1. Introduction

This report forms part of the project "Local knowledge in marine spatial planning, green transition and digital transformation" (2024–2026), which examined how Indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) and local data can be better included in marine spatial planning (MSP) processes. As these processes become increasingly reliant on digital tools and data, there is growing concern that knowledge held by Indigenous and local communities, often not captured in digital formats, may be overlooked. The project sought to address this challenge by exploring the opportunities and barriers to integrating ILK into more digital planning systems and identifying what it takes to create more equitable and just processes. The research focused on coastal areas across the North Atlantic region, including Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Scotland. The project was funded by the Working Group for Fisheries (AG-Fisk) under the Nordic Council of Ministers.

Box 1:

This research project built on multiple outputs and activities:

A systematic literature review examining existing research on MSP, ILK and digital transformation, which formed the basis of the report “Integrating local knowledge and data in marine spatial planning and management - challenges and opportunities in the North Atlantic region“.
A two-day workshop held in Edinburgh, Scotland, in January 2025, bringing together researchers, practitioners, planners and local community representatives from the North Atlantic region to examine current MSP approaches, practices of ILK integration and the use of digital tools.
A one-day online workshop held in June 2025, involving experts from the region and focusing on evaluating project progress and shaping the direction of outputs.
A two-day hybrid writing workshop held in Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, in September 2025, gathering practitioners and researchers to collaboratively develop case studies and key learnings. This workshop forms the foundation of this report.
A policy brief summarising the key findings and messages from the project: “Integrating Indigenous and local knowledge in marine spatial planning – seven messages from the North Atlantic”.
Supporting this work, a stakeholder advisory board has been actively involved throughout the project.

1.1 Workshop background

In September 2025, a workshop was held in Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, serving as the culminating event of this research project. As the third in a series, the workshop was organised jointly by the University Centre of the Westfjords, Nordregio and the University of the Highlands and Islands and hosted by the University of the Faroe Islands. It brought together researchers and practitioners to reflect on how increasingly digital MSP processes can be designed to integrate local voices in more just and equitable ways.

Through a collaborative writing process, the workshop aimed to:

develop a shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities of integrating ILK into increasingly digital MSP processes
develop case stories and co-produce key messages from across the region
exchange knowledge and experiences across the North Atlantic countries.

The workshop was conducted in a hybrid format on 4–5 September 2025, bringing together participants from across the North Atlantic region both in person and online. Participants were selected based on geographical location, expertise and engagement in a previous workshop held in Scotland, January 2025.

Both days combined presentations, group discussions and collaborative writing sessions, with moderated discussions and small-group work ensuring active participation across both in-person and online formats. Participants developed case studies from their own contexts and collaboratively developed key learnings, drawing on academic insights and practical experiences from across the region. The draft report was circulated for final edits by 30 September 2025. A full schedule and list of participants are provided in Appendices 1 and 2.

1.2 Target group

This report is intended for marine planning authorities and professionals working in and with coastal communities across the North Atlantic region that are seeking to navigate the increasing digitalisation of MSP. It will be of particular interest to those responsible for integrating Indigenous and local communities into planning and management processes, including local authorities tasked with implementing national decisions at the local level. The report will also be of relevance to researchers working on participation and justice in marine governance, as well as to Indigenous and local communities and their representatives engaged in and affected by these processes.