Enabling a broad knowledge base for marine management decisions

Marine management decisions deal with complex biological and human political systems and are made in the context of competing demands for space and resources. Increasing the information base for marine management decision-making will improve the quality of those decisions.

The necessary information to make good decisions is often thought to be lacking, but this thinking is partially due to an over-reliance on quantitative data collected by standard methods. While mātauranga Māori is increasingly sought and citizen science is welcomed, narrative analysis and local knowledge are rarely used in decisions. Enabling a broader knowledge base is essential for fit-for-purpose, robust, and place-based outcomes.