The inner workings of collaboration in marine ecosystem-based management: A social network analysis approach Tiffany C. Smythe a,n , Robert Thompson b , Carlos Garcia-Quijano c a Department of Marine Affairs, University of Rhode Island, Upper College Road, Kingston, RI 02881, United States b Department of Marine Affairs, University of Rhode Island, Upper College Road, Kingston, RI 02881, United States c Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Rhode Island, Upper College Road, Kingston, RI 02881, United States article info Article history: Received 12 November 2013 Received in revised form 16 April 2014 Accepted 1 May 2014 Keywords: Ecosystem-based management Social network analysis Collaboration Social capital Brokers Marine resource management abstract Collaboration across sectors and disciplines is widely identified as essential for the implementation of ecosystem-based management (EBM) in both marine and terrestrial settings. However, relatively little research has examined the inner workings of collaborative marine EBM processes. Social network analysis (SNA) is a suite of methods for systematically analyzing and mapping relations between individuals or organizations, and can be used as a means of understanding the inner workings of collaboration. The authors applied SNA methods to cases of collaborative marine EBM planning in Rhode Island and New York, U.S.A., focusing on network structure and the role and influence of individual actors within their respective planning networks. Results highlighted the importance of diverse, decentralized networks of moderate density as well as the influence that bridging ties, or “brokers,” can wield in such processes. Research also found that non-governmental actors, such as university outreach specialists and scientists affiliated with environmental organizations, can be especially influential in collaborative marine EBM planning. This paper presents the results of this analysis, discusses the utility of this method for the analysis of collaborative marine EBM planning, and offers recommendations for future research and practice. & 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction The practice of ecosystem-based management (EBM), widely considered foundational to the comprehensive management of coastal and marine ecosystems [1], requires collaboration across jurisdictions, sectors, and disciplines [2,3]. However, the presence and effectiveness of such collaboration, within the context of the fragmented nature of coastal governance [4], requires further examination. While researchers have examined the implementa- tion of EBM in general [5,6], and plan quality in particular [7], little work has analyzed the inner workings of collaborative marine EBM processes and the role and influence of individual actors within EBM planning networks. Social network analysis (SNA) is a suite of methods for system- atically analyzing and mapping relations between individuals or organizations [8] and can be used as a means of understanding the inner workings of collaborative processes [9]. This study applied SNA methods to cases of marine EBM planning in Rhode Island and New York, U.S.A., focusing on practitioners themselves and their individual and collective roles within their respective plan- ning networks. 1 SNA was used to investigate one research ques- tion: What was the extent and nature of collaboration in the marine EBM planning process? This paper presents this study’s SNA methods and results, discusses the utility of this method for the analysis of collaborative marine EBM planning, and offers recommendations for future research and practice. 2. Collaboration and marine ecosystem-based management EBM generally refers to a comprehensive, integrated environ- mental management strategy that addresses the interactions between ecological processes and socioeconomic factors [1,12]. This approach represents a departure from sector- or activity- based management, and considers interactions between resources, activities, and sectors. EBM requires a diversity of perspectives and the incorporation of both ecological and social considerations, thus employing a systems perspective that embraces the complexity of human and natural systems [5]. By definition, EBM requires Contents lists available at ScienceDirect journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/marpol Marine Policy http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2014.05.002 0308-597X/& 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. n Corresponding author. Tel.: þ203 470 5569. E-mail address: tcs16@columbia.edu (T.C. Smythe). 1 This analysis was one part of a larger, mixed-methods study; see [10,11]. Marine Policy 50 (2014) 117–125