Dr. Catarina Frazão Santos is a researcher and lecturer on marine planning at the Department of Animal Biology, University of Lisbon. With a background in marine biology and environmental management, her research focuses on the multiple dimensions of ocean sustainability, particularly the development of sustainable, adaptive and equitable marine spatial planning initiatives under global change.

Planning of marine areas is being developed worldwide to support ocean sustainability. However, a number of conceptual and practical challenges limit the effectiveness of developing and implementing MSP. On top of these challenges—and with a high potential to significantly exacerbate them—there is global climate change. Climate-induced changes in ocean conditions and marine ecosystems will affect the ways humans use the ocean. In order to respond to these changes and effectively support sustainable and equitable ocean use, MSP will need to integrate climate-related knowledge and foresee adaptation pathways. Under a changing ocean, we also need to ensure a paradigm shift towards MSP initiatives that truly support a healthy ocean, as without healthy and productive marine ecosystems we will not be able to ensure long-term socio-economic development and human well-being.