Learning from Experience: Lessons from Community-based Engagement for Improving Participatory Marine Spatial Planning

Marine spatial planning (MSP) is critiqued for inadequate stakeholder engagement practices, particularly determining community-level interests. Community foundational to community planning, a local-level process in terrestrial planning. This study compared the experiences of practitioners local and national-level organizations Nova Scotia, Canada, likely participate MSP participatory best practice principles identified environmental management literature. Giving more attention knowledge skills government groups could strengthen practices MSP, link marine increase relevance coastal development.