Heather Nel

The sustainable use of the ocean and its biodiversity depends on appropriate planning and management of various human activities and uses. Hence, Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) processes can provide useful frameworks to assist planning and management of different activities in coastal and marine areas.

The countries of the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region have developed and adopted MSP approaches for different purposes and therefore the level of implementation also varies. Despite these differences, the regional context provides an opportunity for joint learning, improved cooperation, and capacity building to support implementation of MSP across the WIO region more consistently. Although spatial planning is often undertaken by governmental authorities for their individual territories, it has been increasingly recognised that planning should consider transboundary processes and activities.

Hence, it is recommended that planning authorities within neighbouring countries should find synergies and commonalities to address initiatives with cross-border implications. Transboundary MSP in marine environments will ensure ecosystem based management of habitats, species and human activities and their connections which in turn can reduce conflicts across neighbouring countries, make best use of shared or adjoining resources and encourage collaborative governance of shared seas.