Understanding and categorising sociogovernance processes in Marine Protected Area management

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) play a vital role in conserving marine biodiversity and sustaining coastal livelihoods. As global commitments call for a rapid expansion of MPA networks, the challenge lies not only in designating new areas but in ensuring that MPAs are governed effectively, fairly, and with lasting support. This science brief introduces a goal-based framework categorising social and governance processes within MPA management. The framework helps managers and decision-makers to understand how engaging stakeholders contributes to MPA governance objectives and where they tend to lean toward top-down or bottom-up management approaches. By linking governance goals with practical processes and tools that support decision-making, the framework guides MPA management to be adaptive, inclusive, and grounded in both ecological priorities and the social realities that determine long-term success.