Using Public Participation GIS (PPGIS) to relate local concerns over growth in tourism and aquaculture to integrated coastal zone management in the Tromsø region, Norway

Abstract

Blue growth has been promoted as a strategy for generating jobs and welfare in Europe. Aquaculture and coastal tourism, which both fall under EU's blue growth strategy, have expanded in the last two decades raising environmental concerns and conflicts with traditional uses in coastal communities. In Norway, inter-municipal coastal zone planning aims to balance the different interests and concerns deriving from growth in aquaculture and tourism, but their potential to mitigate local concerns has rarely been examined. In this study, we invited 1312 participants from the Tromsø region to identify locations of concern relating to a growing aquaculture and tourism industry using an online Public Participation GIS (PPGIS) platform. We compared the PPGIS data over present and future concerns with areas designated for aquaculture and tourism in the recent coastal zone plan (for the years 2023–2033). We also inquired about people's opinions about growth in marine industries, and background information. Participants mapped 115 markers for concerns over aquaculture and 63 locations for concerns over tourism. The participation rate was 9.4 %. A majority of spatial concerns were mapped in close proximity to aquaculture and tourism zones. Most participants preferred a decrease in salmon aquaculture and were neutral about other kinds of aquaculture. They were neutral or preferred to decrease tourist fishing and cruise tourism, whereas attitudes to other coastal tourism were more positive. Finally, we discuss the use of PPGIS to collect spatial information from a large range of participants to inform coastal planning about present and future concerns over development.