Participatory Mapping in Marine Resource Management
Summary
Participatory mapping integrates local and scientific knowledge to delineate marine spaces for conservation and resource use. It engages stakeholders—such as fishers, coastal communities and Indigenous peoples—in charting habitat distributions, fishing grounds and cultural sites. By combining spatial data from remote sensing, GIS tools and direct input from resource users, this approach fosters co-management and enhances legitimacy of regulatory measures. Outcomes include more nuanced spatial plans that reflect ecological variability, cultural values and livelihood needs. Over the past decade, participatory mapping has been applied at scales ranging from small-scale fisheries to expansive marine protected areas, demonstrating benefits such as improved compliance, social learning and adaptive management. However, challenges remain in standardising methodologies, addressing power imbalances and securing long-term funding. Future developments emphasise digital platforms, cross-cultural collaboration and integration with emerging technologies to support resilient, equitable marine governance worldwide.
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Participatory Mapping in Marine Resource Management publication trend
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Technical terms
Participatory mapping: A collaborative process in which local stakeholders contribute spatial information to create maps reflecting ecological, cultural and economic values.
Knowledge co-production: The joint development of understanding and solutions through iterative exchanges between scientists and stakeholders.
Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK): The cumulative, place-based insights and practices of Indigenous and local communities regarding their environment.
Marine spatial planning: A public policy framework organising human activities in marine areas to achieve ecological, economic and social objectives.
References
- Participatory research in complex marine conservation settings: A review of recent trends and lessons for the future. Ocean & Coastal Management (2024).
- Mapping the Marine Environment Through a Cross-Cultural Collaboration. Frontiers in Marine Science (2020).
- Combining participatory and socioeconomic approaches to map fishing effort in small-scale fisheries. PLOS ONE (2017).
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