Marine spatial planning within SIDS as applied to offshore renewable energy

Abstract

Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is the study of "strategic, forward-looking planning for regulating, managing and protecting the marine environment, including through allocation of space, which addresses the multiple, cumulative and potentially conflicting uses of the sea" (DEFRA, 2004 ). Traditionally the oceans, the marginal seas in particular, are mainly used by navigation and fisheries and sometimes by tourism. In short distance from the high water mark. Technology has now developed to such sufficient size, reliability and efficiency that it is ready to unlock the vast offshore wind resources that exist around the world. Offshore wind is one of the most important technologies in the switch from fossil and nuclear fuels to clean, renewable energy sources (Greenpeace, 2005). The marine environment has high intrinsic value as a global common good. It contains 90% of the biosphere and therefore constitutes the greatest source of biological diversity (TV Link Europe, 2008). The world must learn to truly value marine ecosystems and safeguard their enormous generating potential. For small islands this value may be considered to be significant since the island marine space is larger than the land space. Thus it is important that the marine environment be well managed.The aim of this dissertation is to examine the applicability of the concept of MSP in Small Island States (SIS) focusing on offshore renewable energyas a potential marine me. Through literature review anda survey of the islands of Malta, Antigua and Darhuda, Mauritius and Grenada show that MSP is an effective planning tool which can identity confflicts among the different uses within the marine space, however it is not well regulated. SIDS are holding back from applying MSP mainly due to political, financial difficulties and lack of resources rather then out of lack of interest. Furthermore, the high costs involved for developing offshore wind renewable energy, act as a deterrent to SIDS to implement this technology. Finally, SIDS seem to have failed to adequately invest in research in order to determine the potential use of the marine space.