The Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Commission assisted by the European MSP Platform have organised a one-day workshop which took place on the 11th of September 2018 at the University of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria.
SOCLIMPACT POT members: Yen Lam, Carmen Galindo and Carmelo Gonzalez participated in the workshop, with the opportunity to explore the development of MSP in the context of islands as well the challenges and opportunities that exist for sustainable Blue Growth. Through the Plasmar & MarSP projects a communication entitled ‘Balancing maritime sector development and environmental planning, supporting socio-economic growth and ensuring environmental services’ was presented. PLASMAR looks to establish the basis for the implementation of Directive 2014/89/EU on Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP), according to the biogeographical characteristics of the Macaronesian Region. The project will initiate the OEM process by applying robust scientific methodologies to incentivise different maritime activities from an ecosystem approach and including a pilot zoning exercise.
Topics raised with particular interest to SOCLIMPACT included:
- Finding the balance of Blue Growth Sustainable Development within Ecosystem Approach.
- Identification of areas for Blue Growth development within Ecosystem Approach. Analysis of Implementation of the Environmental Policies
- Finding the balance of Blue Growth Sustainable Development within Ecosystem Approach’. Establishment of the BG index. Standard framework for EIA.
- Analysis of the Aquaculture Industry in the Macaronesia under MSFD.
- Analysis of the Offshore Wind Industry in Macaronesia under MSFD.
- Optimise and finding the pertinent monitoring methods for the marine and coastal waters environmental monitoring.
The ULPGC has been the host institution of this event, together with the CMC, actively participating in the sessions with the attendant organizations, which include decision makers, relevant stakeholders and researchers.