How can local communities benefit from and be involved in marine spatial planning (MSP) was the top-of-mind question at a one-day workshop at Dalhousie University in Halifax on Thursday, 22 February 2024. Over 70 participants including representatives of non-governmental organizations, Mi’kmaw organizations, industry, academia, and government, and interested members of the public spent the day […]
Public Policy & Decision Making
New Paper: An Ocean Science-Policy Interface Standing the Test of Time
Since its establishment in 1969 by the United Nations, the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP) has been “providing authoritative, independent, interdisciplinary scientific advice to organisations and governments to support the protection and sustainable use of the marine environment.” GESAMP’s “first major task was to provide the main […]
Living in a Global Environmental Emergency Ward: The Need to Address Problems with Science, Action, and Speed
As the 2023 summer came to an end eastern Canada was in the midst of another hurricane season. By then, three storms had barreled up the Atlantic coast, with post-tropical storm Lee hitting the region directly. These storms followed several months of unsettled weather, resulting in Nova Scotia being marred by wildfires, excessive rain, unusual […]
New Paper: Measuring Engagement with Shark Research in Science, News and Social Media, and Policy: A Bibliometric Analysis
What does research say about the shark species that navigate oceans all over the world? Is it critical to protect them? Does relevant scientific knowledge make its way to policymakers and journalists alike? In a study published on 13 September 2023 in Marine Policy, an internationally renowned journal dealing with marine affairs, we analyzed the […]
Making Connections: The 2023 Coastal Zone Canada Conference
“Connecting with the coast” was an apt theme for the biennial Coastal Zone Canada (CZC) conference held in Victoria, British Columbia on 11-15 June 2023. Officially endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade and attended by about 500 registrants, the conference offered many opportunities for coastal, professional, and personal connections. Over four days of concurrent sessions […]
The Impact of Public Consultations on Decision-Making: A Necessary Source of Information
As governments are faced with solving increasingly complex social issues, recognition is growing that research-based information alone cannot resolve these issues. Public consultation is a vital source of information to understand citizen and stakeholder interests better and incorporate diverse considerations into policy development. Along with these benefits, public consultation involves many challenges. It is a […]
The Role of News and Social Media in Influencing Information and Policy
News media and social media have emerged as two tools for providing the public with greater access to information, current events, and relevant issues. While this development has created the prospect of a more informed public, it has also provided the opportunity for news media and other media platforms to influence information and the political […]
What is “Evidence” in Evidence-Based Policy? Brief Discussion of Selected Recent Literature
In today’s post-pandemic world where evidence-based decision making has gained extensive public prominence, understanding how evidence is defined helps to explain why reference is frequently made about its use in many and diverse settings and why evidence can be contested. In this blog post, we summarize and integrate the key findings of six recent academic […]
A Place for Communities in Marine Spatial Planning
Marine spatial planning (MSP) is being implemented in a growing number of countries globally. The Canadian federal government, through the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), is in the midst of marine spatial planning for five marine planning areas in Canadian waters, including three in Atlantic Canada. The first product in this planning initiative is […]
Inspirational Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5), Vancouver, 3-9 February 2023
Since the declaration of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), an incredible push to address biodiversity loss and climate change has become widespread. As part of efforts to ensure ocean protection, the Fifth International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5) was held in Vancouver, Canada from 3-9 February 2023. Attendees represented […]