Country information
Basic facts on marine waters
- Territorial sea (12 nm): 62 170 km2 approximately
- Exclusive Economic Zone: More than 500 000 km2
Strategic documents related to MSP
- Identification of Conservation Priorities Associated with the Ecosystems of the Atlantic Frontier
- Biodiversity Conservation Priorities in the Caribbean Region of Venezuela.
- Environmental Baseline of the Plataforma Deltana,Venezuela
- Evaluation of Fishery Resources in Eastern Venezuela
- The Horizon of Blue Venezuela 2021 – 2025, National Institute of Aquatic Spaces (INEA).
- National Policies for Conservation and Sustainable Development of Coastal Areas.
Technical resources related to MSP
- Proposal for the Technical and Legal Basis of Ecological Corridors in the Venezuelan Coastal Marine Area
Coastal Marine Area of Venezuela – Technical Document for the Construction of Ecological Corridors in the Venezuelan Atlantic Front (Ministerio del Poder Popular para el Ecosocialismo y Aguas, 2017). - Technical Basis Document for the Delta del Orinoco Biosphere Reserve – Venezuelan Caribbean CEM, 2017.
- Technical Basis of the Management Plan and Regulation of Use of the Los Roques Archipelago National Park -CEM Caribe Venezolano, 2017.
- Biological, ecological and environmental aspects that favor the connectivity of protected areas in marine-coastal spaces” – PROJECT 00075653.
- Best Practices Guide Lessons Learned Marine-Coastal Protected Areas Management, 2014.
- Integrated Management and Development Plan for Coastal Areas (POGIZC).
Overview of MSP related maritime uses
Current main uses:
| Ammunition storage sites | Oil and gas |
| Aquaculture | Ports |
| Cables and pipelines | Radars |
| Coastal protection | Scientific research |
| Fisheries | Shipping |
| Military | Tourism and leisure |
| Nature conservation | Underwater cultural heritage |
Which marine spatial plans exist?
Name of the plan (year) |
Proposal for Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) of the Gulf of Paria Ecological Corridor within the framework of PROCARIBE+ (In draft) |
|---|---|
Scale of the plan |
Sub national (regional) |
Pre-planning |
Status: N/A |
Assessment for planning |
Status: N/A |
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 |
National authority in charge of MSP |
Ministry of People’s Power for Ecosocialism |
Governmental funding |
Regular Budget |
External funding |
PROCARIBE+ Project |
Public-private funding |
N/A |
Size of planning area |
Approximately 5 000 000 hectares |
Time required to complete the planning document |
N/A |
Main issued that led to the adoption of MSP (drivers) |
Ensure the sustainable management and continuous production of the species necessary for fishing or any other form of exploitation of hydrobiological resources, other strategic resources of the Nation and the scenic landscapes. |
Stakeholder engagement activities |
1. Define and analyze existing and plausible future conditions of the marine and coastal environment, and marine and coastal uses (opportunities and threats);
2.Raise awareness of the importance of MSP and the technical capacities for its implementation; 3.Design and implement a participatory approach to the planning exercise, 4. Develop the marine spatial plan. |
Sectors included in planning |
Members of the Central Working Committee of Coastal Zones (CTCZC):
Ministry of People’s Power for Ecosocialism (MINEC), Ministry of People’s Power for Fishing and Aquaculture (MPPPA), Ministry of People’s Power for Internal Relations, Justice and Peace(MPPRIJP), Ministry of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs (MRE), Ministry of People’s Power for Defense (MD), Ministry of People’s Power for Tourism (MINTUR), Ministry of People’s Power for Public Works (MPPOP), Ministry of People’s Power for Ecosocialism (MINEC), Ministry of People’s Power for Fishing and Aquaculture (MPPPA), Ministry of People’s Power Ministry of People’s Power for Petroleum (MPPP), Ministry of People’s Power for Planning (MPPP), Institute of Cultural Heritage (IPC), |
Articulation between MSP and coastal zone management |
The MSP will complement the ICZM process already underway in the country, from 12 nautical miles seawards. |
Articulation between MSP and marine protected areas |
The declaration of a protected area (Area under Special Administration Regime -ABRAE) in the Gulf of Paria under the category of Special Aquatic Habitat for Exploitation or Controlled Intensive Use, composed of all those areas such as gulfs, lagoons, deltas, marshy plains and similar areas that, due to their maritime, lake or river riches, are of special interest to the Nation (Article 16, Paragraph 1, Letter c, Organic Law for the Management of the Territory, 1983) has been envisioned. |
Articulation between MSP and sustainable blue economy |
It is estimated that the sustainable management of hydrobiological resources will contribute to the sustainable economy of the associated communities. |
Plan approval process |
|
Legal status of the plan (guiding or legally binding) |
Legally binding |
Plan review process |
Every 5 years and must be established in the legal document |
Performance monitoring and evaluation |
It must be established in the legal document. |
Legal framework
- Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (2000) (Articles 127, 128 and 129 of the Official Gazette of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela No. 5,453 Extraordinary dated March 24, 2000).
- Decree with Force of Law on Coastal Zones (2001) (Decree No. 1,468. Official Gazette of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela No. 37,349 dated December 19, 2001).
- Decree with Rank, Value and Force of Organic Law of Aquatic Spaces (2008) (Decree No. 6,126. Official Gazette of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela No. 5,890 Extraordinary dated July 31, 2008).
- National Strategy for the Conservation of Biological Diversity 2010-2020 and its National Plan of Action. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (2012)
- Water Law (2007) (Official Gazette of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela No. 38.595 dated January 2, 2007).
- Biodiversity Management Law (2008) (Official Gazette of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela No. 39,070 dated December 01, 2008)
- Organic Environmental Law (2006) (Official Gazette of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela No. 5,033 Extraordinary dated December 22, 2006).
- Organic Law for the Management of the Territory (1983) (Official Gazette of the Republic of Venezuela No. 3,238 Extraordinary dated August 11, 1983).
- Simón Bolívar National Project, Third Socialist Plan for the Economic and Social Development of the Nation 2019 – 2025 (2019) (Objective 15 of the Indicators linked to the evaluation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations Organization, already included in the National Statistical System of the Venezuelan Government and the Plan for the Homeland 2025, Official Gazette of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela No. 6.442 Extraordinary dated April 08, 2019)
- National Policies for Conservation and Sustainable Development of Coastal Areas (2009) (Office of the Vice-Minister of Environmental Management and Administration – General Directorate of Planning and Environmental Management – Technical Directorate of Coastal Areas).
Contact
Ministry of People’s Power for Ecosocialism – General Directorate of Ecosystem Management and Conservation Policies
Josué Alejandro Lorca Vega –Minister