ENG - Towards integrated ocean management and sustainable ocean economy

The International Africa Commission hosts a seminar on integrated ocean management and a sustainable ocean economy, focusing on Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) approaches. The speaker, Julian Barbier, head of the marine policy section, introduces these initiatives and notes the importance of science in supporting decision-making for marine resource management. The event is recorded, and presentations will be available online. Participants are encouraged to use the Q&A function for questions and engage in polls.

Integrated ocean management has evolved from coastal area management to include maritime space and transboundary large marine ecosystems over the past 25 years. This approach is now high on the international agenda due to Sustainable Development Goal 14, the High-Level Panel on Ocean Sustainability, and other international processes like biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction and climate change conferences. Financial resources from global initiatives like the GEF and World Bank, along with regional directives, further drive these efforts, aiming for 100% of national exclusive economic zones under sustainable management.

The seminar emphasizes that integrated ocean management is crucial for addressing the degradation of ocean ecosystems due to human activities and climate change. Science is critical for understanding marine processes, socio-economic impacts, and technological innovations. The aim is to shift from individual species and small-scale management to ecosystem-based, long-term, and multi-scale approaches that integrate human dimensions and are supported by science. This new paradigm seeks to reduce conflicts, increase predictability, facilitate compatible uses, and preserve ecosystem services.

The MSP-Global initiative, a three-year project co-financed by the European Union, aims to accelerate Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) worldwide, targeting one-third of maritime areas under national jurisdiction to be covered by MSP by 2030. Key work packages include developing international MSP guidance, transboundary pilot projects in the Western Mediterranean and Southeast Pacific, and communication efforts. The project involves international expert groups, policy briefs on specific topics, and showcases good practices globally. The new MSP guide, building on the 2009 version, incorporates cross-cutting issues like climate change and ocean governance, and is expected to launch in September.

The Western Mediterranean pilot project involves seven direct beneficiary countries and engages neighbors like Portugal and Libya. National training courses, supported by MSP-Global focal points, have been organized, including a bi-national course for France and Algeria. Online meetings have been held in multiple languages. Technical reports and an interactive storytelling tool were developed. Regional recommendations on MSP and the blue economy were compiled from over 100 suggestions and prioritized into five thematic blocs, to be submitted to the West Med Initiative Steering Committee.

The Southeast Pacific pilot project, involving Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru, adopted a similar strategy. Trainings included bi-national online sessions for the private sector. A mapping exercise focused on the Gulf of Guayaquil, shared by Ecuador and Peru, as a transboundary MSP example. Technical reports on current conditions, future scenarios, and the contribution of maritime sectors to a sustainable blue economy were developed. Regional recommendations, organized into the same five thematic blocks as the Mediterranean project, will be presented at an online regional event. Additionally, Sweden supports MSP implementation in other regions like Africa, the Caribbean, and the Middle East, with technical reports on blue economy and coastal risks for SIDS.

The IOC Secretariat and European Commission co-organize international MSP forums, with the last held in Riga in 2019. The next forum and the third international MSP conference are planned for next year due to the pandemic. The MSP-Global website serves as a knowledge platform, featuring country profiles on national MSP processes and a compendium of cross-border initiatives. The project actively communicates through social media (MSP Global 2030 on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube) and publications, such as a guide on communicating MSP in cooperation with the European Union MSP Platform.

Natalie Digger introduces the GEF IW:LEARN project, which supports the global large marine ecosystem (LME) program. LMEs are productive ocean regions crucial for fisheries and ecosystem services but are under significant pressure. The LME approach has driven positive changes like reversing dead zones and improving fish stocks. Since 1997, various international organizations have promoted this approach, leading to GEF support for 23 out of 66 LMEs, empowering 124 countries with $285 million in grants and co-financing.

Currently, GEF-funded LME projects are under implementation in regions such as the Arafura and Timor Seas, Indonesian Sea, Western Indian Ocean, and Benguela Current. New projects are starting in the Mediterranean Sea, South China Sea/Gulf of Thailand, and Gulf of Mexico. Future phases are being prepared for the Caribbean, North Brazil Shelf, Humboldt Current, Pacific Central American Coastal, Guinea Current, and Canary Current. The IOC will also execute new GEF-funded projects in the Sargasso Sea and Black Sea, highlighting the continuous expansion of these initiatives.

GEF IW:LEARN produces numerous open-access outputs and materials for the global marine community. These include Data Information Management Guidelines for LMEs, policy briefs on 10 specific LME issues, and an economic valuation guide with online resources to help managers assess ecosystem services. Online training courses on ocean governance and transboundary MSP & sustainable blue economy are available in multiple languages, with over 900 participants to date. An open online course on LME assessment and management has reached over 10,000 participants.

GEF IW:LEARN maintains two major content platforms with extensive information on LMEs, including data, audiovisual content, and documentation. The project also delivered a Global Ocean series of webinars exploring local and national actions' connection to the broader LME approach, with recordings available. A 649-page electronic book, "Large Marine Ecosystem Definitive Volume and Portfolio," showcases science-based best practices from LMEs. Phase five of GEF IW:LEARN, starting later this year, will expand activities to include MSP, strengthen ocean economy opportunities, foster collaborations, and enhance support for small island developing states, regional networking, and engagement in the UN Decade of Ocean Science.

The coordination between Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) actions within Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) and MSP-Global initiatives is crucial for achieving common goals. The LME approach provides an opportunity for dialogue and coherent national MSP plans across borders. Michelle and Natalie emphasize the commitment to creating bridges between the MSP and LME communities, ensuring that MSP is integrated as a valuable tool within the LME governance framework. The next phase of GEF IW:LEARN will have a dedicated MSP component, with an emphasis on science-to-policy efforts and sharing transboundary results from LME projects.