近年来,海洋空间规划 (MSP) 作为一种新的范式,以实现更综合的、基于生态系统的海洋区域管理,已经变得相当重要。各国,特别是在西北欧使用密集的海域,都在开发和应用MSP。例如,德国、荷兰和比利时为其领海和专属经济区制定了海洋空间规划。其他国家正在制定立法或新的政策框架,以在不久的将来实现 MSP。例如,英国通过了一项海洋和沿海准入法案 [1],旨在确保清洁、健康、安全、多产和生物多样性的海洋。 MSP(在英国称为“海洋规划”)被提议作为实现该法案目标的工具之一。2008 年底,瑞典开始起草新的政府法案“一致的瑞典海事政策”,这将为该法案奠定基础在不久的将来用于 MSP [2]。去年 12 月,美国总统巴拉克·奥巴马 (Barack Obama) 发起了一项框架草案,为美国有效的 MSP 全国体系奠定了基础 [3]。预计新的 MSP 立法将在 2010 年春季发布。此外,MSP 还激发了超国家层面 (EU) 和北极国家的兴趣和承诺,这些国家的工作重点是为跨国合作设计 MSP 原则和激励措施。通过生态系统方法更好地支持 MSP。
In recent years, marine spatial planning (MSP) has gained considerable importance as a new paradigm toward a more integrated, ecosystem-based management of marine areas. Various countries, particularly in the densely-used marine areas of Northwest Europe, are developing and applying MSP. Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium, for example, have developed marine spatial plans for their territorial seas and exclusive economic zones. Other countries are creating legislation or new policy frameworks that will enable MSP in the near future. The United Kingdom, for example, has passed a Marine and Coastal Access Act [1] that aims at ensuring clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas. MSP (referred to as “marine planning” in the UK) is proposed as one of the tools to deliver the aims of the Act. Late 2008, Sweden started drafting a new government bill “A coherent Swedish Maritime Policy” that will lay the groundwork for MSP in the near future [2]. Last December, United States President Barack Obama launched a draft framework that lays the foundation for a nation-wide system of effective MSP in the United States [3]. It is expected that new MSP legislation will be issued in Spring 2010. Additionally, MSP has also spurred interest and commitment at the supranational level (EU) and among Arctic countries where efforts are focused on designing MSP principles and incentives for transnational cooperation in an attempt to better underpin MSP with an ecosystem approach.