Country information
Basic facts on marine waters
- Territorial sea (12 NM): maritime zone regulations pertaining to the outer limits of the territorial sea are yet to be finalized
- Exclusive Economic Zone: 2.3 million km2
- Extended continental shelf: Joint Management Area: ~390 000 km2
Technical resources related to MSP
- Ocean Observatory E-Platform
- Development of regulated framework for new marine economic activities
Overview of MSP related maritime uses
Current main uses:
| Shipping | Ports |
| Nature conservation | Fisheries |
| Aquaculture | Scientific research |
| Coastal protection | Cables and pipelines |
| Tourism and leisure | Underwater cultural heritage |
| Marina development | Offshore renewable energy |
| Radars | Shipping |
Which marine spatial plans exist?
Name of the plan (year) |
Marine Spatial Plan for the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Mauritius |
|---|---|
Scale of the plan |
National |
Pre-planning |
Status: Complete |
Assessments for planning |
Status: Underway |
Plan development |
Status: N/A |
Plan completion |
Status: N/A |
Plan approval |
Status: N/A |
Plan implementation |
Status: N/A |
Plan review |
Status: N/A |
Name of the plan (year) |
Demonstrating Innovative Ocean Governance Mechanisms and Delivering Best Practices and Lessons for Extended Continental Shelf Management within the Western Indian Ocean Large Marine Ecosystem (SAPPHIRE Joint Management Area Demonstration Project) |
|---|---|
Scale of the plan |
Sub-national (regional) |
Pre-planning |
Status: Complete |
Assessments for planning |
Status: Complete |
Plan development |
Status: Complete |
Plan completion |
Status: Underway |
Plan approval |
Status: N/A |
Plan implementation |
Status: N/A |
Plan review |
Status: N/A |
National authority in charge of MSP |
Department for Continental Shelf, Maritime Zones Administration and Exploration (CSMZAE) |
Governmental funding |
Governmental funding |
External funding |
Upcoming funding through the Nature Conservancy under the project “Strengthening the MSP implementation of the Western Indian Ocean through integration of Marine Spatial Plan, ecosystem services and effective biodiversity conservation”.
Funding through UNDP for the SAPPHIRE Joint Management Area Demonstration Project. |
Public-private funding |
N/A |
Size of planning area |
Exclusive Economic Zone of Mauritius and Extended Continental Shelf |
Time required to complete the planning documentation |
7 years |
Main issued that led to the adoption of MSP (drivers) |
Identify the utilization of marine space for different sea uses in accordance with national policies and legislation while taking into consideration the preservation, protection and improvement of marine environment, including resilience to climate change impacts. Define priorities, regulations and zoning concerning traditional and new marine economic activities in Mauritius. Establish a comprehensive system of multi-use marine planning for consistent, transparent, sustainable and evidence-based decision making. Set up an Ocean Observatory E-platform to centralize data pertaining to the maritime zones of Mauritius to facilitate data discovery and data sharing between stakeholders. |
Stakeholder engagement activities |
Participation of multi-sector stakeholders (from government, Economic Development Board and NGOs) throughout the entire process as a means to inform, guide and validate the activities and outputs at all stages of the MSP process.
Three levels of participation: |
Sectors included in planning |
Marine conservation; marine scientific research; aquaculture and marina development; fisheries; sea-based tourism industry; renewable energy; hydrocarbon and mineral exploration and exploitation; mining; port and shipping; cables and pipelines |
Articulation between MSP and coastal zone management |
Coastal management is regulated by a plethora of legislation including but not limited to the Environment Protection Act 2002 which provides for ICZM. The prescribed definition therein is narrowed to only include within the ‘coastal zone’ any area situated within 1 km from the high watermark, extending either side into the sea or inland. MSP is intended to harmonize the scope of coastal management with the whole EEZ. |
Articulation between MSP and marine protected areas |
Gazetted MPAs are regulated by the Fisheries and Marine Resources (Marine Protected Areas) Regulations 2001 which provide for the designation and management of three types of MPAs and allowed activities therein. Management of MPAs is becoming challenging due to their area-based management tool’s nature, contrary to the ecosystem-based and holistic approach of MSP. |
Articulation between MSP and sustainable blue economy |
A project of the Nairobi Convention Secretariat in partnership with the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association and the CSIR has been identified in 2017 for Marine Spatial Planning of the Western Indian Ocean Blue Economy. It aims to develop ecosystem-based marine spatial planning as an effective tool for the implementation of the Western Indian Ocean Blue Economy by the Contracting Parties of the UNEP-Nairobi Convention for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Western Indian Ocean Region. |
Plan approval process |
To be defined |
Legal status of the plan (guiding or legally binding) |
To be defined. Either fully-fledged piece of law/umbrella-type legislation or a policy paper referring to existing regulatory sectoral frameworks. |
Plan review process |
To be defined |
Performance monitoring and evaluation |
To be defined |
Legal framework
Government Decision on 16 December 2016.
Regulatory framework for MSP under the provision of the Maritime Zones Act underway.
Contact
Department for Continental Shelf, Maritime Zones Administration and Exploration
M. Rezah Badal – Director General