Abstract

This paper presents the first analysis of the intersection between marine spatial planning (MSP) and ocean accounting (OA) to identify operational opportunities and barriers for co-development. The study presents a global review of OA and MSP related activities and performs a SWOT analysis of their implementation within five case countries (Australia, Canada, Portugal, South Africa, and Thailand). 26 countries were identified to have completed, or are progressing, OA and MSP, of which only two countries demonstrated an overlap between frameworks. Within countries with completed MSP, there were no clear links between the policy use-cases of both frameworks (i.e., focus on the ocean economy or ecosystem conservation). In-depth analyses of five countries identified both opportunities and barriers through similar policy drivers, data sharing and shared implementing institutions.

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