Marine spatial planning (MSP) in South Africa

Introduction	Significance of MSP	Marine planning areas and marine area plans	Structures responsible for MSP	Status of MSP	Participation of stakeholders	Key documents and reports

Introduction into Marine Spatial Planning

Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is a long term, informative and consultative process that enables informed and evidence-based decision making by providing guidance on critical considerations when deciding where, geographically, human economic activities may take place in the ocean. MSP ensures the right activity takes place in the right areas and helps facilitate the development of a sustainable blue economy – this is to ensure that benefits from the natural environment are maintained for current and future generations. The major MSP output is a comprehensive sustainable development plan that guides where and when uses occur in the ocean.

MSP in South Africa aims at:

• Unlocking the ocean economy
• Enabling society to engage with the ocean
• Ensuring a healthy marine ecosystem  
• Good ocean governance

Watch: MSP in a nutshell

For more information please contact:

MSP Secretariat
Ocean Conservation Strategies
Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Email: msp@dffe.gov.za
Address: 1 East Pier Road, East Pier Building, Waterfront, Cape Town, 8001

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