Marine informational governance, a conceptual framework

Marine governance involves interaction between networks and actors from different types and levels of organizations. The concept of multi-level or network governance steps away from the assumptions that supra-national and national government at the macro level is the dominant policy making unit. At all levels information is crucial, among others to overcome social dilemmas of collective action in marine resource use and management. In this paper theories of multi-level governance, of collective action, of trust and of information economics will be linked to the idea of the increasing importance of information, information technologies and information processes in environmental governance, which is termed ‘informational governance’. This linking of theories and concepts results in a new and innovative framework to better understand the changing role of information in marine resource management, enterprises, institutions and actual practices of governance. The framework will help to investigate the effectiveness of informational governance in solving problems related to marine resources. ► Information technology is crucial in marine governance. ► ICT and globalization are fundamentally restructuring processes, institutions and practices of marine resource management. ► Conventional powers of authority are replaced by informational resources, flows, and processes. ► New governance arrangements and networks are emerging. ► A framework to study marine informational governance is presented.