Maritime Spatial Planning as a key instrument for the EU s Integrated Maritime Policy Jan Ekebom, (Policy Officer) European Commission Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Unit for Maritime Policy in the Baltic Sea, North Sea and Landlocked Member States 1
The vision of the EU s Integrated Maritime Policy IMP a coordinating policy Change of policy and decision making towards a more crosssector approach Invite MS to draw up national integrated maritime policies Act as facilitator and help Member States to set up networks for the exchange of knowledge and experiences Develop in 2008 a roadmap for maritime spatial planning Organise a stakeholder consultation structure 2
The EU Integrated Maritime Policy Blue Paper The Blue Paper priorities: Maximising the sustainable* use of the oceans and seas Building a knowledge and innovation base Delivering the highest quality of life in coastal regions Promoting Europe s leadership in international affairs Raising visibility for Maritime Europe * Sustainable use can only be achieved by applying the Ecosystem Based Approach to Planning and Management 3
Heading towards a mess Map 1: areas with specific sea use, at the Belgian coast Map2: AIS Data from the HELCO website 2007 4
Examples of future challenges: super-grids DEFINITION: an electricity transmission system, mainly based on direct current, designed to facilitate large-scale sustainable power generation in remote areas for transmission to centres of consumption, one of whose fundamental attributes will be the enhancement of the market in electricity. Source: Lithuanian Electricity Association 5
Examples of future challenges: cross-basin constructions (Information from E-On LtD) Lithuania is facing a shutdown of major power generating capacities by 2013 NordBalt Link is a 350km power cable planned to connect SWE with LIT by 2016 Estimated lifetime 30 years The cable runs south of Öland (Sweden) to Klaipeda (Lithuania) Södra Midsjöbanken (SMB) wind energy project is close to the NordBalt link SMB Sited 100 km to Swedish mainland Plans to build as deep as 30m but techniques to build down to 40m exist Source: Lithuanian Electricity Association 6
Risks of not planning the sea-use at all The best way to avoid conflicts is to plan so that the conflicts never occur! Competition for sea-space Lost business opportunities Uncertainty (nature & business) Maritime security risks & accidents Environmental degradation Loss of biodiversity Inefficient use of data Governance problems Loss of culture values 7
What is Maritime Spatial Planning? UNESCO-IOC MSP Guidelines: Marine spatial planning (MSP) is a public process of analyzing and allocating the spatial and temporal distribution of human activities in marine areas to achieve ecological, economic, and social objectives that are usually specified through a political process A planning process where the various uses of marine space, resources, and ecosystem services are allocated so that it: - ensures economical, ecological, and social sustainability/benefits, - avoids conflicts, - ensures effective governance and -use the best possible planning resources Maritime Spatial Planning = Marine Spatial Planning, Oceans Planning, Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning 8
Global Marine Policy & MSP trends IMP & MSP is accepted and anticipated by a large number of maritime stakeholders, e.g. fisheries, wind energy companies but also governments! Australia is a forerunner (Great Barrier Reef MSP) USA will launch their Oceans Policy and MSP roadmap in 2010 (interim reports published 2009) NOAA s MSP Website Canada applies MSP, e.g. in Eastern Nova Scotia Global actions also through the Marine Ecosystems and Management (MEAM) publication: http://depts.washington.edu/meam/ 9
European Maritime Policy & MSP trends Maritime Policy legislation is now being developed in many EU Member States, e.g. : UK (Marine Bill, MSP Guidelines) Scottish Marine Bill Denmark s and Sweden s IMP are on the way Similar activities in many other EU MS Several EU Member States are making progress in MSP (Germany, Belgium, UK, the Netherlands, Sweden, France) MSFD will fuel into MSP EU s MSP development will focus on cross-border cooperation, economic benefits, marine data 10
A closer look at the Scottish development "Our new marine planning system will provide better information, to inform investment decisions and help attract additional investment," said Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead. "It is also a vital tool in protecting our marine flora and fauna and historical assets." www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/bills/25- MarineScot/b25bs3-aspassed.pdf. Scotland expects its offshore production of renewable energy - wind, tidal, and wave - to grow significantly in the next decade. The new law aims to facilitate that growth through a streamlined planning and licensing process that reduces bureaucracy. Scotland holds 25% of Europe's tidal and offshore wind resource The Scottish government estimates that, by 2020, offshore renewables will supply nearly 50% of Scotland's electricity needs This development will attract investment of 30 billion to the Scottish economy. 11
