On 1 April 2021, EASME A3 EMFF became part of the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) to implement the EMFAF (European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund) successor of EMFF. Relevant documents such as data protection notices are being reviewed & updated in light of our current transfer from EASME to CINEA Executive Agency. Thus, after 1 April 2021 any reference to EASME shall be read as CINEA during the transition period.
News
2021
October
The eMSP NBSR project and MSP-OR project were awarded under the EMFF-MSP-2020 call for projects. Both projects were officially launched on 4 October 2021 at their kick-off meeting.
The main objective of the MSP-OR (Advancing Maritime Spatial Planning in Outermost Regions) is to support MSP competent authorities in Portugal (Azores and Madeira) and Spain (Canary Islands) to accelerate the implementation of their MSP processes, launched under the previous MarSP project; and to improve the knowledge and understanding in France (French Guiana), providing grounds to launch and adopt the principles of MSP.
The aim of the eMSP NBSR (Emerging ecosystem-based Maritime Spatial Planning topics in the North and Baltic Seas Region) project is to enable Maritime Spatial Planners of managing authorities and policymakers from the North and Baltic Sea Regions to reflect on current MSP practices, to learn effectively from each other, and to collectively identify problems and solutions.
More details are available on the projects' web pages: MSP-OR and eMSP NBSR.
The MSPglobal International Guide on Maritime Spatial Planning was officially launched during the final conference of the joint IOC-UNESCO/DG MARE MSPglobal Initiative, which took place on Tuesday 5 October 2021. Jointly produced by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO and the European Commission, the ‘MSPglobal International Guide on Marine/Maritime Spatial Planning’ covers a diverse range of topics, case studies and actions. Its goal is to assist governments, partners and practitioners worldwide to develop a multi-sectoral participatory process for the planning and management of ocean and coastal zones.
Discover the guide here.
September
The SIMAtlantic conference took place on 15 September 2021. Its objective was to share lessons and best practices from the SIMAtlantic project and other initiatives across Europe, to assist in shaping future cooperation and coherence in maritime spatial planning (MSP).
Sessions were aimed at a wide audience from researchers to policymakers, practitioners and stakeholders, while including everyone who shares an interest in maritime spatial planning, particularly the benefits and challenges of transboundary working methods. Session recordings are now available on the SIMAtlantic website.
A series of factsheets from France’s Service Hydrographique et Océanographique de la Marine (SHOM) on the availability and communication of Maritime Spatial Planning data for each country covered by the SIMAtlantic project are also now available here.
Marine areas under national or international jurisdiction are subject to a progressive increase in industrial (mining, wind power), traditional (fishing), transport and recreational activities. And as they are also impacted by climate change and land-based pollution, the state of the environment and ecosystems is often degraded. In this context, there is an urgent need to strengthen the assessment of current and foreseeable impacts in relation to development policies, i.e., to assess their cumulative effects, reduce them as much as possible and compensate for residual impacts on the marine environment. In this context, IUCN adopted a motion, at the World Conservation Congress held on 3 to 11 September 2021, supporting the implementation of Marine Spatial Planning as a means of long-term conservation of marine and coastal ecosystems. The motion, which “urges the States to adopt a forward-looking approach to planning their maritime areas, which guarantees the preservation and long-term protection of marine and coastal ecosystems and the maintenance or restoration of their natural connectivity”, can be consulted here.
The process of revising the MSP has been completed after two rounds of national and international consultations. Changes were made based on the feedback received and the revised MSP for the German EEZ in the North Sea and Baltic Sea entered into force on 1 September 2021. The new plan coordinates various uses within the EEZ, including shipping, offshore wind energy, cables, pipelines, raw material extraction, fisheries, research and defence. It reserves areas for individual uses and helps to minimise conflict.
The documents are available in German here. English translations, and where appropriate Danish and Polish translations, will be provided as soon as possible.
The spatial regulations of the plan are also available as a Web Feature Service via https://www.geoseaportal.de/mapapps/resources/apps/meeresnutzung/index.h....
More information is available here.
