%0 journal article
%@ 0964-5691
%A Mayer, I.,Zhou, Q.,Lo, J.,Abspoel, L.,Keijser, X.,Olsen, E.,Nixon, E.,Kannen, A.

%D 2013
%J Ocean and Coastal Management
%N 
%P 7-26 
%R doi:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2013.04.006
%T Integrated, ecosystem-based Marine Spatial Planning: Design and results of a game-based, quasi-experiment
%U https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2013.04.006
 
%X The authors analyse the complexity of Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and explore the role that simulation gaming (SG) could play in addressing it. They present the set-up of and insights from a game-based, quasi-experimental study and policy intervention involving MSP. The simulation game MSP Challenge 2011 was played in Lisbon on 3 November 2011 by 68 international MSP professionals – mainly scientists, policy advisers and marine spatial planners – from 16 countries. Data on MSP in the various countries, as well as on the effectiveness of the policy intervention, were collected using pre-game, in-game and post-game questionnaires, combined with the analysis of MSP processes and outcomes in a digital map tool and observations. The analysis shows that MSP lends itself to comparative assessment in real and simulated environments. Observed variety and changes in the game-based intervention provide evidence that the participants engaged in experimentation with different strategies, policy change and policy-oriented learning. The game-based intervention proved an effective and promising method for national/international experimentation and exchange among professional MSP planners.