Cross-border maritime spatial planning can be a problem if the planning of the countries involved is not harmonized and conflicting interests arise. Guidelines drafted by the EU for such cases, offer no practical remedy.
That is the outcome of the MASPNOSE (Maritime Spatial Planning in the North Sea), a study carried out by Deltares at the request of EU DG Mare. Deltares looked at two case studies in the North Sea, Dogger Bank and Thornton Bank. The European Union is now preparing guidelines for a better planning and harmonization in these areas and wants to know where the current guidelines need to be adjusted. This study is also running in other European countries facing similar maritime problems.
The Thornton Bank, managed by The Netherlands and Belgium, presents no planning problems, the Dogger Bank however does. The Dogger Bank is managed by Great Britain, The Netherlands, Germany and Denmark, but the spatial planning is not properly harmonized. The Netherlands, for instance, have allocated it as a nature reserve (Natura 2000), while Great Britain wants to construct an offshore wind park. It is also an important fishing area.
Together with knowledge institutes and universities from the other countries involved (Centre for Marine Policy, vTI, University of Ghent and DTU-Aqua), Deltares, initiated discussions with governmental parties and stakeholders (fishery, NGO’s, industry), to see if the current guidelines are satisfactory. It turns out that they are often too noncommittal and do not lead to a unified maritime spatial planning for the area. One of the recommendations made by the researchers for such cases is for the various countries involved to agree upon a clear mandate and responsibilities.
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Offshore WIND staff, July 19, 2012; Image: surfgroepen