Participatory community mapping to include sociocultural dimensions in ocean governance

Methods to include sociocultural dimensions in ocean governance are important, but not well developed. Here we provide a methodology for participatory community mapping of sociocultural dimensions attached to the ocean and coast. The research adapted a mapping methodology with 65 local coastal community members as co-researchers in three focus areas of South Africa, embracing deep and careful work to contextualise the process. Specifically, we propose a seven-step process; (1) scoping, (2) learning, (3) categorising, (4) mapping, (5) digitising, (6) validating, and (7) integrating. Results show that this process is able to identify a mosaic of sociocultural dimensions that should be better accounted for in ocean governance processes and highlights the importance of mapping both the past and the future. We discuss the lessons we learned from the participatory mapping process, as well as the limitations and opportunities in attempting to map something as complex and dynamic as people’s sociocultural connections to the ocean and coast. Of critical importance is the opportunity for communities to self-identify and co-develop the mapping categories and legends, particularly in contexts where coastal communities have been and continue to be excluded and forcibly removed from the coast. Our methods provide an important first step to ensure that local communities’ sociocultural priorities, knowledges and interests inform ocean governance processes such as marine spatial planning and marine protected area design and management, not only in South Africa, but also at regional and global scales.