MSP: Both threat and opportunity

In Europe, Australia and the US, MSP is moving ahead very rapidly. Mr Holthus explains the reality is that environmental interests are driving MSP in most areas and ocean industries are, by and large, not at the table as ocean planning moves forward.

Unfortunately, there is a substantial risk that safe and sustainable commercial activities, their economic and community benefits and the compatibility with port developments will be compromised by the predominance of other stakeholder interests if there is not a consistent, co-ordinated business presence.

Mr Holthus adds that there is a need for commercial users of marine space and recources to collaborate as a pro-active “ocean business community”, in order to shape the future use of our oceans. Further, while proponents of MSP say that it provides numerous benefits including everything from better co-ordination of regulatory processes to greater public and political buy-in for projects, little information is available on whether these benefits are actually occurring.

To correct this glaring gap, the World Ocean Council is conducting the first international business survey on MSP. Members of the ocean business community are encouraged to complete the MSP survey at: http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e3z6yjv7goctb6nh/a0127gog9ixu5/greeting

The survey closes on 30 June 2011 and the results will inform the development of co-ordinated industry efforts: following this, a cross-sectoral business forum on MSP will take place in Washington DC on 13 – 14 July.