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
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)”
Relevant MSP projects
- 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)
- MSPglobal – Transboundary pilot in the Southeast Pacific (2018-2021)
- Southeast Pacific data and information network in support to integrated coastal area management (SPINCAM Project) (2009-2020)
Overview of MSP related maritime uses
Current main uses:
| Aquaculture | Offshore renewable energy |
| Cables and pipelines | Oil and Gas |
| Coastal protection | Ports |
| Fisheries | Scientific research |
| Military | Shipping |
| Mining | Tourism and Leisure |
| Nature conservation | Underwater Cultural Heritage |
Which marine spatial plans exist?
Name of the plan (year) |
Coastal and Marine Spatial Plan 2017-2030 (2017) |
|---|---|
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 |
N/A |
Public-Private funding |
N/A |
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 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 |
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) |
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 |
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
Contact
Technical Secretariat Planning Ecuador
Ec. Jairon Merchán Haz – National Secretary of Planning Ecuador