What is coastal & marine spatial planning?
We look to our seas to satisfy a lot of demands – from food to energy, shipping, recreation and the discovery of new medicines. Coastal & marine spatial planning (MSP) is the process of planning ahead and identifying spaces in the ocean and coastal waters that are appropriate for various uses, separating incompatible uses, while at the same time ensuring that the environment and marine life are protected. MSP allows us to identify in advance areas where certain industrial uses make sense, and areas where they don’t. Other countries, such as Australia, Norway and the Netherlands, are using MSP to improve management of their ocean resources. Some states have done this as well. For example, Massachusetts is completing a comprehensive ocean management plan and Rhode Island is in the process of developing one. Highlights of the Obama Administration’s Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning Framework: Today, President Obama’s Ocean Policy Task Force released its proposed recommendations for how
