Marine Spatial Planning
Encyclopedia
Marine spatial planning is a tool that brings together multiple users of the ocean – including energy, industry, government, conservation and recreation – to make informed and coordinated decisions about how to use marine resources sustainably. MSP uses maps to create a more comprehensive picture of a marine area – identifying where and how an ocean area is being used and what natural resources and habitat exist.
Through the planning and mapping process of a marine ecosystem, planners can consider the cumulative effect of maritime industries on our seas, seek to make industries more sustainable and proactively minimize conflicts between industries seeking to utilise the same sea area. The intended result of MSP is a more coordinated and sustainable approach to how our oceans are used – ensuring that the seas marine resources and services are utilised, but within clear environmental limits to ensure marine ecosystems remain healthy and biodiversity is conserved.
. Numerous countries around the globe are embracing this tool to combat crowded usage of their territorial sea waters.
The United Kingdom's Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has developed a commonly used definition:
The main elements of marine spatial planning include an interlinked system of plans, policies
and regulations; the components of environmental management systems (e.g. setting
objectives, initial assessment, implementation, monitoring, audit and review); and some of the
many tools that are already used for land use planning
. Whatever the building blocks, the
essential consideration is that they need to work across sectors and give a geographic
context in which to make decisions about the use of resources, development, conservation
and the management of activities in the marine environment (JMPMU 55, 2007).
Effective marine spatial planning has essential attributes:
defined arrangements for a new system of marine management, including the introduction of marine spatial planning, across the UK. Although the new system comprises the principles of marine spatial planning as articulated by the European Commission
, it is commonly referred to in the UK simply as 'marine planning'.
Among the Government's stated aims for the new marine planning system is to ensure that coastal areas, the activities within them and the problems they face are managed in an integrated and holistic way. This will require close interaction with town and country planning regimes and, in England and Wales, the new regime for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects
(NSIPs) in key sectors, such as energy and transport.
and Northern Ireland Executive
are seeking to achieve in the marine area in securing the UK vision of 'clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas.'
The MPS is the framework for preparing Marine Plans and taking decisions that affect the marine environment in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It will also set the direction for new marine licensing and other authorisation systems in each administration. It is proposed that the draft MPS, which was subject to consultation in 2010, will be formally adopted as Government policy in 2011.
(MMO), which started work in April 2010. The MMO will deliver UK marine policy objectives for English waters through a series of statutory Marine Plans and other measures. The first Marine Plans will start to be prepared by the MMO on adoption of the MPS in 2011. The UK Government's Consultation on a marine planning system for England document provides, for the benefit of the MMO and other interested parties, more detail on the scope, structure, content and process envisaged for each Marine Plan.
Some individual states have already undertaken MSP initiatives:
The goal is to institute a comprehensive approach to ocean resource management that supports ecosystem health and economic vitality, balances current ocean uses, and considers future needs. This will be accomplished by determining where specific ocean uses will be permitted and which ocean uses are compatible.
An executive order directed the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development to work with stakeholders and scientists to prepare a plan for ocean energy development (also known as wave energy). This plan was then to be adopted as part of the Oregon Territorial Sea Plan.
The state has appointed an advisory committee and expects to adopt the plan in early 2010. It will include mandatory policies for state and federal agency decisions with regard to locating ocean energy facilities in the Oregon Territorial Sea.
Through the planning and mapping process of a marine ecosystem, planners can consider the cumulative effect of maritime industries on our seas, seek to make industries more sustainable and proactively minimize conflicts between industries seeking to utilise the same sea area. The intended result of MSP is a more coordinated and sustainable approach to how our oceans are used – ensuring that the seas marine resources and services are utilised, but within clear environmental limits to ensure marine ecosystems remain healthy and biodiversity is conserved.
Definition and concept
There are a number of definitions for marine spatial planning. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, marine spatial planning is a public process of analyzing and allocating the spatial and temporal distribution of human activities in marine areas to achieve ecological, economic, and social objectives that usually have been specified through a political process. Essentially, marine spatial planning is a planning tool that enables integrated, forward-looking and consistent decision-making on the use of the seaSea
A sea generally refers to a large body of salt water, but the term is used in other contexts as well. Most commonly, it means a large expanse of saline water connected with an ocean, and is commonly used as a synonym for ocean...
. Numerous countries around the globe are embracing this tool to combat crowded usage of their territorial sea waters.
The United Kingdom's Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has developed a commonly used definition:
“strategic, forward-looking planning for regulating, managing and protecting the marine environment,including through allocation of space, that addresses the multiple, cumulative, and potentially conflicting uses of the sea” (DEFRA, 2004,3)
The main elements of marine spatial planning include an interlinked system of plans, policies
and regulations; the components of environmental management systems (e.g. setting
objectives, initial assessment, implementation, monitoring, audit and review); and some of the
many tools that are already used for land use planning
Land use planning
Land-use planning is the term used for a branch of public policy encompassing various disciplines which seek to order and regulate land use in an efficient and ethical way, thus preventing land-use conflicts. Governments use land-use planning to manage the development of land within their...