The MSPglobal Final Conference will be held on 5 October 2021. Since its launch in November 2018, in addition to developing international guidance on Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), MSPglobal has implemented two pilot projects in the Western Mediterranean and Southeast Pacific which resulted in the formulation of transboundary recommendations on MSP and the sustainable blue economy. It has also carried out capacity development activities at global scale to foster knowledge exchange and dialogue, in line with the IOC-UNESCO/DG MARE Joint Roadmap to accelerate MSP processes worldwide.
For more information, please see the event page.
To register for the MSPglobal final conference, please CLICK HERE.
August
The final SIMAtlantic conference is approaching and will be held on Wednesday 15 September 2021, with the aim of sharing the lessons learnt and best practices identified during the SIMAtlantic project and from elsewhere around Europe, to assist in shaping future cooperation and coherence in maritime spatial planning (MSP). While waiting for this event, you can discover their new report 'Current and future uses and needs in the European Atlantic region' by the IEO (Instituto Español de Oceanografía). The Cerema also proposes a method for addressing synergies between the different uses in Maritime Spatial Planning.
Find the report here.
The SIMAtlantic project has recently introduced two new tools.
- A web portal providing centralised access to all the documents and tools produced by SIMAtlantic in relation to data use and sharing in MSP;
- A geoportal bringing together MSP data and information for the European Atlantic region. This demonstrator gathers data and information in connection with the planning of maritime areas. In particular, it disseminates geospatial information related to the marine spatial plans of England, Spain, France, Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Portugal, as well as the "proof" data used to establish these plans (when available and interoperable with the tool).
Both tools, produced by France’s SHOM (Service Hydrographique et Océanographique de la Marine) under the project’s thematic area on 'data use and sharing', are available via the SIMAtlantic website.
The overall objectives of the initiative are to support the establishment and implementation of Maritime Spatial Plans in line with MSP Directive requirements in five European Atlantic countries: France, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Learn more about the project here.
A new study from the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO, CSIC), the Center for Studies and Experimentation of Public Works (CEDEX), and the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITERD) has just been published. This paper analyses how the marine spatial planning process is being carried out in Spain with results from cross-border MSP projects Spain has participated in. Furthermore, it explores how collaborative initiatives between neighbouring countries benefit MSP at a national level. Spain's maritime spatial plans, in particular their Strategic Environmental Assessment, are currently open to public consultation until 8 September.
The study is accessible via this link (in Spanish only).
France is finalising the remaining two parts of their Strategic Documents. The document was reviewed by the French National Environmental Agency on 5 May 2021 and an online public consultation was launched on 20 May 2021 (open until 20 August) on the operational aspects of the strategic documents for the four different sea basins. A webinar was held on 12 July 2021 to provide additional clarifications on the ongoing public consultation. The presentation materials and a graphic summary of the discussions are now available online. They are independent of the final analysis that will be comprised of the contributions submitted via the platform. The results of this analysis will be the subject of a specific communication activity on the basis of feedback from the public and the institutions, as well as an environmental statement as provided for in the environmental code.
The materials presented and the other elements of this latest webinar are accessible via this link in the news section of the MerLittoral2030 platform (only in French).
July
The European Commission launched an invitation to all relevant stakeholder organisations to express their interest in becoming a member of a new working group on offshore renewable energy under the framework of the clean energy industrial forum. The mandate of the group is to contribute to the EU’s offshore renewable energy ambitions outlined in the Strategy for Offshore Renewable Energy. These include provisions for an installed capacity of at least 60 GW offshore wind and at least 1 GW of ocean energy by 2030, increasing to, at least, 300 GW and 40 GW respectively by 2050. The deadline for applications is 10 September 2021.
More information about this call and how to submit your application can be found here.
