Coastal and Marine Governance and Protection, 2nd Edition
A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Oceans and Coastal Zones".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 April 2026 | Viewed by 9
Special Issue Editors
Interests: beach certification schemes; coastal heritage; scientific tourism; coastal tourism; beach management; integrated coastal zone management; marine spatial planning; coastal legislation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: land-use planning; coastal boundaries; coastal risk; multi-hazards; vulnerabilities; and urban risk analysis; governance and public policy issues; coastal pollution; integrated ecosystems management; urban resilience in small island and coastal cities; integrated coastal zone management; tourism and sustainable development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: environmental planning; coastal law and policy; marine protected areas; adaptation to climate change and sea level rise; marine policy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The development of robust coastal and marine policies is a critical foundation for effective governance and sustainable development. However, many regions worldwide continue to grapple with the absence, inadequacy, or fragmented implementation of such legal and governance frameworks. This Special Issue seeks to address these challenges by compiling innovative research and practical experiences from across the globe.
We welcome original research papers, reviews, and case studies that explore novel approaches and evidence-based solutions. The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:
- Comparative Legal and Policy Frameworks: Analyses of coastal and marine legislation, including critical reviews, identification of best practices, and cross-national comparisons.
- Innovative Risk Governance: Novel models and methods for multi-hazard risk assessment, management, and governance in coastal and marine environments.
- Citizen Science and Community Training: Methodologies and empirical experiences involving citizen science, capacity building, and the training of coastal communities in environmental monitoring and stewardship.
- Sustainable Blue Tourism: Critical assessments and innovative models for a sustainable and resilient blue tourism industry that balances economic benefits with ecological and social integrity.
- Digital Transformation in Governance: Examinations of the growing impact of AI, social media, and mass media on public perception, policy-making, and participatory coastal governance.
- Adaptive Governance Structures: Models for adaptive and complex governance that can respond to social, economic, and environmental changes, including climate change.
- Inclusive Participatory Processes: Mechanisms and case studies demonstrating the effective integration of local communities, fishers, women, youth, and indigenous peoples in coastal decision-making processes, with a focus on environmental justice.
- Policy Instruments and Spatial Planning: Evaluations of public policy tools, economic instruments, and marine spatial planning strategies for integrated coastal zone and river basin management.
- Technology for Participatory Governance: Applications of innovative technologies—such as satellite data, artificial intelligence, and geographic information systems (GIS)—to support transparent, data-driven, and participatory decision-making.
By synthesizing diverse perspectives, this Special Issue aims to advance the theoretical and practical tools available to policymakers, scientists, and communities dedicated to the effective governance and protection of our world's vital coastal and marine ecosystems.
Dr. Camilo M. Botero
Prof. Dr. Celene B. Milanes
Prof. Dr. Daniel O. Suman
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Water is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- coastal governance
- citizen science
- participatory management
- blue economy
- adaptive risk management
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Related Special Issue
- Coastal and Marine Governance and Protection in Water (10 articles)
