12
The integrated nature of MSP implies that it is connected to many other concepts. This chapter
aims to define, and clarify the main elements, and concepts that are related to MSP based on
multiple up-to-date literature. However, it is mostly inspired from the latest international guide
on marine/maritime spatial planning developed in 2021 by MSPglobal
1 .
1. Planning
Planning is the process of envisioning, and organising the activities required to achieve a desired
goal. In this work, we mention:
- Spatial planning: a key instrument for establishing long-term, sustainable frameworks for
social, territorial, and economic development both within, and between countries.
- Strategic planning: planning by organisations or sectors aimed at improving the long-term
effectiveness of operations.
- Operational planning: a method that turns strategic plans into detailed maps broken up into
various components.
2. Maritime space
2.1. Maritime boundaries
Maritime space is subject to regulations, and laws at different levels. Maritime boundaries are
the legal definitions of waters under national, and international law. Coastal states‟ ability to
exercise control over a strip of sea adjacent to their territory has always been recognised as a
right. However, the nature, and extent of this right was not codified (Van Lauwe et al., 2016).
Maritime areas under the sovereignty or jurisdiction of coastal States are governed the “Law of
the Sea”, which includes all the rules relating to the delimitation, and use of maritime areas.
This right is based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), signed
on 10 December 1982 in Montego Bay, Jamaica, which, in order to structure, and rationalise the
maritime space, defines the various maritime zones bordering the coastal States, islands, and
archipelago states. UNCLOS stipulates the general jurisdictional arrangements concerning the
right of governance, and regulation of sea areas, and specifies the different categories of spaces
over which states can assert their sovereignty or jurisdiction (figure 1), including:
1. Spaces of sovereignty:
Inland waters
Territorial Sea (12NM)
2. Spaces under international jurisdiction:
Contiguous area (24NM)
Exclusive Economic Zone (200NM)
High Seas
Continental Shelf
1 UNESCO-IOC/European Commission. 2021. MSPglobal International Guide on Marine/Maritime Spatial Planning. Paris, UNESCO. (IOC
Manuals, and Guides no 89)
The integrated nature of MSP implies that it is connected to many other concepts. This chapter
aims to define, and clarify the main elements, and concepts that are related to MSP based on
multiple up-to-date literature. However, it is mostly inspired from the latest international guide
on marine/maritime spatial planning developed in 2021 by MSPglobal
1 .
1. Planning
Planning is the process of envisioning, and organising the activities required to achieve a desired
goal. In this work, we mention:
- Spatial planning: a key instrument for establishing long-term, sustainable frameworks for
social, territorial, and economic development both within, and between countries.
- Strategic planning: planning by organisations or sectors aimed at improving the long-term
effectiveness of operations.
- Operational planning: a method that turns strategic plans into detailed maps broken up into
various components.
2. Maritime space
2.1. Maritime boundaries
Maritime space is subject to regulations, and laws at different levels. Maritime boundaries are
the legal definitions of waters under national, and international law. Coastal states‟ ability to
exercise control over a strip of sea adjacent to their territory has always been recognised as a
right. However, the nature, and extent of this right was not codified (Van Lauwe et al., 2016).
Maritime areas under the sovereignty or jurisdiction of coastal States are governed the “Law of
the Sea”, which includes all the rules relating to the delimitation, and use of maritime areas.
This right is based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), signed
on 10 December 1982 in Montego Bay, Jamaica, which, in order to structure, and rationalise the
maritime space, defines the various maritime zones bordering the coastal States, islands, and
archipelago states. UNCLOS stipulates the general jurisdictional arrangements concerning the
right of governance, and regulation of sea areas, and specifies the different categories of spaces
over which states can assert their sovereignty or jurisdiction (figure 1), including:
1. Spaces of sovereignty:
Inland waters
Territorial Sea (12NM)
2. Spaces under international jurisdiction:
Contiguous area (24NM)
Exclusive Economic Zone (200NM)
High Seas
Continental Shelf
1 UNESCO-IOC/European Commission. 2021. MSPglobal International Guide on Marine/Maritime Spatial Planning. Paris, UNESCO. (IOC
Manuals, and Guides no 89)