SIMNORAT - Interactions between uses, between uses and environment, including cumulative impacts. Review of evaluation methods carried out in France, Spain and Portugal (D13)
Component: 1.3.4. Tools and methods supporting MSP process Sub-component: 1.3.4.1 Interactions between uses and between uses and environment, including cumulative impacts. MSP as a process must be based on a strong and shared knowledge of planned areas. Distribution of each activity and their needs have to be evaluated as well as location of species and habitats, associated with a good comprehension of ecosystems functionalities. The focus has been done on approaches seeking to evaluate and map effects of human activities in marine ecosystems. Various tools and approaches have been developed throughout the world to do so (like examples in France and Portugal). Their use as source of information to feed MSP is an ongoing question. This action aims to detail and compare the mains caracteristics of the tools developed in SIMNORAT countries. A better comprehension of divergence between approaches is a step toward an increased transboundary coherence for MSP processes. ; This report was produced as part of SIMNORAT Project (Grant Agreement N0. EASME/EMFF/2015/1.2.1.3/03/SI2.742089). Competition for maritime space – for renewable energy equipment, aquaculture and other uses – has highlighted the need to manage our waters more coherently. Maritime spatial planning (MSP) works across borders and sectors to ensure human activities at sea take place in an efficient, safe and sustainable way. That is why the European Parliament and the Council have adopted a legislation to create a common framework for maritime spatial planning in Europe. The Directive 2014/89/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 (said Maritime Spatial Planning Directive) establishes a framework in order to reduce conflicts between sectors and create synergies between different activities, to encourage investment – by creating predictability, transparency and clearer rules, to increase cross-border cooperation – between EU countries to develop energy grids, shipping lanes, pipelines, submarine cables and other activities, but ...