Good Practices of Inclusive Marine Governance From United States
Sustainable management of marine resources requires an inclusive and participatory approach, involving all stakeholders in the decision-making process.
United States’s experience especially California in marine planning provides a clear example of how inclusion can have a positive impact on marine conservation and sustainable development.
Initially, marine planning in California was carried out with a top-down approach, where decisions were made by a central authority without involving directly affected stakeholder groups. This approach ignores the voices of local communities and fishermen, who have significant knowledge and interests in marine resources.
As a result, the planning process was unsuccessful, due to a lack of support and participation from those who should be an integral part of marine resource management.
Recognizing the failure of top-down approaches, California is turning to more inclusive and collaborative methods. Affected community members, including local communities and fishermen, began to be actively involved in the planning process.
This approach opens up space for dialogue and knowledge exchange between various stakeholders, thereby creating a sense of shared ownership and responsibility for the results achieved.
By actively involving stakeholders, marine planning in California has finally succeeded in establishing a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) along the coast.
This MPA network is designed to protect important marine ecosystems, while still considering the needs and interests of local communities and fishermen. This collaborative approach ensures that decisions are more accurate and reflect local conditions and needs.
An inclusive approach to marine governance in California demonstrates the power of collaborative decision-making in achieving successful conservation outcomes.
The MPA network that was formed not only contributes to the conservation of marine biodiversity, but also supports sustainable development by maintaining a balance between conservation and utilization of marine resources.
In addition, this approach strengthens relationships between government, local communities and fishermen, creating sustainable and mutually beneficial cooperation.
Source: Bappenas
