Integrating local knowledge and data in marine spatial planning and management - Challenges and opportunities in the North Atlantic Region.

On the 20-21th of January 2025, the workshop Integrating Local Knowledge
and Data in Marine Spatial Planning and Management – Challenges and
Opportunities in the North Atlantic Region was held at the Scottish Government
offices in Victoria Quays, Edinburgh, Scotland. The event was hosted by the
Scottish Government and organised by the University of Highlands and Islands
Shetland, the University Centre of the Westfjords and Nordregio, and funded by
the Nordic Council of Ministers’ AG-Fisk working group. With the aim of exchanging knowledge between North Atlantic countries, the
workshop brought together planners, practitioners, technical experts,
researchers and community representatives. The two-day programme
combined presentations, panel sessions and group discussions.
The workshop focused on marine spatial planning and management approaches
in the North Atlantic region, the opportunities and challenges associated
with integrating Indigenous and local knowledge into these processes and the
ways in which digital tools and data use influence this integration. This report
summarises the background information shared with participants prior to the
event and provides an overview of the key themes and insights that emerged
during the discussions.