Abstract
Marking the boundaries of Coastal and Marine Protected Areas (CMPA) through on-site visual tools (signs, barriers, buoys, etc.) is one of the communication techniques that managers may deploy to increase the visibility of their management area to the public. But while much research has focused on legal and conflict aspects associated with CMPA boundaries from the broader community perspective, less attention has been paid to how and why managers (do or do not) implement in-situ boundary-marking strategies in the field. Understanding the views of locally based CMPA managers can provide important additional insights into the various strengths and challenges of CMPA communication strategies in general. Using purposive sampling, we conducted in-depth interviews with 19 managers across four different CMPA types in France. The interviews focused on identifying the factors favoring the presence or absence of CMPA boundary marking strategies in a country where the public is generally unaware of CMPA locations and regulations. The results show that the marking of CMPA boundaries is influenced by three main trends. First, the protection and legal status of sites plays a decisive role, as it indirectly reflects different conceptions of nature protection (conservationism versus preservationism). Second, marking strategies are also shaped by local governance dynamics, in a context characterized by the overlap and accumulation of multiple protection statuses within the same territory, which complicates stakeholder interactions and coordination processes. Finally, some managers associate signage with the risk of CMPA over-visitation and are therefore reluctant to make their presence more visible, fearing an influx of visitors. In light of the issues identified, managers would benefit from further reflection on the potential contributions of boundary marking, even if only to clarify and harmonize their actual territorial branding strategies.