The closing conference for the SIMAtlantic project will be held on 15 September 2021. SIMAtlantic is a 2-year EU-funded project to support the establishment and implementation of maritime spatial planning in the five European Atlantic nations: France, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, and the United Kingdom. The aim of the conference is to share the lessons learnt and best practices identified during the SIMAtlantic project and from elsewhere around Europe, to assist in shaping future cooperation and coherence in maritime spatial planning (MSP). There are six sessions in total, held at the following times:
- 09.00–10.30 Session 1: Developing a vision for MSP in the European Atlantic region;
- 11.00–12.30 Session 2A: Governance for transboundary MSPData sharing and stakeholder engagement;
- 11.00–12.30 Session 2B: Data sharing and stakeholder engagement
- 13.00–14.30 Session 3A: Beyond environmental assessment towards ecosystem based MSP;
- 13.00–14.30 Session 3B: Approaches to land-sea interactions in the European Atlantic and beyond;
- 15.00–16.30 Session 4: Achieving cooperation and coherence in European Atlantic MSP.
For more information and registration, please see the event page.
The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, an MSPglobal Initiative partner, has published a new policy brief “Public Participation in Marine Policy Development”.
Discover how inclusive marine policies need to be formulated and implemented through a participatory process and how strategies for Maritime Spatial Planning and the Blue Economy fit into this public participation. Details on some of the approaches that MSPglobal has applied will also be provided.
This policy brief is available in English and in Spanish.
All documents are available here.
The European Commission has launched a Public Consultation on current challenges in algae production and consumption. This public consultation aims to collect information on the subject, to ensure all voices are heard and to target different relevant algae sector representatives, e.g., suppliers, producers, processors, end-users, researchers, academia, sectoral organisations, non-governmental organisations and member state authorities.
Please see here for more information. The deadline to submit is 11 August 2021.
The European Parliament adopted yesterday, Tuesday 6 July 2021, the 2021-2027 fisheries and aquaculture fund, with a total budget of €6 108 billion. The EMFAF will provide financial support to protect, manage and sustainably use the ocean and its resources, thus contributing to the objectives of the European Green Deal.
Of the total amount, the programme is divided between:
- shared management – €5.311 billion is provided through national programmes co-financed by the EU budget and EU countries;
- direct management – €797 million is provided directly by the Commission.
This fund has been adopted in order to facilitate:
- “the transition to sustainable and low-carbon fishing
- the protection of marine biodiversity and ecosystems
- the supply of quality and healthy seafood to European consumers
- the socio-economic attractiveness and the generational renewal of the fishing sector, in particular as regards small-scale coastal fisheries
- the development of a sustainable and competitive aquaculture contributing to food security
- the improvement of skills and working conditions in the fishing and aquaculture sectors
- the economic and social vitality of coastal communities
- innovation in the sustainable blue economy
- maritime security towards a safe maritime space
- international cooperation towards healthy, safe and sustainably managed oceans”
Lear more about the EMFAF here.
Have you missed the last weeks of MSP news? Don't worry, it is possible to catch up thanks to our review! You can find a selection of some of the most relevant updates here:
- MSP news
- Calls for proposal
- New publications
- Upcoming events
Have a pleasant weekend and see you soon for more MSP news in a nutshell!
On Thursday 1 July 2021, the Irish government launched the National Marine Planning Framework, Ireland’s first national framework for managing marine activities.
A first NMPF draft was published in November 2019, and was open for public consultation until April 2020. There were over 3,500 comments to consider from 225 submissions including those provided by neighbouring states. As chapters were amended, relevant Government Departments were consulted to obtain approval for the updates being made. A final version of the plan was then submitted to the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament) for consideration as required by the legislation underpinning marine spatial planning in Ireland. The plan was debated by Dáil Éireann (lower house of Parliament) on 29 March 2021.
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, will now bring the bill to the Oireachtas to seek its enactment. The Bill, when enacted, will establish in law a new planning regime for the maritime area.
Read more here.
June
Two new calls for proposals have been published by IOC UNESCO. The MSPglobal Initiative is looking for professional translators and graphic designers to assist them in the preparation of IOC and DG MARE Guidelines on International Marine/Maritime Spatial Planning in English, French, Spanish, and Arabic.
- Translation of the MSPglobal International Guidance on Marine Spatial Planning from English into French, Spanish, and Arabic
Deadline: 9 July 2021
- Design of the MSPglobal International Guidance on Marine Spatial Planning in English, French, and Spanish
Deadline: 9 July 2021
Find all the information on how to apply here.
The European MSP Platform has just published a short background study on “Best practice guidance in multi-use issues and licensing procedures”.
