Co-designing marine science beyond good intentions: support stakeholders' empowerment in transformative pathways. (14th September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cazé, Cosma; Mazé, Camille; Danto, Anatole; Saeedi, Hanieh; Lear, Dan; Suominen, Saara; Ginigini, Joape; Brodie, Gilianne; Korovulavula, Isoa; Pinto, Isabel Sousa
• Editors: Flannery, Wesley
• Is Part Of: ICES journal of marine science. Volume 80:Number 2(2023)
• Page Start: 374
• Page End: 377
• Publication Date: 2022-09-14
• Subjects: co-design -- indigenous and local knowledge -- science-policy -- social-ecological systems -- stakeholder engagement -- sustainability pathways; Ocean -- Periodicals; Fisheries -- Periodicals; Fishes -- Periodicals; Marine biology -- Bibliography -- Periodicals; 551.4605
• DOI: 10.1093/icesjms/fsac155
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1054-3139

Abstract

Abstract: Calls for science to innovate by including stakeholders' in the creation of marine knowledge have been rising, to create impact beyond laboratories and to contribute to the empowerment of local communities when interacting with marine and coastal ecosystems. As a transdisciplinary group of scientists working on co-designing research projects, this paper draws upon our experiences to further define the concept and seek to improve the process of co-design. We highlight the key barriers for co-design processes to contribute to increasing stakeholders' capacity to produce intended effects on marine policy. We suggest that stakeholder engagement requires overcoming the resistance to non-scientific knowledge sources and considering power asymmetries in the governance and management of the ocean. We argue that power and politics must be placed at the very heart of the production of a co-designed marine science and must be an aspect of the facilitation itself. In this paper, we aim to provide insights to navigate throughout the journey of stakeholder engagement, with the critical perspective necessary to make this process socially and environmentally effective.