. Whatever the building blocks, the
essential consideration is that they need to work across sectors and give a geographic
context in which to make decisions about the use of resources, development, conservation
and the management of activities in the marine environment (JMPMU 55, 2007).
Effective marine spatial planning has essential attributes:
- Multi-objective. Marine spatial planning should balance ecological, social, economic, and governance objectives, but the over riding objective should be increased sustainability.
- Spatially focused. The ocean area to be managed must be clearly defined, ideally at the ecosystem level - certainly being large enough to incorporate relevant ecosystem processes.
- Integrated. The planning process should address the interrelationships and interdependence of each component within the defined management area, including natural processes, activities, and authorities.
Marine spatial planning in the United Kingdom
The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009
The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It creates "a new system of marine management".-Sections 1 to 3 - The Marine Management Organisation:Section 1 creates the Marine Management Organisation....
defined arrangements for a new system of marine management, including the introduction of marine spatial planning, across the UK. Although the new system comprises the principles of marine spatial planning as articulated by the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
, it is commonly referred to in the UK simply as 'marine planning'.
Among the Government's stated aims for the new marine planning system is to ensure that coastal areas, the activities within them and the problems they face are managed in an integrated and holistic way. This will require close interaction with town and country planning regimes and, in England and Wales, the new regime for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects
Nationally significant infrastructure projects
Nationally significant infrastructure projects are major infrastructure developments in England and Wales, such as proposals for power plants, large renewable energy projects, new airports and airport extensions, major road projects etc....
(NSIPs) in key sectors, such as energy and transport.
The Marine Policy Statement
The cornerstone of the UK marine planning system is the Marine Policy Statement (MPS). It sets out the sectoral/activity specific policy objectives that the UK Government, Scottish Government, Welsh Assembly GovernmentWelsh Assembly Government
The Welsh Government is the devolved government of Wales. It is accountable to the National Assembly for Wales, the legislature which represents the interests of the people of Wales and makes laws for Wales...
and Northern Ireland Executive
Northern Ireland Executive
The Northern Ireland Executive is the executive arm of the Northern Ireland Assembly, the devolved legislature for Northern Ireland. It is answerable to the Assembly and was established according to the terms of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, which followed the Good Friday Agreement...
are seeking to achieve in the marine area in securing the UK vision of 'clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas.'
The MPS is the framework for preparing Marine Plans and taking decisions that affect the marine environment in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It will also set the direction for new marine licensing and other authorisation systems in each administration. It is proposed that the draft MPS, which was subject to consultation in 2010, will be formally adopted as Government policy in 2011.
The Marine Management Organisation
In England, the new arrangements provide for the creation of the Marine Management OrganisationMarine Management Organisation
The Marine Management Organisation is an executive non-departmental public body established and given powers under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009...
(MMO), which started work in April 2010. The MMO will deliver UK marine policy objectives for English waters through a series of statutory Marine Plans and other measures. The first Marine Plans will start to be prepared by the MMO on adoption of the MPS in 2011. The UK Government's Consultation on a marine planning system for England document provides, for the benefit of the MMO and other interested parties, more detail on the scope, structure, content and process envisaged for each Marine Plan.
Marine spatial planning in the United States
On June 12, 2009, President Obama created an Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force to provide recommendations on ocean policy, including MSP. The President’s memorandum can be found online at:Some individual states have already undertaken MSP initiatives:
Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Ocean Act, enacted in May 2008, requires the secretary of the Massachusetts Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to develop a comprehensive ocean management plan. The plan will be submitted to NOAA for incorporation into the existing coastal zone management plan and enforced through the state’s regulatory and permitting processes, including the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) and Chapter 91, the state’s waterways law.The goal is to institute a comprehensive approach to ocean resource management that supports ecosystem health and economic vitality, balances current ocean uses, and considers future needs. This will be accomplished by determining where specific ocean uses will be permitted and which ocean uses are compatible.
California
In 1999, the California state legislature adopted the Marine Life Protection Act. This action required the state to undertake a marine spatial planning effort to evaluate and possibly redesign all existing state marine protected areas and to potentially create new protected areas that could, to the greatest degree possible, act as a networked system. (Marine protected area designations in California include state marine reserves, marine parks, and marine conservation areas.)Oregon
Two controversial ocean issues led to a marine spatial planning effort: concern by fishermen over the designation of marine reserves off the Oregon coast, and proposals by industry to site wave energy facilities in Oregon ocean waters.An executive order directed the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development to work with stakeholders and scientists to prepare a plan for ocean energy development (also known as wave energy). This plan was then to be adopted as part of the Oregon Territorial Sea Plan.
The state has appointed an advisory committee and expects to adopt the plan in early 2010. It will include mandatory policies for state and federal agency decisions with regard to locating ocean energy facilities in the Oregon Territorial Sea.
Tools
There are a number of useful and innovative tools that can help managers implement marine spatial planning. Some include:- NOAA's Multipurpose Marine Cadastre
- NOAA's Digital Coast: Legislative Atlas
- Australia's Maxran Software
- Marine Map.org's Google-interface product
- USCB's Global Map of Human Impacts to Marine Ecosystems
- Duke University's Marine Geospatial Ecology Tools
- Center for Ocean Solutions' Collaborative Geospatial Information and Tools