Towards Inclusive Marine Spatial Planning: Analysis of Fishing Enterprises' Adaptive Capacity through the Lens of Capital in the Context of Spatial Competition

The expansion of marine development projects poses significant challenges in managing competing land uses. For years, land use planning has been a key component of territorial development strategies in Europe and North America. Now, as the complexity of managing maritime spaces increases, a similar approach is needed to integrate all stakeholders and address potential conflicts arising from spatial competition. Fishing businesses face these emerging challenges, highlighting the importance of inclusive and sustainable spatial planning.

A variety of tools can help incorporate stakeholders in these areas, one of which is the vulnerability index. This index combines social and economic factors to evaluate fishers’ vulnerability to spatial modifications resulting from these new maritime uses. The vulnerability is measured through three dimensions: the degree of exposure to risk, the sensitivity of stakeholders to that risk, and their adaptive capacity, which mitigates the first two dimensions.

This study aims to refine and enhance the application of the vulnerability assessment method by examining the capital-based adaptive capacity of fishing enterprises in the context of spatial competition. Through a case study of the fishing industry in Normandy, France, we reveal complex interconnections among physical, natural, human, social, and economic capitals, highlighting the nuanced ways these factors contribute to resilience. This capital-based approach not only enriches the vulnerability index but also offers a more robust framework for inclusive marine spatial planning, to better address the specific needs of fishing communities amidst expanding marine development projects.