Maritime spatial planning concepts and approaches: Focusing on mediterranean examples of conflicts and synergies arising by fishery activities

Abstract

Often human activities taking place at limited available marine space may lead to important spatial and temporal conflicts and synergies. Through Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) a series maritime issues have been addressed focusing on such interactions. This chapter makes a presentation of the development of Maritime Spatial Planning concepts and approaches on a global basis, highlighting best practices as well as gaps that need to be addressed. Lessons learned from two Mediterranean case studies of the EU FP7 research projects MESMA and COEXIST focusing particularly on fisheries, as one of the main human activities in the two marine areas, interacting with other uses and with conservation initiatives, is also discussed. © 2015, IGI Global.