Documenting the Undocumented: The Case for Integrating Local Water Ownership Into Marine Governance in Åland

Efforts to protect marine and coastal environments in Åland, Finland, increasingly emphasise integrating local water ownership into formal governance. This study examines how such integration can be strengthened, particularly in contexts where privately owned coastal waters and established management traditions are highly significant. By using Avelino’s empowerment framework, with a mixed-methods approach, the study addresses two questions: What approaches can be employed to identify biologically valuable marine areas in Åland that are not currently recognised or justified by the government? And what evidence-based recommendations can be formulated to support durable and reciprocal communication between governmental authorities and water owners in Åland? Findings show that despite Åland’s small-scale society and proximity between administrative institutions and citizens, systematic dialogue, co-creation, and data sharing remain limited. Many water owners actively restrict fishing rights to protect spawning habitats, creating ecologically important areas that remain largely undocumented in official frameworks. Challenges include outdated legislation, fragmented institutional structures, unclear enforcement responsibilities, and uneven power relations. Strong community engagement through commoning, active water shareholders’ associations, and rich local traditional knowledge offer important capacities for more collaborative governance. Strengthening Åland’s water governance requires transparent data systems, formal recognition of locally enforced conservation practices, accessible legal guidance, and stable funding for monitoring and restoration. Water ownership alone does not ensure effective management; inclusive governance and mechanisms linking local ecological management to social or economic benefits are essential. Supporting local management can help mobilise areas beyond government and reach future conservation goals.