Advancing Ocean Equity

Local and indigenous community participation in coastal conservation lags when initiatives fail to adequately recognize the rights, diversity and impacts on affected groups, and overlook how local contextual factors (e.g. cultural norms, exclusive policies), often caused by limited understanding of what equitable governance is, or how and when it leads to positive social and ecological outcomes.

Our project will synthesize and generate insights on the nature and influence of equity in governance across multiple coastal contexts and sectors. We will develop pragmatic tools to support practitioners designing, implementing, and evaluating equitable ocean initiatives, addressing local barriers and ensuring genuinely inclusive outcomes.