Marine Resource Users Research Articles

The need for interdisciplinary research in marine sciences – A MERry outlook

The global oceans are facing a plethora of pressures, leading to cross-national impacts on marine ecosystems, wildlife, and resource users. Interdisciplinarity is integrating knowledge and methods from different disciplines to generate a comprehensive output. Due to the trans-boundary nature of marine habitats and stressors, interdisciplinary research forms the basis to addressing pressing matters in ocean health and conservation. To this end, the Marine Environment and Resources (MER) master programme was developed at the beginning of the century, enabling students to develop a well-rounded understanding of ocean science. The programme has since become a recognised Erasmus Mundus degree and has had almost 400 graduates. In September 2022, the first MER community summit was held, being a landmark for the building of a long-lasting global community to discuss and deal with priority challenges of the UN Decade of Oceans Science. This summit has highlighted that to understand the state of the oceans and improve conservation efforts, international collaboration is required (including those out with the academic realm). The following article aims to highlight the successes of the programme in aiding the development and training of interdisciplinary researchers from a plethora of backgrounds, uniquely suitable for addressing current problems.

Wave climate characteristics and effects of tropical cyclones on high wave occurrences in Indonesian waters: Strengthening sea transportation safety management

Tropical cyclones can cause bad weather and high waves that can endanger maritime activities, especially in the waters of Indonesia, which is a maritime country. Understanding ocean wave climate characteristics and the effect of Tropical Cyclones (TCs) on high wave occurrences is important, particularly to ensure the safety of fisheries activities in Indonesian seas. We aim to do so by focusing on Indonesia's 11 Fisheries Management Areas (IFMAs) using descriptive and inferential statistics. Wind and wave data were taken from the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF), namely ECMWF Reanalysis v5 (ERA5) within the range of 42 years (1979–2020), whereas the TC data were from the International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS). We found that significant wave heights (SWHs) in the inner seas are strongly related to monsoonal wind fields. The maximum SWH occurred in northern Indonesian seas during December–February (DJF), while occurring in southern and inner seas between June–August (JJA). The highest extreme SWH and probability of exceedance (PE) for SWH >2 m were found in IFMAs facing the open ocean, such as Malacca Strait, Western Sumatra waters, Southern Java waters, Natuna Sea, Sulawesi Sea, and Northern Papua waters. We found that TCs activity in adjacent Indonesian waters could increase anomalous SWH occurrences. Positive SWH anomalies ranged from 0.1 to 0.4 m and varied depending on TC location and season. TC that forms in the following areas increase the PE for SWH >2 m: (1) Bay of Bengal: Western Sumatra waters (March–May, MAM) around 20%; (2) Western Pacific Ocean: Northern Papua waters (DJF) around 5%; (3) Northeastern Indian Ocean: Western Sumatra waters (DJF) about 3%; and (4) Western and Northern Australian waters: Southern Java waters (DJF) about 20%. The results of this study can serve as an early assessment for investigating wave climate characteristics and identifying the areas in Indonesian waters that are most susceptible to the impact of TCs, particularly in IFMAs. These findings hold significant value for managers and policy authorities, such as the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia. They can utilize this information to develop measures aimed at reducing vulnerabilities among marine resource users, specifically fishers, and improving fishing vessel safety. Additionally, these findings can be utilized to enhance advance warnings and forecasts, enabling marine managers to implement strategies that minimize the impact of extreme events and increase resilience in the face of ocean and coastal disasters.

Pathways to integrate Indigenous and local knowledge in ocean governance processes: Lessons from the Algoa Bay Project, South Africa

The Introduction of this paper argues that current coastal and ocean management approaches like marine spatial planning (MSP) often do not adequately acknowledge and integrate Indigenous and Local Knowledge (ILK). This is problematic because how humans value and perceive coastal and marine resources is integrally linked to how they use and manage these resources, especially in adapting to social-ecological change. Coastal and marine resources are situated within complex social-ecological systems that are culturally, economically, historically and politically embedded. Therefore, management approaches have to integrate transdisciplinary and contextual perspectives in order to be relevant, sustainable and adaptive. Following extensive research in Algoa Bay, South Africa this article highlights several pathways to bridge the gap between existing ILK and current coastal and ocean management approaches. The Methods section discusses how the authors worked in tandem with a bottom-up (engaging with Indigenous and local coastal and marine resource users) and top-down (engaging with coastal governance authorities and practitioners) approach. In order to answer the primary research question “How can ILK be integrated into area-based ocean management like MSP”? the authors employed arts-based participatory methods as well as in-depth interviews and workshops with coastal governance authorities and practitioners over several months. This work then culminated in a one-day multi-stakeholder workshop which brought both ILK holders and coastal authorities and practitioners together to collaboratively identify pathways to integrate this knowledge into coastal and ocean management. In the Results and Discussion section the authors present and discuss five co-identified pathways to integrate ILK in coastal and ocean management which include: adopting contextual approaches to coastal and ocean management; increasing transparency and two-way communication between coastal authorities and users; increasing access to relevant and useable information; reviewing and amending relevant MSP legislation towards a stronger connection between MSP and Indigenous knowledge legislation; as well as amending legislation pertaining to access to coastal and marine areas. In the Conclusion it is argued that ILK coastal communities want to be meaningfully included in how their coastline and ocean resources are managed and also seek increased access to coastal areas. By highlighting pathways to include ILK and the knowledge holders themselves, this paper seeks to contribute to improved protection and sustainable management of marine resource use.

Functional extinction of dugongs in China.

Dugongs (Dugong dugon) experienced a serious population decline in China during the twentieth century, and their regional status is poorly understood. To determine their current distribution and status, we conducted a large-scale interview survey of marine resource users across four Chinese provinces and reviewed all available historical data covering the past distribution of dugongs in Chinese waters. Only 5% of 788 respondents reported past dugong sightings, with a mean last-sighting date of 23 years earlier, and only three respondents reported sightings from within the past 5 years. Historical records of dugongs peak around 1960 and then decrease rapidly from 1975 onwards; no records are documented after 2008, with no verified field observations after 2000. Based on these findings, we are forced to conclude that dugongs have experienced rapid population collapse during recent decades and are now functionally extinct in China. Our study provides evidence of a new regional loss of a charismatic marine megafaunal species, and the first reported functional extinction of a large vertebrate in Chinese marine waters. This rapid documented population collapse also serves as a sobering reminder that extinctions can occur before effective conservation actions are developed.

Expanding narratives of governance constraints to improve coral reef conservation.

To understand and address the failures of reef governance, it is critical to understand the perceptions of diverse policy makers and practitioners about the challenges they face in achieving their goals. Examining the discourse of policy makers and practitioners can reveal the extent to which these perceptions capture the full spectrum of potential governance challenges, including those related to management, institutional structures and processes, the values and principles underpinning governance, and the social and environmental context. We conducted semistructured interviews with 110 policy makers and practitioners across multiple sectors, scales, and contexts in Barbados, St Kitts and Nevis, Belize, and Honduras. We used thematic qualitative analysis informed by theories of interactive governance and governability to examine the challenges perceived by governance actors. Perceived governance challenges were broadly consistent across countries, but differed by sector (V = 0.819, F6,60 = 1.502, p = 0.01) and by level (community compared with national) (V = 0.194, F1,10 = 2.178, = 0.026). Management inputs and outputs, challenges relating to the socioeconomic context, issues of leadership and power, and stakeholder engagement were commonly cited challenges (>75%). Few respondents discussed challenges relating to the ecological context, governance processes, or the values and principles underpinning governance. We argue that examining perceptions can inform efforts to improve governance and assess the appropriateness of particular management tools under context-specific governance constraints. Furthermore, expanding the narratives of governance challenges to encompass the subtle values and images underpinning governance, and the scale of the challenges faced, can help identify a wider set of opportunities for change.

Citizen science reveals the population structure and seasonal presence of whale sharks in the Gulf of Thailand.

The whale shark Rhincodon typus is a broadly distributed and highly mobile planktivorous shark species. The sharks form predictable aggregations in many areas, providing the opportunity for cost-effective scientific monitoring through divers and other marine resource users. Sightings of individuals outside of these aggregate zones elsewhere in their range are typically rare. We used a citizen science-based approach to shed light on occurrence and seasonality in the waters around Koh Tao, Thailand and neighbouring islands in the Gulf of Thailand. Although there is a paucity of quantitative data, anecdotal reports suggest substantial declines in sightings in the early 2000s. We identified a total of 178 individual whale sharks (from 249 sightings) between 2004 and 2019, with most of these (84%) from the 2015-2019 time period due to an increase in sighting reports facilitated by social media and direct marketing. Size estimates were reported for 102 of the sightings, with a range of 2-6m and mean of 3.7m overall. Sex was reported for 27% of sightings, with a 2:1 female-to-male ratio. Modified maximum likelihood methods suggest whale sharks are transient to Koh Tao and surrounding areas, with whale shark sightings following the regional monsoon cycle. One international resighting was obtained from Malaysian waters (~700 km away). Encouraging citizen science participation is particularly useful in data-poor regions like the Gulf of Thailand, despite limitations in size and sex estimation reliability, which can play an important complementary role in dedicated research programs.

Rapid adaptation to crisis events: Insights from the bait crisis in the Maine lobster fishery.

Climate change, overfishing, and other anthropogenic drivers are forcing marine resource users and decision makers to adapt—often rapidly. In this article we introduce the concept of pathways to rapid adaptation to crisis events to bring attention to the double-edged role that institutions play in simultaneously enabling and constraining swift responses to emerging crises. To develop this concept, we draw on empirical evidence from a case study of the iconic Maine lobster (Homarus americanus) industry. In the Gulf of Maine, the availability of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) stock, a key source of bait in the Maine lobster industry, declined sharply. We investigate the patterns of bait use in the fishery over an 18-year period (2002–2019) and how the lobster industry was able to abruptly adapt to the decline of locally-sourced herring in 2019 that came to be called the bait crisis. We found that adaptation strategies to the crisis were diverse, largely uncoordinated, and imperfectly aligned, but ultimately led to a system-level shift towards a more diverse and globalized bait supply. This shift was enabled by existing institutions and hastened an evolution in the bait system that was already underway, as opposed to leading to system transformation. We suggest that further attention to raceways may be useful in understanding how and, in particular, why marine resource users and coastal communities adapt in particular ways in the face of shocks and crises.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13280-021-01617-8.

Life without ice: Perceptions of environmental impacts on marine resources and subsistence users of St. Lawrence Island

The Bering Strait region is undergoing rapid environmental change linked to reductions in the extent and seasonal availability of sea ice. The goal of the present study was to assess the impacts that environmental change and loss of sea ice has had on marine subsistence resources and resource users in the communities of St. Lawrence Island (SLI), Alaska. The broader research design was multidisciplinary in order to document any shifts in the abundance and health of key marine subsistence species, while recording people's perceptions of changing environmental conditions in their lifetime. The present study focuses on the perceived social and material effects of climate change on SLI residents. To capture human perceptions and experiences, open ended interviews were conducted during three weeks in April and May 2019, during which time 25 SLI residents were interviewed. Four main themes were assessed: 1) key marine resources for SLI communities, 2) perceptions about changes in key resources, 3) community responses to change, and 4) the future of the subsistence way of life in these communities. Interviews were transcribed, coded for themes, and analyzed using MAXQDA software. Results indicate the four most discussed marine resources were Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens), seals, crabs, and fish. The largest changes observed in these resources included: decreased walrus harvests and limited access with increased hunting effort; an increase in the abundance of Hanasaki crab (Paralithodes brevipes) and limited crab harvests due to lack of shorefast ice; and increasing abundances of walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) and Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus). SLI residents utilize a broad range of edible marine flora and fauna, and at times, eat less desirable prey items due to scarcity of preferred species. Lastly, most informants that discussed the future of a subsistence way of life, were concerned future generations will be harvesting and eating less subsistence resources. Due to environmental changes, and most specifically loss of sea ice, SLI communities may have to diversify the species that they harvest to continue maritime subsistence practices, or may turn to consuming more terrestrial and domestic sources of protein if available. To better understand resource availability and to manage for a changing ecosystem, resource managers and policy makers may: 1) anticipate a need for conducting stock assessments for king and Hanasaki crabs at regular intervals, 2) anticipate a need for conflict resolutions, mitigation frameworks, or agreements if commercial fishing vessels encroach on space and resources traditionally used by SLI subsistence users, and 3) take an active approach in obtaining authorizations for the harvest of currently protected marine mammals, which may be needed to ensure food security and consumption of historically traditional foods from the local environment.

