data is utilized in existing practices. We briefly discuss the potential benefits of enhancing this type of data in MSP and then highlight some issues that need to be considered when shaping geospatial technology's input into the process. Based on the interviews, these considerations suggest that we need to develop a more critical and deeper understanding of how various interests frame the underutilization of geospatial technologies in some regions of the world. Additionally, we explore how the interviewed practitioners view their role in shaping the practices of geospatial technology use in the planning process. These findings highlight the importance of several key issues raised in the interviews as barriers to enhancing the use of geospatial technology. We conclude with suggestions for what priorities that could support the future enhancement of geospatial technology in MSP.