Dynamic Ocean Management: Identifying the Critical Ingredients of Dynamic Approaches to Ocean Resource Management

TLDR

Dynamic ocean management uses near‑real‑time data to guide the spatial distribution of commercial activities, aiming to balance resource use and conservation while addressing ocean variability and achieving objectives such as quota control, bycatch reduction, and minimizing interactions with conservation species. The study presents prominent examples of dynamic ocean management to illustrate its utility, achievements, challenges, and potential. Key ingredients for successful implementation include regulatory frameworks, incentive structures, stakeholder participation, and technology aligned with user capabilities.

Abstract

Dynamic ocean management, or management that uses near real-time data to guide the spatial distribution of commercial activities, is an emerging approach to balance ocean resource use and conservation. Employing a wide range of data types, dynamic ocean management can be used to meet multiple objectives—for example, managing target quota, bycatch reduction, and reducing interactions with species of conservation concern. Here, we present several prominent examples of dynamic ocean management that highlight the utility, achievements, challenges, and potential of this approach. Regulatory frameworks and incentive structures, stakeholder participation, and technological applications that align with user capabilities are identified as key ingredients to support successful implementation. By addressing the variability inherent in ocean systems, dynamic ocean management represents a new approach to tackle the pressing challenges of managing a fluid and complex environment.