ATLAS Deliverable 6.1 Marine Spatial Planning goals and operational objectives

ATLAS is testing a generic Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) framework1 developed by the FP7 MESMA project to assess spatially managed areas (SMAs) in all 12 of the ATLAS Case Studies. The Case Studies represent the range of biogeographic, regulatory and jurisdictional situations encountered across the Atlantic including the deep-waters of the EU, US, Canada and Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (NEAFC and NAFO Regulatory Areas). SMAs are discrete spatial entities occurring at different spatial scales where a spatial management framework such as Marine Spatial Planning is in place, is under development or is considered. The MESMA framework comprises seven key steps of which the first is concerned with setting high level objectives for the SMA. Deliverable 6.1 reports on the first planning iteration in which case study leaders have applied MESMA Step 1 to delineate the extent of the spatially managed areas under consideration in their case studies, have described existing sectoral activities, mapped the institutional landscape and provided information on (any) existing management plans. Each case study has set as a management goal for its SMA, the accommodation of a theoretical new blue economy/blue growth activity while ensuring minimum disruption to existing activities, and impact on delivery of ecosystem goods and services (including protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems and biodiversity) thus ensuring good environmental status as required by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.