The health of the marine and coastal environment is under pressure from many drivers of change, including climate change, population growth, and intensifying/changing human uses and activities. Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) considers how uses and activities occurring in the marine environment are organised and supports environmental and socio-economic resilience. MSP provides a participatory process for balancing multiple objectives, supports management of current and future conflicts, and can support planning for emerging industries such as offshore wind energy.
While MSP processes are undertaken internationally, MSP remains a novel concept in Australia. Victoria is leading the way, having developed a state-wide MSP Framework that is included in the Marine and Coastal Policy 2020. This presentation will provide an overview of Victoria’s MSP Framework, how it was developed, and illustrates how implementation is occurring. Challenges and opportunities will also be discussed.