Reflexivity and transformative change: empirical and theoretical insights from a special issue on reflexive marine governance

Marine governance faces unprecedented challenges; aquatic ecosystem degradation and increasing ocean industrialization are demanding an integrated response. Despite numerous new governance concepts introduced in recent years, ocean health continues to deteriorate. We argue that a transformation in governance is needed, one that addresses its own patterns and processes. This Special Issue explores reflexive marine governance as a means to reorient and redirect, using both theoretical and empirical insights. We find that reflexive governance requires a cognitive process of (social) learning and a capacity for transformative change across actor practices, governance arrangements, and socio-political structures. Reflexive processes—trigger, reflection, and change—can lead to structural transformation, but multi-level governance dynamics shape how actors can challenge stable structures. The contributions to this Special Issue clarify reflexive marine governance in four ways: (1) specifying who is being reflexive by identifying relevant actors; (2) recognizing triggers as internal or external, with effectiveness linked to actors’ change receptivity; (3) understanding that reflection and learning are necessary but insufficient for transformation; and (4) questioning dominant knowledge, practices, and power dynamics to reveal reflexivity's purpose. Addressing contemporary marine governance challenges requires finding spaces for reflexivity within societal structures to foster adaptive and sustainable change.