Marine space
As technology advances and human numbers rise, there is increasing competition for multiple uses of marine space for activities as diverse as fisheries, mining, defence, energy generation, recreation, commerce and waste disposal. Set against these human requirements are the needs of the existing inhabitants of the ocean for space in which to feed, breed and move freely. This is leading to the emergence of a new discipline of marine spatial planning where scientific evidence underpins efforts to responsibly manage ocean resources and access to space.
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Marine spatial planning
As an island nation the UK has an extensive marine territory, extending to deep open-ocean waters some 200 miles offshore. Our ability to trade relies on access to the ocean, and increasingly our seas and the associated seabed and underlying geology are used for a wide range of purposes ranging from aggregate extraction, fisheries and recreation through to wind farms and oil extraction. In the near future we may be storing imported gas and excess carbon dioxide in subsea rock formations. Fishing boats vie for marine space with oil platforms or military users, recreational boaters may want to use the same waters as an aquaculturalist. As technology improves and new users turn towards the oceans, the need for planning and management has arisen.Read more →