‘Fishers’ rights are human rights’: George v Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism 2005 (6) SA 297

In 2004, artisanal fishers, community-based and non-governmental organisations representing ∼5,000 artisanal fishers from various fishing communities sought relief inter alia under the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act 4 of 2000 as a result of the unfair discrimination against them because of the fisheries legal framework. This case note focuses on this unique class action brought by the fishers in the Equality Court and the decisions resulting from the case. The relief sought by the fishers to remedy the discrimination and inequity was to compel the then Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism to make proper and adequate provision for artisanal fishers in terms of the fisheries legal framework, giving them equitable access to marine resources alongside other marine resource users. This note evaluates the impact of the order of the Equality Court, as it served as the trigger to transform small-scale fisheries in South Africa. The note also discusses the human-rights-centred themes reflected in the South African Small-Scale Fisheries Policy and considers the extent to which this policy is aligned to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines of 2015.

Changes to the structure and function of an albacore fishery reveal shifting social‐ecological realities for Pacific Northwest fishermen

AbstractMarine fisheries around the globe are increasingly exposed to external drivers of social and ecological change. Though diversification and flexibility have historically helped marine resource users negotiate risk and adversity, much of modern fisheries management treats fishermen as specialists using specific gear types to target specific species. Here, we describe the evolution of harvest portfolios amongst Pacific Northwest fishermen over 35+ years with explicit attention to changes in the structure and function of the albacore (Thunnus alalunga, Scombridae) troll and pole‐and‐line fishery. Our analysis indicates that recent social–ecological changes have had heterogenous impacts upon the livelihood strategies favoured by different segments of regional fishing fleets. As ecological change and regulatory reform have restricted access to a number of fisheries, many of the regional small (<45 ft) and medium (45–60 ft) boat fishermen who continue to pursue diverse livelihood strategies have increasingly relied upon the ability to opportunistically target albacore in coastal waters while retaining more of the value generated by such catch. In contrast, large vessels (>60 ft) targeting albacore are more specialized now than previously observed, even as participation in multiple fisheries has become increasingly common for this size class. In describing divergent trajectories associated with the albacore fishery, one of the US West Coast's last open‐access fisheries, we highlight the diverse strategies and mechanisms utilized to sustain fisheries livelihoods in the modern era while arguing that alternative approaches to management and licensing may be required to maintain the viability of small‐scale fishing operations worldwide moving forward.

Recreational boaters’ preferences for boating trips associated with offshore wind farms in US waters

This study used a stated preference approach to assess potential impacts of offshore wind farms on recreational boaters in and around Rhode Island (US) waters. To develop the stated preference survey, seven focus groups were conducted with recreational boaters in Rhode Island (RI) in 2017. A combined mail and on-line choice experiment survey was administered in the spring and summer 2018 to 2500 owners of US Coast Guard-documented recreational vessels with a hailing port in Rhode Island. The survey instrument elicited recreational boaters’ preferences for particular attributes of a recreational boating trip (location, proximity to a wind farm, amount of nearby boating activity, main activity during trip, trip costs). Data were analyzed using the mixed logit model to understand how changes in individual attributes affect the acceptability of a boating trip. Findings indicate that the value of a recreational boating experience is considerably reduced in areas with offshore wind farms. Findings from this study provide valuable insights into the potential impacts of the growing offshore wind industry on one group of marine resource users and potential management strategies for addressing these impacts in the US.

The role of local institutions in governance of MPAs

In recent years, marine protected areas (MPAs) have been perceived as a major tool to enhance marine conservation. The range of institutional approaches as well as the range of goals in defining and managing MPAs generates a diversity of ecological, social and economic outcomes. Using Tanzania as a case study, this paper examines the role of village liaison committees (VLCs) as an institutional approach to MPA management in addressing socio-ecological objectives. The main research question is how VLCs affect the success of biodiversity conservation and resource management objectives. Six VLCs from one of the three marine parks in Tanzania were randomly selected for this study. Data was collected through household interviews, key informants interviews, and focus group discussions with selected members of each of the VLCs chosen, and from MPA managers, village leaders, marine resource users, members of NGOs and researchers. The data collected was triangulated with secondary sources from published materials and with information generated during participant observation. The findings show that during the beginning of establishment of the park VLCs mobilised much greater participation and were viewed as effective conduits to MPA activities. However, the active participation of individual members within VLCs decreased with time due to unforeseen outcomes of marine conservation. Over 70% of survey respondents reported that the active role of VLCs to support the park activities has decreased significantly. This study demonstrates how institutional approaches in MPA governance are often poorly translated and adapted to fit the local context they are introduced to.

