First Russian experience of implementing marine spatial planning procedures in the Russian part of the Barents Sea

Abstract

Marine spatial planning is widely used in coastal countries across the world. This approach is based on taking into account all current and planned marine economic activities and assessing their impact on all biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem. In 2013–2015, a pilot project involving the implementation of marine spatial planning in the Russian part of the Barents Sea was completed in Russia for the first time under the auspices of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to comply with the order of the President of the Russian Federation. The project yielded a list of environmental restrictions and proposals for each type of economic activity in the Barents Sea. These proposals were used by the Government of the Russian Federation to develop a roadmap to implementing marine spatial planning in the Russian Federation in 2015–2018 and prepare a report for the President of the Russian Federation.