This technical study is based on desk research, using scientific literature and online project reports. It takes stock of previous work and gives an overview of the multi-use of sea space in the European Union, as well as the information necessary for planners and decision makers to consider the development of multi-use spaces. This study is based on the considerations that 1) the development of the blue economy is increasing demands on maritime and coastal spaces, and 2) some new activities require a permanent allocation of space.
Take a look at the study here.
Telling the story of MSP across Europe with five Maritime Spatial Planning projects supported by the EMFF
MSP in Europe is an ambitious and collaborative project involving Member states, administrations, research institutions, industries and society as a whole. MSP means cooperating across borders and sectors for a smart, sustainable, productive, and fair use of the maritime space. In the context of the emergence of the first national maritime spatial plans presented by Member states in 2021, the European MSP Assistance Mechanism has produced a six minute video clip introducing five representative projects in different European maritime basins, supported by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (2014-2020).
This video is downloadable with English subtitles in several resolutions from this link: https://vimeo.com/atkinsglobal/download/562094477/f813689fa5 and can be shared on your social media, websites, newsletters and any other digital communication tools.
Social media:
When sharing on Twitter: please tag the following accounts:
@EU_MSP_Platform https://twitter.com/EU_MSP_Platform
@EU_MARE https://twitter.com/EU_MARE
@CINEA_EU https://twitter.com/cinea_eu
The following projects are featured in the video
MSPmed: Towards the operational implementation of MSP in our common Mediterranean Sea https://mspmed.eu/
MarSP: MarSP project intends to reinforce the Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) processes in the three EU Macaronesian Archipelagos - Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands https://marsp.eu/
MARSPLAN-B2 II: supports coherent, cross-sectoral MSP in Bulgaria and Romania under the framework of MSP Directive 2014/89/EU and to establish a long-lasting mechanism for the Black Sea Basin cross-border cooperation on MSP. http://www.ccms.bg/en/our-projects/marsplan-bs-ii
SIMAtlantic: SIMAtlantic aims to support the establishment and implementation of maritime spatial planning (MSP) in five European Atlantic countries: France, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom. https://www.simatlantic.eu/
SEANSE: The general objective of this project is to support the development and implementation of Maritime Spatial Plans, by creating a coherent approach to Strategic Environmental Assessments with a focus on renewable energy. https://northseaportal.eu/
PANBALTIC Scope carries concrete cross-border activities at different geographical levels to meet the needs of the national maritime spatial planning processes and to support the successful implementation of the EU MSP Directive. http://www.panbalticscope.eu/
For more information about this video and its dissemination please contact
France notified the European Commission that they had adopted the four sea-basin strategies (East Channel – North Sea, North Atlantic-West Channel, South Atlantic, Mediterranean) in February 2020. These strategies are the result of the first stages of MSP for each sea-basin and include: an initial assessment (environment and human activities), strategic objectives and preliminary spatial plans (vocation map plus fact sheets). After a first public consultation, the first two parts of each sea-basin strategy were adopted by the coordinating Administrations in September/October 2019. France is now finalising the remaining two parts of their Strategic Documents. The documents were reviewed by the French National Environmental Agency on 5 May 2021 and an online public consultation was launched on 20 May 2021 (open until 20 August) on the operational aspects of the DSF with the four FSDs: https://www.merlittoral2030.gouv.fr .
Furthermore, a questionnaire has been drawn up to gather the opinions of the various stakeholders on the notion of territory applied to coastal and maritime areas, in light of the scientific communities’ work and the perceptions of the players involved in these territories.
Link to the questionnaire: http://enqueteur.cgdd.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/index.php/373139?lan...
In 2017, Spain adopted the Royal Decree 363/2017 of 8 April establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning, which transposes into the Spanish legislation Directive 2014/89/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2015, establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning.
Spain has recently been moving forward on the technical development of Maritime Spatial Planning and is in the process of finalising its five MSPs, one for each of the five marine subdivisions and the public consultation on the maritime spatial plans for the 5 marine subdivisions was launched on 7 June and will be open until 25 June 2021.
