Ocean Governance (Beyond) Borders
Can Borders in the Ocean Respond to Climate Change?
This chapter discusses whether and how climate change as a global challenge and discourse is related to the role of oftentimes-static conservation logics in marine protection. Based on an interdisciplinary, multi-sited project, the chapter explores the role climate change plays in Marine Protected Area (MPA) governance. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are, bluntly speaking, nothing but lines drawn on an ocean map. The viability of MPAs in terms of achieving long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services within and beyond these lines, is debated. While under debate, there is an immense push to increase the number and size of protected areas in the oceans. Drawing on experiences from MPAs of differing ages in the Dutch Caribbean, demarcation and delimitation dynamics are explored: how are conservation boundaries informed and designed and what do they mean to human and non-human entities. It does so to critically discuss the place of bordering in the repertoire of ocean governance approaches in the context of climatic change. Unpacking these challenges, even without climate change as additional stressor, makes the push for more protected areas seem a hasty next step.