Background
The development of policy plans and integrated strategies for sustainable resource management is guided by international and regional initiatives, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans (RSCAPs). Such initiatives provide frameworks for addressing environmental concerns and serve as important guiding principles. To ensure effective implementation, additional agreements and comprehensive protocols are necessary, which need to be specifically tailored to address the challenges at national and local levels in various contexts.1 Policy plans can include, but are not limited to, supporting policy implementation, as well as the research and development of solutions to accelerate actions enhancing a just transition to more sustainable practises. Policy plans also provide the opportunity to foster capacity-building, awareness raising and international cooperation. Furthermore, these plans are designed to be living documents that continuously evolve and adapt strategies, considering responses captured through monitoring and stakeholder engagement efforts.