The European Commission has launched the 6th edition of the European Natura 2000 Award. This edition includes a new category for Marine conservation which focusses more on the conservation of marine and coastal areas. The Award raises awareness on Natura 2000, the work carried out by different organisations and individuals to safeguard these vital natural assets, and the health, cultural, societal and economic benefits the network provides to us all, as well as its value in its own right.
Applications are open for the Award until 30 September and the Award Ceremony will take place around Natura 2000 Day in May 2022.
Further information and registration are available on the event page.
The SEAPLANSPACE project is organising a Summer School for 2021 that will take place online from 28 June to 2 July. The University of Gdańsk, Maritime Institute of Gdynia Maritime University, EUCC Baltic Office, County Administrative Board of Kalmar, EUCC Coastal Union Germany, Centre for Regional and Tourism Research and Aalborg University will organise this international event in an act of cross-border cooperation. The event aims to strengthen the competencies of those working, or preparing to work, in Maritime Spatial Planning in the context of sustainable management of the sea, thus supporting socio-economic development.
Deadline for applications: 15 June 2021
Further information and registration are available on the event page.
May
Have you missed the last weeks of MSP news? Don't worry, it is possible to catch up thanks to our review! You can find a selection of some of the most relevant updates here:
- EU publications:
- Public consultation & call for stakeholders
- Upcoming events:
- 1 June: Kick-off Conference of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development
- 1-2 June: 4th Baltic MSP Forum
- 2-4 June: The 2020 MPA Forum: Virtual Forum Sessions
- 8-11 June: Seanergy 2021
- 11 June: Decision support tools for Maritime Spatial Planning through the PHAROS4MPAs approach
- 14-18 June: EMODnet Open Conference and Jamboree 2021
- 28 June: MARE Conference People & the Sea XI
Have a pleasant weekend and see you soon for more MSP news in a nutshell!
On 17 May, the European Commission published its new approach to achieving a sustainable blue economy in the EU. These guidelines are aligned with the objectives of the European Green Deal to ensure that the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is ecologically sustainable and inclusive. This document develops the goals within the framework of the blue economy for the EU:
- achieve the objectives of climate neutrality and zero pollution;
- switch to a circular economy and reduce pollution;
- preserve biodiversity and invest in nature;
- support climate adaptation and coastal resilience;
- ensure sustainable food production;
- improve management of space at sea.
This last goal highlights the important role of Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) in the sustainable use of the marine environment. MSP remains an essential tool to prevent spatial conflicts between activities taking place at sea and to ensure a balance between nature conservation and economic development. In 2022, the Commission will publish a report on the implementation of the MSP Directive and the adoption of Member States' national plans in order to facilitate cross-border cooperation and encourage Member States to integrate objectives of offshore renewable energy development in their national spatial plans. The above communication from the Commission also sets out its intention to revise the MSFD and to prepare guidance on an ecosystem-based approach to maritime spatial planning and promote the multi-use of marine space.
Take a look at the EU’s full Communication and a linked press-release here.
Have you missed the last weeks of MSP news? Don't worry, it is possible to catch up thanks to our review! You can find a selection of some of the most relevant updates here:
- MSP projects:
- MSPglobal Initiative:
- Past events:
- Public consultation:
- Upcoming events:
- MSP events taking place during the EMD
- 10 May: Webinar: Multi-Use MED
- 11 May: Webinar: Marine Spatial Planning, a solution for our ocean: How an ecosystem-based approach can achieve healthier seas
- 11 May: Webinar: MSP as a booster for Blue Economy – Ensuring a coherent planning across the Western Mediterranean region
- 12-14 May: 2nd International Conference “Dive in Blue Growth”
- 18 May: Towards an Atlantic Vision for Maritime Spatial Planning
- 19 May: Explore the future with the MSP Challenge Simulation Platform – an EMD 2021 'In my Country' event
- 20-21 May: European Maritime Day 2021
- 26 May: Virtual Workshop on Marine Spatial Planning in Africa
Have a pleasant weekend and see you soon for more MSP news in a nutshell!
