Country information
Basic facts on marine waters
- Territorial sea (12 nm zone): 37 764.56 km2
- Exclusive Economic Zone: 942 874.42 km2
Strategic documents related to MSP
- National Ocean and Coastal Policies (2014)
- National Development Plan
- National Territorial Strategy (2017)
- Coastal Marine Spatial Plan (2017)
- Organic Environmental Code (CODA)
- Regulation to the Organic Code of the Environment (RCODA) (2019)
- Organic Law on Navigation, Management, Safety and Maritime Protection (Ley Orgánica De Navegación, Gestión Seguridad Y Protección Marítima)
Technical resources related to MSP
- 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)”
- Guide for the formulation/updating of land-use development and management plans in the Special Regime of Galapagos
- South Pacific Data and Information Network in Support of Integrated Coastal Area Management (SPINCAM III)
- Local experiences of integrated coastal management: SPINCAM pilot cases in the Southeast Pacific.
- 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.
Relevant MSP projects
- Sustainable development plan and territorial management for the Special Regime of Galapagos (2015-2020)
- Assessment and projection of fishing resources – Aquaculture to strengthen the economic and social development of the Ecuadorian fisheries sector (2013-2018)
- Integrated management of marine and coastal areas of high biodiversity value in continental Ecuador
- Conservation of marine and coastal biodiversity of Ecuador
- Economic valuation of the resources of the Ecuadorian sea for the protection of maritime interests – VERME (under development by the Directorate-General of Maritime Interests, DIGEIM)
- Estimation of the value of the Maritime Gross Internal Product (under development by DIGEIM)
Overview of MSP related maritime uses
Current main uses:
| Offshore renewable energy | Shipping |
| Ports | Oil and gas |
| Military | Mining |
| Fisheries | Aquaculture |
| Cables and pipelines | Scientific research |
| Nature conservation | Tourism and leisure |
| Underwater cultural heritage | Coastal protection |
Which marine spatial plans exist?
Name of the plan (year) |
Coastal and Marine Spatial Plan (POEMC) 2017-2030 |
|---|---|
Scale of the plan |
National |
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 |
National authority in charge of MSP |
Interinstitutional Sea Committee (CIM) |
Governmental funding |
National |
External funding |
National |
Public-private funding |
National |
Size of planning area Superfície del área |
National |
Time required to complete the planning document |
Projection to 2030 |
Main issued that led to the adoption of MSP (drivers) |
Ecuadorian Navy; Interinstitutional Sea Committee (CIM); former Technical Secretariat of the Sea (SETEMAR); former National Secretariat of Planning and Development (SENPLADES); Ministry of Environment; Technical Secretariat of Planning |
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 coastal zone management |
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 protected areas |
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 |
N/A |
Plan approval |
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 |
Approved |
Plan revision |
Approved |
Performance monitoring and evaluation |
In process |
Legal framework
National Planning Legislation:
- Organic Code of Territorial Ordering, Autonomy and Decentralization-COOTAD (2010).
- Organic Law on Land Management, Land Use and Management – LOOTUS (2016).
- Environmental Legislation: Institutionalization of Integrated Coastal Management.
- Organic Environmental Code (2017)
- Regulations to the Organic Environmental Code (2019)
Contact
Technical Secretariat of Planning
Ec. Jairon Merchán Haz – National Secretary of Planning Ecuador