By Jasmine Antonucci
On World Oceans Day, it’s crucial to reflect on the state of our oceans and the pressing need for adaptive, science-based management. Climate change is accelerating, with rising sea levels, ocean acidification, and shifting marine species distributions. Traditional marine spatial planning (MSP) has often overlooked these dynamic changes. However, recent scientific dialogues, notably the roundtable discussion “Ocean Planning and Conservation in the Age of Climate Change,” published in Integrative Organismal Biology, emphasized the necessity of integrating climate considerations into ocean planning frameworks.
The voices included in this roundtable discussion were from a diverse group of scientists who study marine conservation and support sustainable Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) practices. These scientists demonstrate a passion for addressing global environmental change through their work and its connection to social issues. Through reading the dialogue and discussing it with our peers, we can work towards sustainable ocean planning on a global scale.
Listening to scientists from diverse backgrounds is essential. It provides a broader range of perspectives, experiences, and knowledge systems to the table especially in addressing complex global challenges such as climate change and ocean planning. Different cultural and regional experiences often shape how people observe and interact with the environment, leading to unique insights and innovative solutions that might otherwise be overlooked. Inclusive science not only enhances the quality and relevance of research but also ensures that policies and planning efforts reflect the needs and values of all communities, particularly those that are most vulnerable to environmental change. Embracing diversity in science strengthens both the credibility and effectiveness of our collective response to the planet’s most urgent issues.
As an up-and-coming scientist myself who grew up during the midst of a climate crisis, surrounded by diverse individuals facing various climate-related struggles, I cannot overstate the importance of MSP practices that consider the climate crisis. Climate change disproportionately affects low-income individuals and families, ethnic minorities, women, children, older adults, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions.
What exactly are Non-Sustainable and Sustainable Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) practices?
Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is a public process that analyzes the spatial and temporal distribution of human activities in marine areas. However, this roundtable discussion highlighted how this process does not practically integrate climate considerations.
Sustainable Marine Spatial Planning would enable climate issues to be considered in planning and decision-making, ensuring that the ocean can support human use today without compromising its ability to function and provide resources in the future. This concept is highlighted in the paper by UNESCO, the European Commission, and the World Bank. There is currently no official plan for Sustainable Marine Spatial Planning practices. However, this roundtable discussion opens up the idea of educating people who work in ocean management about sustainable marine spatial planning, thereby empowering them to apply their knowledge and tools to innovate and tailor solutions to the unique challenges of their regions. This kind of capacity-building fosters creativity and leadership, ultimately leading to transformative planning practices that can reshape how we manage ocean spaces for long-term environmental health and community well-being.
Organizations Currently Working Towards Sustainable Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) Practices:
Some organizations currently working toward more sustainable ocean planning include OCEANPLAN and PLAnT (Antarctica and the Southern Ocean), as mentioned in the paper. There are also many more organizations breaking barriers in bringing up climate issues in ocean planning.
The OceanPlan project is a three-year research initiative funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), aimed at exploring how Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) can both be affected by and adapt to the impacts of global climate change. The project focuses on enhancing the resilience and effectiveness of ocean planning strategies in a rapidly changing world, as Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) continues to be adopted globally as a tool for promoting sustainable ocean use.
Planning for Sustainable Ocean Use in Antarctica under Global Environmental Change is a cutting-edge research initiative funded by the European Research Council (ERC). This project focuses on the unique and rapidly changing marine environments of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, which are experiencing some of the most pronounced impacts of global climate change. PLAnT investigates both the opportunities and challenges involved in creating climate-smart Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) frameworks explicitly tailored to this fragile and remote region.
Both the OceanPlan and PLAnT projects are vital for advancing climate-smart Marine Spatial Planning, ensuring that ocean management adapts effectively to the challenges posed by global environmental change. By focusing on different but equally critical regions the global ocean and the Antarctic they provide valuable, region-specific insights that can inform sustainable policies worldwide.
Why should we care about our oceans and the impact we have on them?
The ocean supports the livelihoods of billions of people. Yet, human activity is pushing ocean systems to their limits: greenhouse gas emissions are warming and acidifying the water, overfishing is depleting marine life, and pollution from plastics to oil spills is affecting the ecosystem. Climate change is amplifying these impacts and collapsing fisheries, threatening the homes, food security, and economies of millions mainly coastal and island communities who have contributed the least to the problem but face the most significant risks.
Economically, ocean health affects industries such as fishing, tourism, and global trade; when marine ecosystems are degraded, jobs are lost, and vulnerable economies suffer the most. That’s why World Oceans Day is so important it’s a global reminder that the ocean’s health is not separate from our own. This day calls us to reflect and take meaningful action toward protecting our shared ocean. Caring for the ocean means caring for people and the future of a planet where both can thrive.
However, the values and reminders we take in from World Oceans Day should be something we carry with ourselves every day.
Connect with me
I’m an up-and-coming marine biologist and science communicator focused on ocean conservation, shark research, and inspiring the next generation through art and storytelling. Currently pursuing a B.S. in Biology at Eastern Connecticut State University (graduating Fall 2025), I’ve gained hands-on experience through research and work with institutions like the Atlantic Shark Institute, Block Island Maritime Institute, Rescue at Mystic Aquarium, and Yale Peabody Museum.
I also run @prjectfin on Instagram and a website where I share nature and research related content, and I’ve authored and illustrated two ocean-themed children’s books one of which was in partnership with the Block Island Maritime Institute. Long-term, I aim to pursue a Master’s and Ph.D. in marine biology to continue my shark research, as well as continue to combine science and creativity to drive positive change.
Instagram: @prjectfin
Integrative Organismal Biology 