Making Marine Spatial Planning Matter

Abstract Over the last decade, Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) has become one of key components marine governance. In European Union, member states are working towards development their first plans under Maritime Directive. Internationally, UNESCO and Commission have launched MSP Global initiative to speed up implementation around world. is also framed as being a mechanism for sustainably realising benefits Blue Economy emerging Green Deals. During this same period, however, substantial body critical academic work emerged that questions whether will transform unsustainable governance management practices. This scholarship illustrates current trajectory many initiatives preserve status quo they fail adequately address longstanding issues. Drawing on Flyvbjerg’s vital treatise phronetic social science, chapter explore: where going; who gains loses, how do so; desirable, if not, what can be done make matter? I particularly focus mechanisms winning losing, characterising them tensions in processes unsettled more transformative.