From seeds to scenarios: Co-creating brighter marine futures in Nova Scotia, Canada

Marine ecosystems underpin human well-being and offer essential ecosystem services but continue to face challenges due to human-induced pressures. In Nova Scotia, where cultural identity and economic resilience are dependent on marine resources, there is a growing need for innovative and inclusive approaches to marine management. This research uses participatory future visioning to explore positive, sustainable, and equitable pathways for ocean use in Nova Scotia through 2050, in collaboration with a group of Nova Scotian residents, predominantly composed of youth and early-career researchers invested in marine sustainability. Using the Manoa Mash-Up Method and principles of participatory action research, three “brighter future” scenarios and roadmaps for getting there were cogenerated. The brighter future scenarios were created from “seeds,” marginal but promising societal initiatives or ideas, that could guide transitions toward sustainable and socially just marine practices. A backcasting approach (i.e., how to get there) highlights the importance of community empowerment, inclusive governance, localized economic growth, and innovative ocean education. This study contributes an important case study to a growing body of participatory future visioning research, demonstrating the method's potential for fostering collaboration and guiding localized strategies towards a sustainable marine future.