Dr. Peter Jones is an internationally recognised expert on the governance of human uses of marine ecosystems, particularly related to marine protected areas (MPAs) and marine spatial planning (MSP). His research takes a highly transdisciplinary approach, in embracing the complexities, uncertainties, conflicts and high stakes associated with growing societal and scientific concerns about increasing pressures on marine ecosystems. His applied research combines social and natural science perspectives and is undertaken with the participation of people that use our seas and that manage such uses. He takes an empirical approach based on many case studies around the world, which are analysed as social-ecological systems through the lens of coevolutionary governance. His research is both critical, in that it questions theories, concepts, policies, practices, etc, and constructive, in that it proposes alternative theories, concepts, policies and practices that are more grounded in reality. His applied research outputs (e.g. Jones et al 2024,  UNEP 2019) are relevant to real-world policies and practices, as well as related academic debates, though firmly rooted in the former. He is particularly interested in coevolutionary governance approaches that combine the role of people, markets and governments and that promote the mutual resilience of social-ecological systems. Closer to home, he grounds and applies his research in his capacity as chair of the Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority.