The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organisation) and the Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Commission (DG MARE) published a roadmap on Friday 24 March to accelerate maritime/marine spatial planning in all the seas and oceans of the planet.
The goal is to triple the area of territorial waters – that is to say, one third of the total surface area of waters under national jurisdiction – for which there is spatial planning by 2025.
Maritime/marine spatial planning is a process which regulates human activity in maritime/marine areas in order to achieve environmental, economic and social goals, avoid conflict between sectors of activity and promote international cooperation. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)