EU s MSP activities since November 2008 Photos: Jan Nicolaisen, Denmark (Left), EWEA/Dervaux (Mid), DG MARE Photopool (Right) 12
Desires - EU s 10 Key principles for MSP (MSP Roadmap 28.11.2008) Using MSP according to area and type of activity Defining objectives to guide MSP Developing MSP in a transparent manner Stakeholder participation Coordination within Member States simplifying decision processes Ensuring the legal effect of national MSP Cross-border cooperation and consultation Incorporating monitoring and evaluation in the planning process Achieving coherence between terrestrial and maritime spatial planning Strong data and knowledge base 13
Policy process: Studies on MSP Legal aspects of MSP concluded Economic benefits of MSP ongoing Potential of MSP in the Mediterranean Sea Further preparatory actions and studies under consideration 14
Policy process: Preparatory actions Two preparatory actions have been launched for the Baltic and the North Sea / North East Atlantic application deadline 30 April 2010 DG MARE aim to foster cross-border cooperation aspects of MSP and to encourage the involved Member States to identify a shared sea area and develop MSP objectives and a management plan for this area 15
Arguments for a European approach to MSP Increasing number of EU Member States use MSP Strengthen the competitiveness of EU s maritime economy Provide reliable planning framework for the Internal Market Build on the ecosystem-based approach useful tool for implementing the Marine Strategy Framework Directive Encourage cross-border cooperation Coordinated approaches across sectors Reducing the costs of non-coordination Facilitate common understanding of MSP 16
The regulative core of MSP Regulate the use of sea space THE MSP ONION The MSP core is about regulating the use of sea-space The next layer is presenting the ways by which the regulation can take place The outermost layer includes the benefits of the MSP process 17
What do we get out of MSP? We eliminate the risks presented earlier, ensuring: Competitiveness & good use of opportunities Improved safety & security Best use, analysis and accumulation of marine data Good environmental health Sustainable but efficient use of the maritime space, resources and ecosystem services Ensuring the quality of life in coastal regions (jobs) Promoting EU s maritime leadership Good governance Visibility of maritime affairs & excellence 18
Policy process: Next steps Progress report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament Impact Assessment on options for how to move on with MSP in an EU context Timing: Foreseen last quarter 2010 Will build on the debate in the workshops, the experience gained through the preparatory actions and the results of the studies conducted so far, as well as global MSP experiences 19
EU s Marine data and knowledge activities since November 2008 Photos: Jan Nicolaisen, Denmark (All) 20
European Atlas of the Seas IMP Communication (COM (2007) 575-10/10/2007) The Commission will launch a European Atlas of the Seas as an educational tool and as a means of highlighting our common maritime heritage. IMP Action Plan (SEC(2007)1278-10/10/2007) The Commission will launch a European Atlas of the Seas, using available spatial information and building on the work of the European Marine Observation and Data Network, with view to its first publication in 2009. 21
European Atlas of the Seas Science: geology, chemistry, biology, physics Governance: jurisdictions, law, spatial planning Economy: fishery, energy, transport, extraction, tourism Population: settlement, employment, demography Nature: protected areas, endangered and alien species Environment: Dumping & deposition, pollution, accidents... Culture: lighthouses, coastal archaeology, wrecks, http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/atlas/index_en.htm 22
European Marine Observation and Data Network: EMODNET http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/consultation_emodnet_en.html 23
In MSP one of the keys to success is to make sure everybody understands each other! Cartoon: Mutts, By Donnell Thank you! 24
Revision before starting over What is MSP (2/2)? 23. Monitor Performance Indicators 24. Assessment and Reporting 1. Define Vision and Objectives START 2. Define Region 3. Define Legal Framework 4. Define Principles for Marine Spatial Planning 21. Marine Spatial Plan 19. Set up Monitoring Programme 20. Hold Public Hearing 22. Dissemination 5. Final Assessment & Reporting 4.Implementation 1. Vision and Objectives 2. Initial Assessment 5. Announce Step 1 INPUT OF HARMONIZED MAPPING DATA 6. Environmental Characterisation 18. Set Specific Targets for Individual Zones, Uses & Activities 16. Draft Management Plan 15. Calculate Costs and Benefits 14. Draft Zoning Plan & Map 17. Consult Stakeholders 3. Planning process 12. Consult Stakeholders In thematic groups 13. Zone Selection Process (based on 6 to 12) 11. Set Targets for Marine Regions (environmental and human activities & uses) 7. Assessment of Human Impact and Pressures 8. Socio-economic Analysis 9. Assessment of Biodiversity 10. Define Environmental Status What is MSP (2/2)? Example from the BALANCE proj. 25