Home | About | Fall 2009 Vol. 26 No. 2

In This Issue:
 
 
This publication is the result of work sponsored by New Jersey Sea Grant with funds from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Sea Grant, U.S. Department of Commerce, under NOAA grant number NA060AR4170086, and New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium/New Jersey Sea Grant with funds appropriated by the State of New Jersey. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of New Jersey Sea Grant or the U.S Department of Commerce. NJSG-09-726.
NOAA

A Perfect Moment for Mid-Atlantic Sea Change

by Jay Odell, The Nature Conservancy

     

(cont'd from page 2)

MSP Example
Click to enlarge for an example of Marine Spatial Planning

     What is MSP? Similar to land use planning, MSP is a process to identify optimal areas and time frames for current and future uses to achieve ecological, economic, and social objectives. It is based on the philosophy that we must take into consideration whole ecosystems, including people, to maintain or restore healthy, productive, and resilient conditions necessary for the services society requires. MSP has been developed and successfully implemented in several other countries, with excellent documentation of theory, methods, and lessons learned4. TNC recently held workshops in Rhode Island and Delaware to engage over 200 marine policy, science, management, and industry leaders in discussion about planning principles, concepts, and potential avenues for advancing integrated MSP at state and federal levels in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and nationally. The workshop results indicate that MSP is now widely recognized as an essential tool for achieving ecosystem-based management in the U.S. Some of the key principles for MSP identified at these and other recent workshops are:

  • Conservation of marine habitats and species is a primary planning objective. MSP should not be used just to reduce conflicts between resource use sectors such as energy, transportation and fisheries.
  • A highly transparent and participatory process with clearly identified leadership and accountability.
  • Decisions based on the best available science, particularly when tradeoffs are considered.
  • Trans-boundary cooperation for consistency across state plans and between federal and state plans.
  • Adaptive process with monitoring for results and a set schedule for revising plans.
  • Forward looking and proactive (considers current and future uses).

The benefits of MSP can include:

  • Reduced conflicts between marine resource user groups
  • Reduced environmental impacts, including cumulative impacts
  • More efficient use of resources
  • Identification and protection of ecologically sensitive and important areas
  • Greater certainty for private sector investments

There are four ways to take advantage of this perfect moment for a sea change in ocean management.

At the State scale: Become informed about and engaged with the processes to establish the New Jersey Coastal and Ocean Protection Council and NJDEP’s wind power development studies and plans.

At the Regional scale: Let your friends and elected representatives know there is an important new regional voice for ocean conservation planning and action: MARCO. Review the online draft action plan and stay tuned for opportunities to help MARCO refine, fund, and implement its action plan.

At the National scale: Take advantage of the opportunity to let the federal Ocean Policy Task Force know how you would like to see MSP implemented – what are the essential principles to ensure success?

At any scale: Use your own knowledge, experience and creativity in new ways to advance ocean conservation for New Jersey, for the Mid-Atlantic, and for the Nation. Think about why you love the ocean and how you can spare a little time to assist with these ongoing efforts.

4Ehler C. and Douvere F. 2009. Marine spatial planning: A step-by-step approach toward ecosystem-based management. Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and Man and the Biosphere Programme. IOC Manual and Guides (pdf, 9.14 MB), No. 53, IOCAM Dosier No. 6, Paris, UNESCO.

The author gratefully acknowledges the prior contributions of many unnamed individuals in preparation of this article. The above text borrows liberally from a briefing document prepared by an informal coalition of ocean-oriented non-governmental organizations for the Council on Environmental Quality.

Page 1 | 2 | 3

A publication of New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium/New Jersey Sea Grant | 22 Magruder Road, Fort Hancock, NJ 07732 | 732.872.1300
©2009 NJMSC/NJSG