A proposal for engagement in MPAs in areas beyond national jurisdiction: The case of Macaronesia

Assessing the viability of Stakeholders’ Engagement in Marine Spatial Planning and its Implications for a Sustainable Blue Economy

“…The discrepancy in the meaning and de nition of MSP also depends on the spatial scope, i.e., global, regional, national, and maritime targets of a given area in relation to the different users [25]; e.g., in the Mediterranean, MSP was initially aligned with MPA planning [26], with the aim of creating a foundation for sustainable and integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) practices, e.g., in Sweden [2]. In some countries, different terms have been used synonymously to refer to MSP, e.g., marine planning [27]; integrated ocean management, e.g., in Australia [25]; and marine or ocean zoning and management [28]. Most of the de nitions have succinctly described MSP as either a tool or process focused on coastal and marine space ecosystem-based management, e.g., in the EU region and Australia, focusing on, inter alia, particularly, sensitive sea areas (PSSAs), vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs), emission control/special areas, and areas of particular environmental interest (APEIs) [27]- [29].…”

“…In China, e.g., around Hainan, interest in MSP has increased with increasing focus on citizen science, which promotes public participation in scienti c research and monitoring in marine space [42]. In Micronesia, MSP efforts have become more robust since 2017 with the institutionalization of the UN Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) to draft a new biodiversity framework and propose an International Legally Binding Instrument (ILBI) under the UNCLOS to guide MSP [27]. In Canada, MSP is envisioned as 'Canada's Ocean City', with a focus on the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP-15 and the draft Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which stipulates targets for increasing equity and shared bene ts in green and blue spaces [10] to reinforce area-based ocean protection targets [12].…”

“…For instance, in the EU, only approximately 22 countries have fully enforced the EU directive on MSP, and in some small European states, complexities are still prevalent, e.g., on how to ensure the collaborative participation of different actors [2], [11], [22]. In marine biodiversity hotspots, e.g., in Micronesia, only 1.18% of ABNJ are under protection, and key stakeholders who are essential for guaranteeing legitimacy in the governance process among local users are lacking [27]. In some coastal states, studies have reported challenges related to the development of sustainable targets and outcomes, e.g., where there are many users [25], [28].…”

“…In some countries, different terms have been used synonymously to refer to MSP, e.g., marine planning [27]; integrated ocean management, e.g., in Australia [25]; and marine or ocean zoning and management [28]. Most of the de nitions have succinctly described MSP as either a tool or process focused on coastal and marine space ecosystem-based management, e.g., in the EU region and Australia, focusing on, inter alia, particularly, sensitive sea areas (PSSAs), vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs), emission control/special areas, and areas of particular environmental interest (APEIs) [27]- [29]. This perspective de nes MSP as a regulatory mechanism or framework for ocean activities via different approaches, e.g., ocean zoning [30], as described in the Area Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) [27].…”

“…Most of the de nitions have succinctly described MSP as either a tool or process focused on coastal and marine space ecosystem-based management, e.g., in the EU region and Australia, focusing on, inter alia, particularly, sensitive sea areas (PSSAs), vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs), emission control/special areas, and areas of particular environmental interest (APEIs) [27]- [29]. This perspective de nes MSP as a regulatory mechanism or framework for ocean activities via different approaches, e.g., ocean zoning [30], as described in the Area Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) [27]. Although not all scholars agree with this de nition, it provides insight into MSP.…”