Kessler, Brianne Leigh.

National Ocean Service (NOS)

Stakeholder participation -- Regulatory requirements for participation -- Process design -- Participatory mechanisms -- Factors to consider during process design -- How to evaluate participatory processes -- Summary of findings -- Conclusions.

Literature review conducted to gain lessons from participatory processes across various environmental fields, to help MPA managers determine what type of stakeholder participation process and participatory mechanisms may be most appropriate for their needs in designating and developing MPAs. Discusses benefits and challenges to stakeholder involvement, regulatory requirements for participation, and participatory processes and process evaluation, including state of the available research on participatory process evaluation.