Ecosystem-Based Marine Spatial Management

Dear Colleagues,

The concept of Ecosystem-Based Marine Spatial Management (EB-MSM) has gained momentum in recent years. Such an approach aims to recognize the whole array of interactions within an ecosystem, including human uses, to guarantee the ecosystem integrity and the sustainable use of ecosystem goods and services. Yet, its appropriate implementation often demonstrates a number of difficulties, but some virtuous experiences exist, deserving the attention of the research community.

This Special Issue aims to explore multiple ways for the implementation of EB-MSM, and to dig into critical issues determining the fate of the management initiatives. A non-exhaustive list of emerging study objects includes data gathering and computational optimization of the allocation of human uses (as well as the alternatives for dealing with data paucity), incorporation of traditional management practices, typology of the proof of evidence for assigning human uses to areas,  cost–benefit tradeoffs in each stakeholder category, public engagement in management processes and their legitimacy (or lack thereof), ways to handle power asymmetries among participants, and mechanisms for setting the rules by adopting proactive environmental strategies in a shared vision. Studies of EB-MSM implementation focusing on cross-realms management, as well as supporting collaboration between and within different national jurisdictions will be particularly welcome.

Dr. Tomás Vega Fernández
Dr. Lucia Rizzo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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