Beyond dumping on marine democracy: the environmental right of marine local ecological knowledge to support ecological health

Globally, marine communities remain marginalised from environmental management and governance, despite having valuable long term local ecological knowledge (LEK) of species, habitats and how they can be conserved from impacts. The article demonstrates the internationally significance of valuing LEK and integrating it into marine democracy. In England, marine communities including divers, fishers and conservationists are not recognised as potential contributors to decisions including port expansions. This research shows the benefits of integrating LEK to improve ecological health, and to solve dumping with beneficial use. This research critiques how knowledge is validated by existing hierarchies and works towards an emancipatory approach for LEK in coastal communities. It highlights that scientifically rooted intellectual prejudices about the creation of knowledge are connected to misunderstandings around the social processes of knowledge development, comparing two forms of marine LEK. Taking a Critical Realist approach, utilising focus groups, participatory cartography and sampling alongside semi structured interviews and participant observation, two contrasting cases are reflected upon in Cornwall and Essex in England. By detailing an improved process for parity of participation in marine decision making, it advocates for consideration of non-formal stakeholders highlighting socio-ecological risk. It suggests an updating of the Marine and Coastal Access Act to formally recognise the environmental rights of local communities to take part in decisions and suggests new institutional arrangements to achieve this