Theorizing blue criminology: Mapping and coding the sea as case study in criminological theory

• In Event: Theoretical Perspectives in Critical Criminology

Abstract

In recent years, criminology has made significant strides in addressing issues related to the carceral seas (Ablo, 2022; Dickson, 2021; Gilmer & Dewey, 2022; Pickering, 2014; Stierl, 2021) and the multifaceted 'crimmigration' debates (Bosworth, 2017; Bosworth et al., 2018; Franko, 2019), which occasionally touch upon maritime contexts (Pickering, 2014). These discussions often remain anchored in a terrestrial paradigm, emphasizing national borders and crime control while critically evaluating global mobility (Aas & Bosworth, 2013). Additionally, criminological inquiries into piracy (Gilmer, 2017; Jacobsen & Larsen, 2019), illicit sea-borne trade and trafficking (Dorn et al., 2002; Picarelli, 2017), and illegal fishing (Petrossian & Pezzella, 2018) highlight the challenges of maritime crime control. Moreover, the rising interest in geo-coded ocean data demonstrates how the visualization of marine resources influences human decision-making (Boucquey et al., 2016, 2019), revealing areas where both critical criminology (control) and green criminology (harm) converge. However, criminology has yet to fully theorize the transformative impact of coding and spatializing the sea on human actions. Drawing inspiration from Steinberg & Peters (2015), this paper explores the extension of control beyond terrestrial confines, urging criminologists to more thoroughly examine the spatial, legal, and social intricacies of maritime environments.

Author

• Randi Solhjell, University of Oslo