Marine Spatial Planning in Europe: Drawing the Lines on Access to Resources

Abstract

Abstract The European Commission (EC) has adopted a roadmap on marine spatial planning (MSP) to guide the sustainable growth of EU maritime sectors as a new approach to addressing the increase in competing uses of the sea. The growth of marine commercial activities such as offshore oil and gas development, maritime transport, port development, aquaculture, and tourism, combined with emerging uses such as offshore renewable energy, is increasing the pressure on already limited European marine space. The development of a common approach to MSP is an outgrowth of the European Union (EU) Integrated Maritime Policy, which aims to coordinate all EU policies with a maritime dimension in order to safeguard environmental sustainability. The EC considers a planned use of sea areas as the only way to provide a predictable framework for economic investments in offshore areas, creating the framework for balancing the vested interests of different maritime activities and the need to protect the marine environment. The EC MSP program presents both challenges and opportunities for the oil and gas industry. It is critical that the oil and gas industry develop an understanding of marine spatial management issues, stakeholders and process and engage proactively and constructively in EC marine zoning developments. MSP in Europe, and elsewhere, has serious implication for future access to petroleum resources. The oil and gas industry can realize important business benefits by building relationships with other ocean industries as part of broader private sector leadership and collaboration in responding to EC MSP. Development of a coordinated ocean business community approach to MSP will contribute to the ability and capacity of the oil and gas industry to actively engage in ocean zoning efforts in other regions.