The MULTI-FRAME project was officially launched in June 2020 as a collaborative approach including eight institutions from Norway, France, Brazil, Germany, Mozambique and the United States! Over the last 11 months the MULTI-FRAME team has explored the diversity of multi-use (MU) across the globe and taken the first steps towards the preparation of case studies for the eight countries involved.
The first newsletter of the MULTI-FRAME project details the outcomes of the first project webinar on the definition of Multi-Use (MU), and outlines the baseline mapping exercise of MU cases worldwide.
Discover the newsletter in the following link.
All presentations from the MSPglobal online seminars on national MSP practices are now available on YouTube in different languages.
- Indonesia: EN / FR
- Germany: EN / FR / ES
- Finland: EN /FR / ES
- China: EN
- Netherlands: EN / FR / ES
- Mozambique: EN / PT
These webinars were part of a series of webinars to present global MSP Practices.
Please find the videos here.
April
On 16th of April 2021, a virtual Workshop on ‘Maritime Spatial Planning as a tool to boost and support “Blue” Entrepreneurship in Islands’ was held that focused on the needs of insular regions, economies and SMEs. The event was organized by the Network of the Insular Chambers of Commerce of the EU (INSULEUR) in partnership with the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the Centre of Excellence on Blue Growth – Shipping Marine Environment – INSULARITY of the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens. The European MSP Platform was invited to give a presentation on northern European experiences in insular MSP.
The Workshop gathered over 60 participants and a prominent panel of speakers. The topics of the Blue Growth of islands and an EU framework for MSP (EU Directive 2014/89/EU) as an integral part of the EU Integrated Maritime Policy were addressed, together with examples and best practices from Malta Gozo Business Chamber, northern islands from the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, and the Clean Energy for the EU Islands Initiative. It was highlighted that islands with different and unique characteristics develop specific strategies to boost island entrepreneurship and to harness distinctive economic assets of islands.
The European MSP Platform’s expert, Patrycja Enet, provided two specific case studies from the North Sea and the Baltic Sea that highlighted the importance of an integrated and holistic approach to MSP to islands’ planning and management; transboundary collaboration at the regional scale for islands’ sustainable management; and islands’ innovative energy efficiency and decarbonization solutions constraining environmental pollution. One example presented was of the Finnish islands -Archipelago Sea islands and Åland islands, where archipelagic ferry traffic serves for touristic island hopping. Developments towards powering these ferries by green hydrogen is considered a strong potential renewable alternative to fossil fuel. These developments also include an estimation of the required energy storage capacity on islands for large-scale integration of renewables and electric ferry charging stations.
The workshop concluded that the blue economy is an important niche for the diversification of insular economies for their revival and long-term sustainability. It also highlighted best practice examples to help National or Regional Authorities in elaborating their MSP, bearing in mind the flexibility needed to boost island entrepreneurship. It is hoped that the outputs of this event will be useful for policy and decision-makers for developing MSP while building island territories’ comparative advantage, adopting business models built on quality, environmental values, distinctiveness, recognition of territorial labels and culture, and supporting innovation in service sectors such as tourism and retail.
The European Commission and the European External Action Service invited maritime stakeholders worldwide to a high-level event presenting final recommendations and next steps for a global ocean sustainability action developed under the EU International Ocean Governance (IOG) Forum. The event took place in a virtual format on April 20, 2021 from 14:00-17:00 (CEST). The recording can be accessed here.
Please check the following interventions relevant to MSP that might be of interest:
- Mr. Jakob Granit, Director General, Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management / Chair, Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) gives a talk about the EU Maritime Spatial Planning. He consideres the EU MSP framework as an example for ocean governance. Recording: 01h37m50s - 01h42m16s.
- Ms. Charline Vitcheva, Director-General of DG MARE answers a question on MSP beyond areas of national jurisdiction. Recording: 02h09m53s - 02h13m55s.
For other presentations, please see the agenda here.
The SIMAtlanitc project has published a new report available on its pulications page. This report presents the results of a survey conducted by the SHOM (Service Hydrographique et Océanographique de la Marine) on how MSP related data is produced and shared in the European Atlantic.
The report is available in English and French.
