Negotiating marine protected areas across knowledge systems: multilateral boundary work in practice

Abstract Ecologically or biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs) are scientific labels for marine areas that need protection. This designation encourages the establishment of marine protected areas but lacks enforcement measures. EBSAs are defined by experts who use both Indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) and science at regional workshops hosted by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). They have caused dissent between states at CBD negotiations, almost stalling the whole EBSA process. Scholars have not yet studied how experts actually define EBSAs, although this is needed to untangle collaboration and competition practices that shape international marine biodiversity protection. To fill this gap, our research follows a constructivist and cognitivist perspective in International Relations and applies the concepts of ‘boundary work’ and ‘boundary objects’, together with insights from practice theories, to study the EBSA process and its outcome. We introduce the concept of ‘composite’ boundary objects, which mainly facilitate collaboration on some sites, while triggering competition on other sites. We draw on evidence from four regional workshops and interviews to reconstruct on-site boundary practices as performed by experts. Despite their collective efforts towards collaboration at regional workshops, competing interests are deeply embedded in the EBSA process, hindering the protection of marine biodiversity, the integration of science and ILK, and environmental justice.