Marine Spatial Planning cross-border cooperation in the ‘European Macaronesia Ocean’: A participatory approach

Javier García-Sanabria,Javier García-Onetti,Víctor Cordero Penín,María De Andrés,Claudia Millán Caravaca,Eleonora Verón,Cristina Pallero-Flores

doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104671

Javier García-Sanabria, Javier García-Onetti + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104671

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Abstract

Increasing interests in marine areas has led to conflicts, and planning of present and future uses is required to achieve sustainable management. Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is dealt at a national level, but generally it includes ecological, physical processes and administrative jurisdictions of multiple countries. The transboundary cooperation on MSP is a complex challenge, that could be better addressed with a participatory process, to achieve coherent planning processes in shared marine socio-ecological systems. This paper focuses on the process followed to reach consensus on cross-border MSP in archipelagic remote regions with no visible and distant maritime borders. Among the results obtained is the design of a European Macaronesia (Canary Islands, Madeira & Azores) Ocean Pilot Program. This would allow to strengthen marine governance, create synergies between different MSP plans, and comply with EU regulations. A joint position of the European Macaronesia could also be an opportunity for maritime interests in national, European, and international forums. Both the participatory process and the results obtained can serve as a model for application in other transboundary marine areas of the world

Highlights

Increasing uses in marine areas has led to conflicts due to spatial and temporal overlapping [1]
The difference observed in Madeira was related with the use of an online survey that was not used in the other archipelagos
Attendees were classified by typologies of actors or coastal/marine sectors

Summary

Introduction

Increasing uses in marine areas has led to conflicts due to spatial and temporal overlapping [1]. Planning of uses and activities would be required to achieve sustainable management [2]. In this context, Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), closely linked with participatory processes, would enable connections between diverse administrations and stakeholders [3,4,5]. MSP is dealt with at a national level and each state plans waters under its jurisdiction. It generally includes ecological, physical processes and administrative jurisdictions of multiple coun tries. Transboundary cooperation on MSP using an Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) approach, is urgent [6,7,8]. Placed at the core of MSP, cross-border cooperation could improve marine resources management by incorporating the transboundary approach [10,11,12,13,14]

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