Integrating social-ecological values into marine protected area spatial planning

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are useful tools for balancing complex social-ecological interactions and human demands on marine ecosystems when the overall intention is to support long-term social-ecological resilience. Historically, the design of MPAs have been skewed towards ecological values and principles, but recently focus has widened to the identification, protection, and inclusion of the social and economic values of key stakeholders into marine protected area spatial planning. However, there are very few applied studies to date that have achieved this, and included a wide range of stakeholder groups. Even rarer has been the integration of ecological spatial with this social data to create holistic snapshots of social and ecological assets for modelling MPA design vulnerability and adaptation. Using the Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park (PSGLMP) in New South Wales (NSW) Australia as a case study, this PhD research was grounded in social-ecological theoretical principles that utilised mixed-methods participatory mapping interviews with a diversity of stakeholder groups. These groups spanned commercial and recreational fishers, Aboriginal Traditional Owners, tourism business operators, non-government organisations (NGOs), scientists, and marine resource managers. Data were analysed using novel combinations of fuzzy-set GIS multi-criteria evaluation methods and network analyses to develop a spatial representation and in-depth analysis of stakeholder uses, values, and ecological knowledge. These outputs were then used to assess how the current MPA spatial plan supports social-ecological objectives, and make predictions of how the current plan may support long-term social-ecological resilience. The overall objective of this research thesis was to create a balanced social-ecological spatial understanding of a Marine Protected Area (MPA) as a model for expanding the values on which to develop equitable spatial management plans to support social-ecological resilience. To meet this overall objective, there were four aims that have each been written as standalone peer-reviewed articles using data collected in interviews with stakeholders. These aims were to: 1) identify the key knowledge gaps within social-ecological marine spatial planning using a literature review, 2) create a spatial understanding of the social context and dynamics of an MPA, 3) collate and develop a high-quality spatial ecological understanding of an MPA, and 4) integrate social and ecological into a predictive analysis of how a spatial management plan can support long-term social-ecological resilience in a coastal ecosystem. Collectively, these individual published chapters and the overarching theoretical outcomes of this thesis provide a novel spatial modelling method used to represent key biodiversity values and a diversity of stakeholder uses and values. The method demonstrates that MPAs within Australia and around the world are needed to protect marine ecosystems alongside supporting the social and economic needs of people who depend on their marine environments for their livelihoods and wellbeing. Outcomes of this thesis research have been applied to the review of the PSGLMP management plan, which is a pilot for assessment of better management of the NSW coastal MPAs under the NSW Marine Estate Management Strategy (2018-2028). Future priorities arising from this research include testing the method on MPAs across Australia, development of the GIS models to include greater integration of freshwater social-ecological influences, and developing these frameworks into three-dimensional models that better reflect cultural understandings and marine ecosystem processes. Overall, the outcomes of this research reflect the cultural importance and depth of knowledge of stakeholders of the marine environment, which needs to be respected and supported through the development of balanced MPAs that support social-ecological resilience