Key MSP references

MSPglobal International Guide on Marine/Maritime Spatial Planning

The MSPglobal International Guide is the result of a joint initiative by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO and European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) to support the development and implementation of MSP processes worldwide.

The purpose is to assist governments, partners and MSP practitioners globally in the development of marine spatial plans, and to capture the evolution and lessons learned globally on MSP since the first guide was published in 2009 by IOC-UNESCO. A guiding principle in developing the guide was to showcase inspiring examples of MSP for users to consider and reflect upon, which they might apply in their own context according to the resources they have available.

Marine Spatial Planning: A Step-by-Step Approach toward Ecosystem-based Management

The guide uses a clear, straightforward step-by-step approach to show how Marine Spatial Planning can be set up and applied toward achieving ecosystem-based management. Most steps are illustrated with relevant examples from the real world. The guide aims at providing: 1) understanding of what MSP is about; 2) insight in the consecutive steps and tasks of setting up a successful MSP initiative that can help achieve ecosystem-based management; and 3) awareness of what has worked and what has not in MSP practice around the world.

A Guide to Evaluating Marine Spatial Plans

The guide assists marine planners and managers monitor and evaluate the success of marine plans in achieving real results and outcomes. Monitoring and evaluation are often considered only after a plan has been developed. The guide emphasizes the importance of early integration of monitoring and evaluation in the MSP process, the importance of measurable and specific, i.e., SMART objectives, clear management actions, relevant indicators and targets, and involvement of stakeholders throughout the MSP process.

Visions for a Sea Change

This guide documents the discussions and conclusions of the 2006 UNESCO MSP workshop and reviews the state-of-the-art and good practices of marine spatial planning through a series of thematic presentations and discussions on the various elements of the management process, e.g., authorization, research, planning, analysis, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, institutional arrangements, and capacity building.