Content area
Full Text
ABSTRACT
Ferreira, M.A.; Johnson, D.; and Pereira da Silva, C., 2016. Measuring success of Ocean governance: a set of indicators from Portugal. In: Vila-Concejo, A.; Bruce, E.; Kennedy, D.M., and McCarroll, R.J. (eds.), Proceedings of the 14th International Coastal Symposium (Sydney, Australia). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 75, pp. 982 - 986. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.
Evaluating the success of marine spatial planning (MSP) remains a challenging task. Portugal, one of the world's largest maritime nations, with its recent ocean governance framework, is an ideal case study for the development of an evaluation mechanism for MSP. This paper presents a brief characterization of Portugal's maritime area and of its legal regime, and a methodology for defining and selecting a set of indicators to evaluate MSP once it has been operational for a number of years. The resulting set of indicators is discussed, as are prospects for their development and generalization.
ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS: Maritime spatial planning, Portugal, indicators.
INTRODUCTION
Ocean governance frameworks, including marine spatial planning (MSP), are increasingly being developed and implemented wordwide (Cicin-Sain et al., 2015; Ehler, 2014). They are prompted by a growing competition for space and resources in this "last frontier" environment - the ocean, seen as a promising new source of opportunities, "an inexhaustible cornucopia" (Norse, 2005, p.423). However, they are also coupled with the recognition that the intensification of maritime activities has the potential to increase conflicting situations, and degrade the marine environment, upon which all of us depend (IOC, 2006). As such, evaluating the success of integrated ocean management initiatives, generally aimed at achieving sustainable use of the marine environment and its resources, is of the utmost importance (Ehler, 2014; IOC, 2006).
Evaluation is often achieved based on sets of indicators, understood as "quantitative/qualitative statements or measured/observed parameters that can be used to describe existing situations and measure changes or trends over time" (IOC, 2006, p. 11). In a management context, indicators should be directly linked to intended objectives (Day, 2008; Douvere and Ehler, 2011). They should also be measurable, interpretable and understandable, sensitive to changes in relevant aspects and responsive to management actions, be based on established scientific theory, and be cost-effective; to be manageable and effective, an ideal set should comprise as...