MSPglobal has launched four technical reports on the current status and scenarios of maritime uses in the Western Mediterranean and Southeast Pacific. The reports aim to improve cross-border and transboundary cooperation for the development of Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and Sustainable Blue Economy strategies. This is part of putting into effect the Joint Roadmap to accelerate Maritime/Marine Spatial Planning processes worldwide (MSP).
All reports were co-funded by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and are available in
Plese find the reports here.
The Commission has published a roadmap for an Action plan to conserve fisheries resources and protect marine ecosystems. The plan points out where action is needed to address the by-catch of sensitive species and adverse impacts on sensitive habitats through technical measures such as area closures, gear changes and mitigation measures for sensitive species. It contributes to one of the main objectives of the European Green Deal, in making fisheries more sustainable, protecting marine ecosystems and their biodiversity.
Please give your feedback here. Deadline 13 may 2021.
EU countries are required under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive to develop strategies in order to achieve ‘good environmental status’ and have clean, healthy and productive seas by 2020.
The Commission has published a roadmap for the review of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) to explore options for improvement and propose possible amendments. This roadmap is open for feedback until 6 May 2021 through the Have your say portal. Feedback will be taken into account for further development and fine tuning of the initiative. The Commission will summarise the input received in a synopsis report explaining how the input will be taken on board and, if applicable, why certain suggestions can't be taken up. Feedback received will be published on this site and therefore must adhere to the feedback rules.
Learn more about this initiative here.
In parallel with the European Maritime Day Conference in Den Helder (20-21 May 2021), “EMD In My Country 2021” events will take place throughout Europe from April to October 2021. A number of them are related to Maritime Spatial Planning:
- The SIMAtlantic project will organise an online event “Towards an Atlantic Vision for Maritime Spatial Planning” on 18 May 2021, jointly with the European MSP Platform and the Assistance Mechanism for the Atlantic Action Plan.
- The event “Exploring the future of the North Sea together”, held on 19 May 2021, will be organised by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management of the Netherlands and the Breda University of Applied Sciences (with the assistance of the MSP Challenge Simulation Platform).
- The Consulate General of Portugal in Barcelona will organise an event “The European Union Integrated Maritime Policy: an Atlantic and Mediterranean Approach” on 20 May 2021.
- The event “Discussing and Resolving Marine Spatial Planning Issues Online with Stakeholders” will be held on 15 September 2021 by Van Hall Larenstein, University of Applied Sciences of the Netherlands.
- “Governance, Spatial Planning and Social Acceptability Applied for Marine Aquaculture in Portugal” is planned for 30 September 2021 by the Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR) & CRIA-UALG (within the framework of the ACCESS2SEA project).
The entire list of events held for “EMD in my country 2021” is available here.
Have you missed the last weeks of MSP news? Don't worry, it is possible to catch up thanks to our review! You can find a selection of some of the most relevant updates here:
- MSP news:
- New publications :
- European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA):
- Upcoming events in April
- 12-15 April: 1st BLUE DEAL Transferring Lab
- 15 April: MSPglobal / Sharing national MSP practices worldwide: Mozambique
- 16 April: Marine Spatial Planning as a tool to boost and support “Blue" Entrepreneurship in Islands
- 19-23 April: Integrated Marine Spatial Planning and Sustainable Blue Economy Workshop
- 20-21 April: 22nd Joint HELCOM-VASAB Maritime Spatial Planning Working Group Meeting
- 20 April: 3rd International Ocean Governance Forum
- 22 April: Fisheries and aquaculture in the Danube and the Black Sea region: views for building forward better
- 27 April: Maritime Spatial Planning and the Baltic Blue Bioeconomy
- 28 April: NE Atlantic Ocean Acidification Workshop Regional Knowledge to Local Action
- 29-30 April: ICMSPM 2021: 15. International Conference on Marine Spatial Planning and Management
- 29 April: Careers in Marine Spatial Planning
Have a pleasant weekend and see you soon for more MSP news in a nutshell!
The plan that now goes in consultation for six months is a historic one. Denmark has never before had a holistic plan for how to use the many opportunities the ocean offers. The coming spatial plan will apply to the marine internal waters, the territorial sea and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Please read the full article on the Danish Maritime Authority website.
