Marine spatial planning
Marine spatial planning (MSP) also known interchangeably as Maritime Spatial Planning, is an ocean management instrument which aids policy-makers and stakeholders in compartmentalizing sea basins within state jurisdiction according to social, ecological and economical objectives in order to make informed and coordinated decisions about how to use marine resources sustainably.
MSP is not an end in itself but a practical way to create and establish a more rational use of marine space and the interactions among its uses, to balance demands for development with the need to protect the environment, and to deliver social and economic outcomes in an open and planned way.
Moreover, it provides advice on the use of spatially explicit tools for practical tasks like the assessment of cumulative impacts of human pressures or pressure-state relationships.
The following year, 2008, the European Commission introduced another marine focused document called a Roadmap for Maritime Spatial Planning: Achieving Common Principles – and in 2012 further development took place when the Commission adopted a Communication on Blue Growth: Opportunities for marine and maritime sustainable growth aiming to unlock the potentials of the blue economy.
After more than a decade of MSP programs within the EU, it was decided to pass an EU-wide legislation on the matter in 2014, introducing the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive (2014/89/EU).
The main objectives of the Directive are to reduce conflicts and increase border cooperation among member states with regards to improving efficient utilization of the sea basins, encourage investments and ensuring proper protection of the marine environment.
The current EU legislation on the protection of nature, species and habitats, such as the Habitats and Birds Directives and the Water Framework Directive, possess derogation clauses, however there are no obligations for member states to actually apply these and thus balance out the creation of marine energy sources and protection of nature (van Hees 2021: 28–31).
It is largely recommended that the spatial choices feed into the nature preserving Directives such as the Habitats and Birds Directives and the Water Framework Directive[32] The cumulative effects of offshore renewable energy are uncertain, as Cumulative Impact Assessments (CIA), Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) often are implemented independently, why they to a large extend fail to paint a full picture of the negative impacts.
[33] The usage of EIA is further criticized due to it lack of abilities to create assessments for tidal and wave energy installments.
[35] However, evidence show that small-scale energy project has fewer prospects of grave environmental implications,[36] and main concerns lies with projets of large-scales.
Therefore, improving this area of concern could help paint a greater picture of the environmental impacts and statuses across Member States’ shared sea basins.
[38] To further develop and strengthen MSP with the European Union, it is vital to improve informed policy-making on the area of ocean management.
[50][51] In 2013 Dutch ministries initiated a discussion on marine visions for the North Sea by 2050 involving cultivating the ecosystems whilst utilizing the waves and current to generate more renewable energy.
[52] The Netherlands also presents an interesting challenge that smaller coastal Member States can face, as a smaller coastal line simply means less maritime space to delegate, which results in stricter MSP policies at risk for deprioritizing conservation of marine environment in order to achieve economic goals.
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.
Using the best available science, the Ocean SAMP provides a balanced approach to the development and protection of Rhode Island's ocean-based resources.
Research projects undertaken by University of Rhode Island (URI) scientists provide the essential scientific basis for Ocean SAMP policy development.
It will include mandatory policies for state and federal agency decisions with regard to locating ocean energy facilities in the Oregon Territorial Sea.
In March 2010, the Washington State Legislature enacted the Marine Waters Planning and Management Act to address resource use conflicts.
