Identifying gaps and opportunities in marine spatial planning: A case study in Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste's marine ecosystems within the Coral Triangle host exceptional biodiversity, supporting subsistence and commercial fisheries that provide food security and livelihoods for coastal communities. The government’s Blue Economy prioritisation is driving National Ocean Policy revisions, including a new Blue Economy Policy and Action Plan. As Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) emerges as a crucial mechanism to reconcile conservation, sustainable use, and economic development, we systematically evaluated Timor-Leste's MSP readiness through a participatory stakeholder survey engaging policymakers, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), practitioners, and private sector. Our analysis assessed governance frameworks, data and information availability, stakeholder participation, resource constraints, conflict management, and technical capacity. Key findings reveal significant knowledge gaps, fragmented governance frameworks, and critical data deficiencies. Implementation barriers include resource limitations, technical skill shortages and inter-agency coordination challenges. Promising solutions involve targeted training, participatory approaches, and collaborative data platforms through a strategic implementation approach. These gap identifications and opportunities provide critical insights for Timor-Leste’s MSP advancement, establishing a framework to enhance marine governance and achieve sustainable ocean management in alignment with the National Ocean Policy.