| Summary: | Marine spatial planning (MSP) is a planning process that uses Ecosystem Based Management (EBM) principles and focuses on the spatially explicit nature of many ocean activities and resources (TEEB 2012, p23). EBM differs from traditional approaches focused on single sectors, activities or species, by taking account of interactions, synergies and cumulative effects. MSP needs to take account of the services provided and potentially provided from different areas, the activities involved in accessing them, and the resulting cumulative effects on marine ecosystems. The planning approach should be ecosystem based and spatially explicit, and should consider human benefits and impacts, address cumulative impacts, and take account of future activities and changes, with the aim of ensuring that the collective pressure of activities remains compatible with a healthy and sustainable marine environment (Nordic Council of Ministers 2017). Services from the deep sea are in increasing demand, and pressure to utilize more fully deep-sea products such as seafood, energy resources and minerals are on the rise (Thurber, Sweetman et al. 2014). The deep North Atlantic Ocean is now known to harbour ecosystems that support a biologically rich variety of life that perform key functions within global biogeochemical cycles (Armstrong et al, 2019a). The deep-sea ecosystems, including cold water corals, sponges, seamounts and hydrothermal vents, also provide many other ecosystem goods and services, which contribute to maritime economic activities that underpin the socio-economic well-being of Atlantic nations and their citizens (Galparsoro et al, 2014; Armstrong et al, 2019a). These services include nutrient cycling, waste absorption and detoxification, fisheries, bioprospecting and a number of cultural services related to education and science, aesthetic and inspirational contributions (Armstrong et al, 2012).However, marine ecosystems and resources are subject to significant pressures. Human activities, but also climate change effects, ...
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