Oluwatoba Oyerinade, PhD candidate, undertook a Short-Term Scientific Mission funded by the RethinkBlue COST Action, hosted by Prof. Kitsiou at the Laboratory of Environmental Quality and Geospatial Applications, Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, Greece.
The mission supported research examining how local communities perceive their engagement in Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) decision-making, and whether participatory processes offer meaningful opportunities to influence outcomes. Fieldwork took place on Lesvos Island, focusing on the Gera and Kalloni Bays. Oluwatoba interviewed local maritime actors, including small-scale fishers, tourism operators, conservation groups, local authorities, academics, salt-industry representatives, small businesses, and residents. Discussions explored experiences of past MSP participation, expectations for future engagement, and the barriers that limit meaningful involvement.
The visit enabled successful data collection and valuable exchanges with University of the Aegean researchers, who also helped connect the researcher with local stakeholders. Oluwatoba additionally attended research seminars at the university, broadening the academic and policy context of the work. The findings will contribute to a comparative analysis of MSP participation in Greece and the UK, with implications for more inclusive and effective maritime governance.
