Marine spatial planning and marine protected area planning are not the same and both are key for sustainability in a changing ocean
Abstract Marine spatial planning (MSP) and marine protected area (MPA) planning are two distinct area-based management processes that are often conflated. While engaging in MPA planning is crucially important for biodiversity conservation and localized sustainable use, it cannot bring the benefits t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
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| Series: | npj Ocean Sustainability |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-025-00119-4 |
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| author | Catarina Frazão Santos Lisa M. Wedding Tundi Agardy Julie M. Reimer Elena Gissi Helena Calado |
| author_facet | Catarina Frazão Santos Lisa M. Wedding Tundi Agardy Julie M. Reimer Elena Gissi Helena Calado |
| author_sort | Catarina Frazão Santos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Marine spatial planning (MSP) and marine protected area (MPA) planning are two distinct area-based management processes that are often conflated. While engaging in MPA planning is crucially important for biodiversity conservation and localized sustainable use, it cannot bring the benefits that larger scale MSP can deliver. Confusing the two can lead not only to missed opportunities to support ocean sustainability, but also to inefficiencies and even conflict. Here, we clearly define and distinguish each approach, then discuss opportunities to optimise synergies, especially under rapidly changing climate. MSP can support conservation efforts by taking the broader context into account, while integrating conservation and MPA planning into MSP allows for the maintenance of ocean health—always a core goal of marine management. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bb4ddc3357644c2a8bc5f603004f8ec5 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2731-426X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Ocean Sustainability |
| spelling | doaj-art-bb4ddc3357644c2a8bc5f603004f8ec52025-08-20T01:51:35ZengNature Portfolionpj Ocean Sustainability2731-426X2025-05-01411810.1038/s44183-025-00119-4Marine spatial planning and marine protected area planning are not the same and both are key for sustainability in a changing oceanCatarina Frazão Santos0Lisa M. Wedding1Tundi Agardy2Julie M. Reimer3Elena Gissi4Helena Calado5Department of Animal Biology, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de LisboaSchool of Geography and the Environment, University of OxfordSound SeasMarine Planning & Conservation, Fisheries and Oceans CanadaNational Research Council, Institute of Marine SciencesMARE–Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ARNET–Aquatic Research Network, Universidade de LisboaAbstract Marine spatial planning (MSP) and marine protected area (MPA) planning are two distinct area-based management processes that are often conflated. While engaging in MPA planning is crucially important for biodiversity conservation and localized sustainable use, it cannot bring the benefits that larger scale MSP can deliver. Confusing the two can lead not only to missed opportunities to support ocean sustainability, but also to inefficiencies and even conflict. Here, we clearly define and distinguish each approach, then discuss opportunities to optimise synergies, especially under rapidly changing climate. MSP can support conservation efforts by taking the broader context into account, while integrating conservation and MPA planning into MSP allows for the maintenance of ocean health—always a core goal of marine management.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-025-00119-4 |
| spellingShingle | Catarina Frazão Santos Lisa M. Wedding Tundi Agardy Julie M. Reimer Elena Gissi Helena Calado Marine spatial planning and marine protected area planning are not the same and both are key for sustainability in a changing ocean npj Ocean Sustainability |
| title | Marine spatial planning and marine protected area planning are not the same and both are key for sustainability in a changing ocean |
| title_full | Marine spatial planning and marine protected area planning are not the same and both are key for sustainability in a changing ocean |
| title_fullStr | Marine spatial planning and marine protected area planning are not the same and both are key for sustainability in a changing ocean |
| title_full_unstemmed | Marine spatial planning and marine protected area planning are not the same and both are key for sustainability in a changing ocean |
| title_short | Marine spatial planning and marine protected area planning are not the same and both are key for sustainability in a changing ocean |
| title_sort | marine spatial planning and marine protected area planning are not the same and both are key for sustainability in a changing ocean |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-025-00119-4 |
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