Building the Knowledge-to-Action Pipeline in North America: Connecting Ocean Acidification Research and Actionable Decision Support

Ocean acidification (OA) describes the progressive decrease in the pH of seawater and other cascading chemical changes resulting from oceanic uptake of atmospheric carbon. These changes can have important implications for marine ecosystems, creating risk for commercial industries, subsistence communities, cultural practices, and recreation. Characterizing the extent of acidification and predicting the ramifications for marine and freshwater resources and ecosystem services are critical to national and international climate mitigation discussions and to local communities that rely on these resources. Based on critical grassroots connections between scientists and stakeholders, “Knowledge-to-Action” networks for ocean acidification issues have formed at regional international and global scales to take action. We review examples at these three levels where groups are elevating the issue of ocean acidification and developing practicable, implementable steps to mitigate causes, to adapt to unavoidable change, and to build resilience to changing ocean conditions in the marine environment and coastal communities. While these first steps represent critical efforts in protecting ecosystems and economies from the risks posed by ocean acidification, some challenges remain. Sensitivity and risk to OA varies by region and industry; priorities for action can vary between multiple and conflicting partners; evidence-based strategies for OA risk mitigation are still in the early stages; and there remain gaps between scientific research and actionable decision-maker support products. However, these scaled networks have proven to be adept at identifying and addressing these barriers to action. In the future, it will be critical to expand funding for food web impact studies, development of decision support tools, and to maintain the connections between scientists and marine resource users to build resilience to ocean acidification impacts.

Perceptions of Commercial and Recreational Fishers on the Potential Ecological Impacts of the Block Island Wind Farm (US)

Offshore wind is gaining momentum in the United States as a viable source for meeting domestic energy needs. Although offshore wind farms have been developed in Europe and Asia, the Block Island Wind Farm (BIWF) is the first offshore wind farm built in North America. To improve marine resource management, it is critical to understand the impacts of the wind farm on marine resource users in context. Little is known about the impacts of offshore wind farms on marine resource users in the United States. This study investigates recreational and commercial fishers’ perceptions of the impacts of the BIWF on the local marine ecosystem. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 fishers, mostly based out of Block Island or Point Judith, Rhode Island (US), in the summer and fall of 2017. During the interviews, fishers were asked about their perceptions of changes in the marine ecology of the wind farm area during and after the offshore wind turbines were constructed, and how their activities in the area have changed since the wind farm was installed. Results indicate that there were perceived impacts of the BIWF on the local ecosystem and the behavior of the marine resource users. For some recreational fishers, the wind farm functioned as a destination or target and served as an artificial reef for spearfishing. For some commercial fishers, the increase in recreational fishing due to the establishment of the BIWF crowded out commercial fishers in these areas. As the offshore wind farm industry expands within US waters, findings from this study and others like it provide valuable insights on the potential impacts of these wind farms on marine resource users.

Wading past assumptions: Gender dimensions of climate change adaptation in coastal communities of the Philippines

•We examine gender dimensions of climate change adaptation (CCA).•Findings reflect marine resource users in 30 Philippine fishing villages.•Women were less connected to nature and more risk tolerant than men.•Women and men were equally conservation-minded and aware of climate change.•Women were more aware of CCA plans but less likely to attend outreach activities.

Changing windows of opportunity: past and future climate-driven shifts in temporal persistence of kingfish (Seriola lalandi) oceanographic habitat within south-eastern Australian bioregions

Climate-driven shifts in species distributions are occurring rapidly within marine systems and are predicted to continue under climate change. To effectively adapt, marine resource users require information relevant to their activities at decision-making timescales. We model oceanographic habitat suitability for kingfish (Seriola lalandi) from south-eastern Australia using multiple environmental variables at monthly time steps over the period 1996–2040. Habitat predictions were used to quantify the temporal persistence (months per year) of suitable oceanographic habitat within six coastal bioregions. A decline in temporal habitat persistence is predicted for the northernmost (equatorward) bioregion, whereas increases are predicted for the three southernmost (poleward) bioregions. We suggest that temporal habitat persistence is an important metric for climate change adaptation because it provides fishery-relevant information. Our methods demonstrate how novel metrics relevant to climate adaptation can be derived from predictions of species’ environmental habitats, and are appropriate for the management of fisheries resources and protection of high conservation value species under future climate change.

