Business Case for Integrated Marine Planning

Undertaken for World Wildlife Fund and Canadian Parks & Wilderness Society (BC) | 2009

The business case for integrated marine planning is an important piece for motivating all "communities of interest" to encourage and participate in IMP. The current knowledge base regarding the business case for integrated marine planning in the published literature is non-existent. I was unable to find a single document focused on the business case for integrated marine planning. As a result, I constructed the elements of the business case for integrated marine planning based on the ideas expressed in the literature reviewed, discussions with Advisory Group members, interviews with case study informants, and my own thinking on the subject.

The business case for integrated marine planning rests on four substantive outcomes offered by such processes: less conflict with other (consumptive and non-consumptive) users; less risk, leading to greater predictability of costs; increased clarity of obligations; and improved odds of success.

To a lesser but still important degree, the business case for integrated marine planning rests also on features and characteristics of the process, namely: participation in planning and decision-making; transparency of planning and decision-making; understanding the interests and aspirations of other communities of interest; greater trust among communities of interest; and greater fairness.  

Finally, benefits associated with integrated marine planning include: improved knowledge of the marine environment, marine industries and businesses, and other ocean users.