Country information
Basic facts on marine waters
- Territorial sea (12 NM): 37 764.56 km2
- Exclusive Economic Zone: 942 874.42 km2
Strategic documents related to MSP
- National Ocean and Coastal Policies (2014)
- Oceanopolitical vision of Ecuador
Technical resources related to MSP
- Technical Report on Current Conditions and Compatibility of Maritime Uses in the Gulf of Guayaquil
- Technical Report on Future Conditions and Scenarios for MSP and Sustainable Blue Economy Opportunities in the Gulf of Guayaquil
- South Pacific Data and Information Network in Support of Integrated Coastal Area Management
- Local experiences of integrated coastal management: SPINCAM pilot cases in the Southeast Pacific
- Guide for the formulation/updating of land-use development and management plans in the Special Regime of Galapagos
- Identification of indicators and development of a management system for the Churute Ecological Reserve in the framework of the project “Biosphere Reserves as a Tool for Coastal and Island Management in the South-East Pacific Region (BRESEP)”
- Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning Programme
- Charter for the Teaching of the Maritime Spaces of Ecuador
Current status of MSP
Name of the plan |
Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning Programme |
|---|---|
Year of approval
|
2017 |
Size of planning area in km2
|
N/A |
Authority leading the MSP process
|
Inter-institutional Sea Committee (CIM) |
Current status |
|
|---|---|
Pre-planning |
Status: Complete |
Assessments for planning |
Status: Complete |
Plan development
|
Status: Complete |
Plan completion
|
Status: Complete |
Plan approval
|
Status: Complete |
Plan implementation |
Status: Underway |
Plan review
|
Status: N/A |
MSP Typology |
|
|---|---|
Scale (Local/ Sub-national/ National)
|
National |
Scope (Coastal Zone /Coastal and Marine /Marine)
|
Coastal and Marine |
Purpose (Strategic /Zoning /Comprehensive)
|
Strategic |
Political commitment (Informal /Executive decision / Legal statute)
|
Executive decision |
Implementation framework (Guiding /Legally binding)
|
Guiding |
Main objectives (Biodiversity conservation / Economic development / Multiple objectives)
|
Multiple objectives |
Spatial allocation (Limited / Partial allocation /Detailed allocation)
|
Detailed allocation |
Stakeholders involved (Limited /Key sectors /Sectors & Public)
|
Key sectors |
Participatory process (Informative /Consultative /Collaborative)
|
Informative |
Funding (Government /Public-Private /Grants)
|
Government |
National authority in charge of MSP |
Inter-institutional Sea Committee (CIM) |
Governmental funding |
CIM member ministries |
External funding |
N/A |
Public-Private funding |
N/A |
Total size of planning area |
N/A |
Time required to complete the planning document |
N/A |
Main issues that led to the adoption of MSP (drivers) |
N/A |
Stakeholder engagement activities |
Click here for a list of stakeholders |
Sectors included in planning |
The Coastal and Marine Spatial Plan considers certain strategic sectors that are established in the Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador (2018) in its Article 313, as follows: energy in all its forms; telecommunications; non-renewable natural resources; transport; refining of hydrocarbons; biodiversity and genetic heritage; radio spectrum; water
In addition, the Plan takes into account the following essential uses as set out in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea: navigation; fishing; telecommunication cables and pipelines for the transport of energy products |
Articulation between MSP and Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) |
The continental coastal boundary was delimited considering biophysical, socio-economic and administrative criteria, with the purpose of planning and promoting the articulated and coordinated management of the coastal marine space. It will also serve as input for future norms and regulations in this scope |
Articulation between MSP and marine conservation (including Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework) |
The scope of the Coastal and Marine Spatial Plan is a geographical area for the future development of Ecuador, in which uses and activities capable of generating conflicts in certain places can coexist, which requires the adoption of guidelines for the organization of uses and their management, respecting the rights of nature and taking into account the growth of the productive matrix for the development of the State |
Articulation between MSP and sustainable blue economy |
‘Intersectoral Sea Agenda’, based on Ecuador’s ‘Ocean Policy Vision’, which were approved by the Inter-institutional Sea Committee (CIM) and published in the Official Register No. 29 on 30 April 2025. |
Articulation between MSP and climate change (including the Paris Agreement) |
N/A |
Plan approval process |
Approved on 10 May 2017 (found in Official Gazette 320 of 2 March 2018, Resolution n° 002-CIM- 2017 “Coastal and Marine Spatial Plan 2017-2030”) |
Legal status of the plan (guiding or legally binding) |
N/A |
Plan review process |
N/A |
Performance monitoring and evaluation |
In process |
Interactions with neighbouring countries in the context of MSP attending transboundary coherence approaches |
N/A |
Legal framework
- Constitution of Ecuador
- National Development Plan
- Plan for the Planning of the Coastal Marine Space (2017)
- Coastal Ocean Public Policies (2014)
- National Planning Legislation:
- Organic Code of Territorial Ordering, Autonomy and Decentralization-COOTAD (2010)
- Organic Law on Land Management, Land Use and Management – LOOTUS (2016)
- National Territorial Strategy (2017)
- Environmental Legislation: Institutionalization of Integrated Coastal Management
- Organic Environmental Code (2017)
- Regulations to the Organic Environmental Code (2019)
- Local tools:
- Development and Land Management Plans
- Integrated Coastal Management Plans
- Beach and Adjacent Strip Management Plans
- Management Plans for Sustainable Use and Custody Agreements for the mangrove ecosystem
- Civil Code
- Organic Code on Planning and Public Finance
- Organic Law on Navigation, Safety Management and Maritime and River Protection in Aquatic Spaces
- Organic Law for the Development of Aquaculture and Fishing
Contact
Directorate General for Maritime Interests
David Roberto Carrana Rueda – Director of Maritime Development