The MSP Platform organised a webinar series on the MSP for Blue Growth Study.
The 2018 study gives information on how maritime spatial planning (MSP) can assist Member States to foster the potential for sustainable Blue Growth. Maritime spatial planning represents a key instrument for Blue Growth and can contribute to the aim of giving a boost to economic growth on the basis of a new maritime paradigm founded in sustainability, innovation, competitiveness and knowledge. The MSP for Blue Growth study explores the multi-faceted relationship between the two evolving concepts and provides practical, implementation-oriented outputs. The study was developed by the EU MSP Platform consortium for the European Commission, as part of their services to assist EU Member States with implementation of the EU MSP Directive (2014/89/EU).
Each webinar in this series introduced participants to one of the three study components, and presenters answered questions from participants. The topics were:
- Handbook on for developing Visions in MSP (7 November 2018 at 16:00 CET)
- Sector fiches for nine maritime sectors (21 November 2018 at 16:00 CET)
- Handbook for developing MSP Indicators (5 December 2018 at 16:00 CET)
Further details and a recording of each webinar is available below.
Developing Visions in MSP: an Introduction to the Handbook
Webinar: 7 November 2018, 16:00 CET
The purpose of the Visions Handbook is to assist planners in developing a maritime vision or a strategy, as well as assisting those who wish to prepare the terms of reference for facilitating a vision process. The handbook provides quick and easy access to relevant tools and methods, building on lessons learnt from vision development processes across Europe. It indicates a range of possibilities for working with visions, showcasing options and ideas, rather than being prescriptive.
The presentation covered different tools and methods that can be used for developing a vision, different formats a vision making process could result in, and discuss usefulness of such processes and their outputs for MSP. The presentation answered some practical questions including:
• How to conduct background research for the vision development process, including analysis of the existing policy context and future trends in maritime sectors?
• When is it useful to develop scenarios or forecasts and how can they be developed?
• What are the benefits of involving stakeholders and what are some useful interactive methods that can be used in different stages of the process?
• How to best communicate the vision as to foster ownership and commitment?
• What additional literature sources and examples can aid future vision development process?
The Visions Handbook can be found here on the EU MSP Platform website: /faq/msp-visions
A recording of this webinar is now available:
Investigating Current and Future Spatial Demands of Key Maritime Sectors
Webinar: 21 November 2018 at 16:00 CET
The sector fiches deal mainly with the MSP dimension in the expected evolution of the analysed sectors, putting the focus on investigating current and future potential spatial demands of the sectors. At the same time, the fiches look at the interaction that exists among sectors, and offer a set of concrete recommendations to inform MSP processes. Finally, the fiches aim at being a solid first information source listing the most relevant actors, initiatives, and available literature in the sector in question.
The presentation covered the following topics:
• What are the present spatial needs of each sector?
• Which anticipated future developments of each sector are relevant to MSP?
• What recommendations can be made to support the sectors in MSP processes?
Sector fiches can be found on the EU MSP Platform website at: /sectors#
A recording of this webinar is now available:
Developing Indicators for MSP: an Introduction to the Handbook
Webinar: 5 December at 16:00 CET
The Indicators Handbook presents a step-by-step approach to developing MSP indicators. In particular, the Handbook aims to provide the maritime spatial planning community with suggestions on the use of spatial indicators that could support the consideration of Blue Growth in MSP processes. There are no one-size-fits-all solutions for MSP and related indicator development, which is why the Handbook offers a flexible approach with examples of possible indicators that need to be customised to the local contexts.
The presentation covered the following topics:
• How to define SMART objectives?
• Making the links between objectives and indicators
• Identification of sources of information
• How to define baselines?
• How to define target values, while considering external factors and assumptions
The Indicators Handbook can be found on the EU MSP Platform website at: /faq/indicators-monitoring-and-evaluation
A recording of the webinar is now available: