A theoretical exercise of Marine Spatial Planning in the Flemish Cap and Flemish Pass (NAFO Divs. 3LM): implications for fisheries management in the high seas

• Main Authors: Durán-Muñoz, P. (Pablo), Sacau-Cuadrado, M.M. (María del Mar), Román-Marcote, E. (Esther), García-Alegre, A. (Ana)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sede Central IEO 2020
• Subjects: Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction; high seas fisheries; Marine Spatial Planning; NAFO; northwest Atlantic; ocean governance; offshore oil and gas; spatial management; Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems; Northwest Atlantic
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10508/15277

A theoretical exercise of Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) is currently being conducted within the Regulatory Area of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO), using the MESMA framework to assess whether the existing science base is sufficient to support a potential spatially managed area. The case study is located in the high seas within the Flemish Cap – Flemish Pass area. It includes cold-water coral and deep-sea sponge vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs), bottom fishing closed areas, and different blue economy activities, such as high seas fisheries and offshore oil and gas. The paper summarizes the context setting for MSP, in a theoretical scenario to accommodate an emergent offshore hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation, minimizing impacts on VMEs and existing high seas fisheries. Biophysical and socio-economic components of the ecosystem are mapped, including the spatial overlapping between new and traditional uses of the marine space, focused on potential conflicts user-user (e.g. hydrocarbon industry and deep-sea fisheries) or userenvironment (e.g. hydrocarbon industry and VMEs) and considering transboundary conflicts (e.g. recent oil spills). Current and potential management measures are described. This is followed by a discussion on the role and challenges of MSP in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, as lessons learned from the present exercise. Finally, the future work is briefly outlined.