One of the lessons learned from almost two decades of MSP is that the process and outcomes are not “one-size-fits-all” around the world. With the aim to improve understanding about the evolution and adaptation of MSP globally and look towards some consistency for regular voluntarily reporting to UNESCO-IOC, an MSP Typology with 10 criteria was developed.
The objective of developing such criteria is to assess whether there are commonalities, differences and/or trends, not to evaluate each initiative in-depth, a task that needs to be done by the competent authorities as part of the MSP process.
| Criteria | Categories | Definition |
| Scale | Local | When a planning area encompasses one or more small (administrative) boundaries (e.g., municipality, district, county). |
| Sub-national | When a planning area encompasses an intermediary (administrative) boundary (e.g., province, federal state, autonomous region, island, bioregion, sea-basin, coastal zone). | |
| National | When a planning area encompasses a whole, or majority of, a nation or territory. | |
| Scope | Coastal Zone | When a planning area covers the coastal zone as it is defined by the country (e.g., up to 1, 3 or 12 NM). |
| Coastal and Marine | When a planning area covers all marine waters. | |
| Marine | When a planning area indicates it does not include a “coastal zone” or coastal waters are not specifically defined or excluded. | |
| Purpose | Strategic | When the purpose of the plan is to develop a high-level strategy for the planning area and may include priorities towards the development of a plan in the future. |
| Zoning | When the purpose of the plan is to define spatial zones or areas pertaining to the objectives specified by the process. It might include some general goals and identify current and future uses and activities. | |
| Comprehensive | When the purpose of the plan is to define spatial zones or areas, allocate the existing and potential future uses and activities, and develop an implementation plan. | |
| Political commitment | Informal | When there is an informal or verbal announcement to initiate planning (i.e., no official document). |
| Executive decision | When an MSP process is initiated through an Executive-level decision (e.g., policy, decree, directive). | |
| Legal statute | When an MSP process is explicitly established by a legal instrument (e.g., Act, Law, Ordinance). | |
| Implementation framework | Guiding | When a plan is a guiding document for decision makers; a plan informs policy and management decisions, but it is not mandatory to consult the plan. |
| Legally binding | When a plan itself is legally enforceable; consulting the plan and implementation is mandatory. | |
| Main objectives | Biodiversity conservation | When the main objectives described in the plan are related to biodiversity conservation (e.g., MPA management plans), without any specific economic, social or cultural objectives (e.g., development of the maritime sectors). |
| Economic development | When the main objectives described in the plan are related only to sectoral interests, without any specific ecological or social objectives. | |
| Multiple objectives | When a plan includes ecologic, economic and social objectives (as per the IOC-UNESCO definition of MSP). | |
| Spatial allocation | Limited | Spatial analysis of current conditions only (e.g., some strategic plans). |
| Partial allocation | Spatial analysis of current and future conditions, including scenario development and/or identification of priority areas or zones for one or more objectives but comprehensive spatial allocation not fully developed. | |
| Detailed allocation | Spatial analysis of current and future conditions, including scenario development and/or identification of priority areas or zones for most or all objectives. | |
| Stakeholders involved | Limited | When a planning process involves only the planning team and governmental authorities. |
| Key sectors | When a planning process involves the planning team, governmental authorities, and other stakeholders from key sectors. | |
| Sectors & Public | When a planning process involves a wide range of sectors and categories of stakeholders beyond the planning team and governmental authorities. | |
| Participatory process | Informative | When a planning process is just informed to the public. |
| Consultative | When the development of the plan is done using consultations with key stakeholders; public consultation of the draft plan document may occur as is mandatory. | |
| Collaborative | When the planning process included many opportunities of engagement, aiming collaboration among different stakeholders to develop the plan. | |
| Funding | Government | When a plan is funded by direct allocation from governmental budgets, including users’ fees and any national public funds. |
| Public-Private | When a plan is funded via public-private partnerships that include government, public and private funding sources. | |
| Grants | When a plan is funded solely by private and/or public grants not derived from government sources. Includes foundations, public entities and private donors. |