Multi-Scale Fisheries Management in St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands: What Influences Participation?

This manuscript examines marine resource users' perceptions of, experiences with, and responses to federal and territorial fisheries management processes in St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands. Drawing on anthropological critiques of common pool resources (CPR) institutions and political ecology, I describe the historical, social, and political factors that influence how fisheries management occurs at multiple scales and how it is experienced by fishers, managers, and other stakeholders. This multi-scale approach is both timely and important, as resources and communities throughout the world are increasingly globalized and inter-connected; it is virtually impossible to find an example of a CPR being managed at the local scale, devoid of the influence of external factors. As a result, it is becoming more common for resources and resource users to be subject to regulations and management regimes at multiple levels and scales (such as federal and territorial). For this reason, it is critical to examine h...

Intra-village and inter-village resource use conflict in Indonesia: The case of the Kei Islands

Resolving local resource conflicts in rural coastal communities is important for the implementation of effective resource management systems and development policies. This article examines the characteristics of small-scale fishing households that are prone to be involved in resource use conflict with other local marine resource users based on the data collected by a household survey in Indonesia. Intra-village and inter-village conflicts are examined separately. We find that social relationships and individual perceptions of changes in fishery conditions are strongly associated with both intra- and inter-village conflicts but in a different way for each type of conflict. Our results show that unintended consequences may arise from improving a social relationship between fishery users and their village leader. The improved social relationship discourages intra-village conflict but at the same time increases inter-village conflicts, thus creating a potential dilemma in conflict resolution. Our results also suggest that a perception of declining fishery conditions is correlated with an increase in inter-village conflicts when there is a perceived link between resource depletion and an increase in the benefits obtained by outsiders. Conversely, a decrease in the amount of resources available for exploitation may decrease intra-village conflict when in-group cooperation is needed to combat the declining environment.

Distributional preferences and donation behavior among marine resource users in Wakatobi, Indonesia

This study examines the effect of distributional preferences on donations of money and time using a field experiment with marine resource users in Indonesia. Individuals participate in a real effort task to earn money and are faced with a donation decision under different treatments – monetary donation, time donation, monetary match, and time match. In the distributional preferences elicitation task we classify individuals' preferences as benevolent, egalitarian, own-money-maximizing, and malevolent. We find that the different distributional preference types are a significant indicator of participants' donation behavior. The people showing malevolent preferences and those who focus only on maximizing their own payoff are less likely to donate any amount compared to those that make egalitarian choices. Furthermore, we find strong evidence that individuals who choose payoff structures characterized as “benevolent” donate a significantly higher amount. We analyze the results econometrically in two stages to better understand the determining factors for whether an individual donates and those factors that determine how much one donates. Practical implications involve developing targeted messages that integrate the resource-users and their needs into the center of local conservation campaigns and goals.

Marine spatial planning in Scotland. Levelling the playing field?

Marine spatial planning (MSP) is the leading tool for managing human activities at sea. It is designed to assist in decision making for marine resource access and use by considering the actions of those using the resources, interactions between these groups, and their cumulative impact on the natural environment. Being informed by ecosystem based management, MSP recognises that socio-natural systems are complex and that stakeholder and public input are key components of well-informed decision making. Therefore, MSP is rooted in the principles of good governance, including those of participation and transparency. This paper considers MSP processes in Scotland's inshore waters in the context of these good governance principles. The focus is on the institutional arrangements that allow stakeholders and the public to contribute to planning Scotland's seas and coasts. Whilst acknowledging the significant challenges faced by planners, and the work conducted so far, this research suggests that improvements could be made in how – and when – engagement takes place. It appears that at an early stage of introducing MSP in Scotland powerful stakeholders shaped the images, values and principles that guide it, and that including a broader range of actors early on might positively affect the legitimacy and acceptance of MSP in its later stages. The current institutional arrangements do not appear to allow for this. Ultimately, MSP in Scotland is in danger of institutionalising – and thus legitimising – existing power relations between marine resource users, and it does little to level the playing field.