Messages on Maritime Spatial Planning

OCEaN’s Working Group on Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) has finalised a document encompassing five key principles that Member States should integrate into their respective national MSPs. The five messages arose from collaborative discussions and mutual agreement among 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 Maritime Spatial Planning