DESIGNING A PLACE-BASED DECISION-MAKING FRAMEWORK FOR FOSTERING MEANINGFUL STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT IN MARINE SPATIAL PLANNING

Abstract

This study stemmed from the critique of Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) regarding the tokenistic engagement of stakeholders, especially those at the community level. Therefore, the research focused on developing a decision-making framework to foster local participation in MSP, using the Scotian Shelf and Bay of Fundy Planning Area (SSBF) as a case study. A multiple method qualitative design was employed that integrated: 1. A literature review on the foundations of Community-Oriented Planning (COP) and the principles of stakeholder participation, 2. Interviews with MSP researchers and practitioners globally, and individual and focus group sessions with sectoral representatives to explore the key elements of effective participation (who should participate, how, when, and at what intensity), the barriers and enablers of engagement, and the expectations and concerns of sectoral representatives regarding MSP, and 3. Interviews with SSBF experts to understand how contextual factors shape public participation in the study area. The results led to the development of an integrated framework with five dimensions. The first dimension establishes the paradigmatic principles for reimagining a locally-based MSP. The second dimension highlights the importance of local communities in MSP, as well as the key conceptual elements for placing them at the centre of the planning process. The third dimension addresses the role of context in shaping the possibilities and limitations of local stakeholder participation. The fourth dimension describes specific mechanisms for operationalizing effective local stakeholder engagement. Finally, the fifth dimension incorporates trust as a cross-cutting element that permeates all aspects of the framework and is key to the success or failure of the participatory process. The value of this thesis lies in the fact that, unlike other studies that are limited to identifying and highlighting the exclusion of stakeholders, this work provides a comprehensive approach to address this problem. Consequently, this research represents an advance in understanding the participation of local stakeholders in MSP and demonstrates that meaningful community engagement is both possible and beneficial.