Challenge
In 2014 the European Parliament introduced a new directive on Marine Spatial Planning requiring all coastal EU Member States to prepare cross-sectoral maritime spatial plans for their waters by 2021, with the aim of better managing the various activities that take place at sea. MSP plays an important role in promoting sustainable development and growth in the maritime sector, while also ensuring that maritime activities are consistent with the ecosystem-based approach to marine management.
Solution
Dr Stephen Jay is leading the involvement of the MSP team in the European MSP Platform, launched by the European Commission to draw together MSP knowledge and expertise from across Europe to make it available in a readily accessible, implementation-oriented format.
Working with s.Pro – sustainable projects, a project management and maritime policy company based in Berlin, the University’s expert team are developing a range of important resources which include contributions to an interactive online portal to help users find relevant experiences and knowledge to craft effective maritime spatial plans.
Angela Schultz-Zehden, Managing Director, s.Pro – sustainable projects GmbH said: “Stephen Jay and the University of Liverpool team provide in-depth expertise on MSP, especially in their role as the Atlantic Focal Point for the MSP Platform, through which they facilitate the sharing of valuable MSP experiences from the UK with other EU Member States who are at the beginning stages of their MSP processes”.
The project will aid the European Commission and coastal Member States with meeting their MSP development objectives and timescales. As well as increasing knowledge sharing and cooperation across borders, this co-ordinated approach will, ultimately, lead to improved management of the sea and ensure sustainable blue growth in the future.
You can find out more information about the importance of MSP through this short video which Dr Jay helped create:
Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) in a nutshell from GRID-Arendal on Vimeo.
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