Summary: Collaborative and networked approaches to governance are increasingly recognised as an effective mechanism for enhancing the sustainable management of marine goods and services. For example, by improving stakeholder participation they facilitate learning, complex adaptive thinking and knowledge exchange among network members. However, despite increased interest in collaborative approaches to marine governance, the aspects that influence their effectiveness and efficiency, and the associated cost-benefits, are largely unknown. As such we cannot identify the conditions under which their application is most suited, or develop strategies to optimise their implementation. To address this knowledge gap, via the empirical investigation of multiple case studies this project will evaluate