Marine Spatial Planning and sea uses: conceptual and theoretical approaches

Abstract

Marine Spatial Planning - MSP is an emerging procedure and tool, aiming to confront continuous decline of oceans and seas, as well as to deal with constantly growing user-user conflicts and user-environment conflicts taking place at the marine environment, resulting in the loss of marine biodiversity and the ability of marine ecosystems to deliver services. The present paper deals with theoretical issues on MSP, as well as with issues related to the sea-uses and sea-use planning. The paper indicates that -even if sharing common philosophy and methodology- sea-use and land-use planning may differ, due to the differences (between sea and land) related to the legal and property status and the sea-cover and the composition of the marine space. The paper also argues that MSP must adapt to a multi-scalar approach (as does terrestrial spatial planning with national, regional and local plans) whilst in the local scale these plans should cover land parts as well, so as to achieve integrated coastal and marine management. Finally, the paper suggests that optimal adaptation to the Ecosystem Approach, can only be achieved if MSP extends to marine spaces beyond the Territorial Waters of a coastal state (ideally up to the EEZ), so as to include entities of ecosystems and not just their subdivisions.