Messages on Marine Spatial Planning

OCEaN’s working group on Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) has finalised a document containing Messages on MSP which encompass five key principles that Member States should integrate into their respective national MSP plans. The five messages arose as a result of collaborative discussions and mutual agreement among the OCEaN Members.

They are formulated as follows:

1. MSPs should be planned holistically, at sea basin level and in collaboration across entire sea basins;
2. They should be based on the long-term and consider cumulative impacts at basin level;
3. MSPs must be based on best-practice methodology and apply the best available data, tools, knowledge and practices;
4. They should be developed based on consultation processes and fair stakeholder engagement;
5. Multiple use of marine areas should be considered as a tool to reconcile conflicting interests.

Download the paper: Messages on Marine Spatial Planning