International requirements (primarily those defined by the EU Directive establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning 2014/89/EU) and ever more pronounced conflicts in marine areas uses point to the need to manage pressures on marine ecosystem. Maritime spatial planning enables sustainable use of maritime resources while protecting valuable parts of the sea. In developing maritime spatial plan in order to optimise marine area uses, application of EcAp is proposed to determine the state and pressures on marine environment. This creates preconditions to achieve good environmental status and reduce to the lowest possible extent conflicting interests among potential users of the marine environment while maximising economic effects.
Prior to developing maritime spatial plan for the entire marine area, it would be optimal to test this approach by carrying out a demonstration project for a selected area. This would help to identify obstacles, propose measures and build capacities for introduction of maritime spatial planning. Spatial scope for implementing demonstration project for maritime spatial plan should be defined in relation to the level of available data. Given the experience with the CAMP MNE project, development of the plan for the Boka Kotorska Bay is proposed, simultaneously with and by using results of the pilot project on the application of EcAp in the Boka Kotorska Bay.
The project can be prepared as an individual proposal or placed into wider regional Mediterranean/Adriatic context. Project development should comprise detailed consultations with all included and interested parties.
Activities
To initiate maritime spatial planning, a demonstration project should first be implemented so that:
1. Type and availability of necessary data will be defined;
2. Consultations will be held for selecting an area for which the plan will be developed, starting from the initial proposal to develop the plan for the Boka Kotorska Bay on the basis of results of theoretical testing of the EcAp application in this part of marine area and results of vulnerability assessment of marine environment obtained within CAMP MNE;
3. Detailed environmental vulnerability assessment will be made for a selected marine area (Boka Kotorska Bay);
4. Maritime spatial plan of the selected marine area (Boka Kotorska Bay) will be developed;
5. Based on experiences in project implementation the existing obstacles for introducing a comprehensive system of maritime spatial planning should be analysed;
6. Measures for removing obstacles will be proposed and creation of conditions for their implementation initiated;
7. A series of workshops for strengthening capacities for maritime spatial plans development will be organised.