Follow the link for further information on the Danish MSP.
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, and his departmental colleagues Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning, Peter Burke TD, and Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan TD, welcomed the approval given at Cabinet for the Irish National Marine Planning Framework, a step identified in the Interim Climate Actions 2021 for facilitating the development of offshore wind energy.
Please read the full article here.
March
According to the decision ÅLR 2019/6446, the Åland provincial government has approved its first maritime spatial plan following the last consultation period that ended on 15 February 2021. The plan entered into force on 22.03.2021 and should be updated at least every six years.
Please see the supporting documents and online map for more details.
With the implementation of the new long-term EU budget, some EASME managed programmes are moving to the new European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). From 1 April, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), the Life Programme, Horizon 2020 Energy Efficiency and partly Horizon 2020 Societal Challenge ‘Climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials will by managed by the new Agency.
Read the full article on the EASME website.
A new video published by Euronews on 17 March 2021 highlights the fact that, “Fishermen and wind farms must learn to coexist”. Given the European Union’s aim to become carbon neutral by 2050, an increasing portion of the sea is currently occupied by wind farms. This situation, coupled with the proliferation of marine protected areas, could benefit from maritime spatial planning to help all users of the sea live together.
Watch the full video here.
The Managing Authority of the Interreg Atlantic Area Programme together with the members of the Task Force are preparing the new programme for the 2021-2027 period. After several meetings and the benefit of advice from a team of experts, we are now presenting a summary of the strategy for the next Atlantic Area Programme and launching a public consultation, open to all Atlantic stakeholders and interested parties.
You are invited to contribute and share your opinion with us on this proposal. Your contributions regarding lessons learnt and room for improvement for the future programme will also be welcomed. Your answers will provide us with valuable inputs to better define our priorities, objectives and results to be achieved during the next programming period.
The deadline to submit this questionnaire is Monday, 29th of March 2021.
You can access here the public consultation.
The European MSP Platform organised an online event dedicated to communication tools, strategies and examples of successful communication initiatives for Maritime Spatial Planning advancement in Europe. In partnership with IOC UNESCO MSP global initiative, this event reached stakeholders well beyond European Member states with participants from Morocco, China, Iran, Norway and Iceland.
Available presentations:
- Demonstrating MSP in the making: how the MSP global website provides tools, resources and examples for a variety of MSP stakeholders – Website
- Visual and experience communication: challenges and ways to gather data in the form of visual communication tools such as interactive maps –
- Engagement by involvement: how local engagement strategies and participative processes multiply opportunities for MSP adoption by stakeholders -
- Maritime Spatial Plan Finland 2030, by Mari Pohja-Mykrä – Presentation / Video
- The MSP Challenge, by Lodewijk Abspoel – Presentation / Video
- The Irish online MSP communication campaign, by Conor Mc Cabe – Presentation / Video.
The webinar report is available here.
The new European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) Geology shoreline-migration map based on field measurements and aerial s is now freely accessible from the EMODnet Geology portal! This portal is one of several EMODnet portals with the purpose of strengthening blue growth in Europe. The new map allows policy makers, together with national and regional coastal managers, to know how and at what rate our coasts are changing.
Download the press release in PDF.
Visit the EMODnet Geology portal: www.emodnet-geology.eu
The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, partner of the MSPglobal Inititative, has published five new documents. Discover how existing and future conditions, sustainable blue economy, climate change, capacity development and ocean governance relate to, and interact with, maritime spatial planning in the new policy briefs.
All documents are accessible here.
BlueMed CSA has organised its final conference from 22 to 24 February 2020. The event focused on the most relevant outcomes of the BlueMed CSA. All the sessions have been recorded and are now available on the conference webpage, as well as the speakers’ presentations and the graphical recording panels realised by Gabriele Peddes.
Please access the materials from the conference here.
Would you like to learn more about the SIMAtlantic project (Supporting Implementation of Maritime Spatial Planning in the Atlantic) that started in 2019? Who are the partners? What are the pilot study areas, themes and expected impacts of the project? Please see the project website and a new leaflet summarising the work.