Two decades of research on ocean multi-use: achievements, challenges and the need for transdisciplinarity

This paper offers a comprehensive, analytical, and critically informed overview of the current state of ocean multi-use research. It delves into the origins, trajectory, and driving forces behind this emerging research field, within the broader context of managing increasingly diverse and intensifying activities at sea. The Bibliometrix R package is employed to analyze the social, geographical, and conceptual dimensions of multi-use scientific production, and results are compared to a larger corpus focusing on multiple-use Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Marine Spatial Planning (MSP). The paper identifies research gaps, emphasizing the transdisciplinary challenges of translating this marine policy concept into practice and extending its application beyond European seas.