Q:

What are some of the lessons learned from other planning processes?

A:

In 2009, an international workshop hosted by The Nature Conservancy documented the best practices for healthy ocean planning. Since then, many more lessons have been learned within different regions of the country.

Ocean planning best practices include:

• Using existing boundaries that cover the locations of human activities and important ecological features.
• In Washington, the planning boundary extends offshore to the 700 fathoms (1200 meters) depth which encompasses the major areas of human activities such as fishing, shipping, and recreation, and important ecological features such as rocky habitats, corals, upwelling zones, and submarine canyons that occur off Washington’s Pacific Coast.
• Developing planning objectives and data needs early in the development phase.
• In Washington, goals and objectives were developed through collaborative working sessions in the pre-planning phase of the process. Data gaps were then identified, prioritized, and when appropriate, funded.
• Recognizing that data comes in visual and contextual forms.
• Several projects map visual data while others gather new information on current or future uses in Washington’s marine waters. For example, the State Department of Fish and Wildlife turned logbook information into visual data while the sector analyses gathered contextual information on several coastal and marine uses.
• Focusing on obtaining habitat data to accomplish ecological objectives.
• The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife is combining and analyzing detailed habitat data to create visual information on Ecologically Important Areas, which will assist in identifying sensitive ecological areas that new uses should avoid.
• Keeping data in a format that is easily transferable.
• The MSP website provides access to all publically available information, including spatial data in an online GIS viewer and downloadable formats through the MSP data catalog, and all data can connect to other applications with ease through unique web links called Web Services.
• Developing an integrated plan that addresses multiple management objectives.
• The plan will address multiple goals and objectives, which were established by the Washington State Legislature and refined through a collaborative process with stakeholders, and federal, tribal, and local government representatives. The plan’s action items rely on existing policies, regulations, and programs to implement the plan and it’s guidelines. For example, an aquatic land lease issued by the State Department of Natural Resources will use the marine spatial plan to guide aquatic land management decisions.

 
For more details on the lessons learned workshop, read the TNC workshop report. Additionally, read the Rhode Island SAMP Practitioner’s Guide for best practices.

Q:

What does Washington seek to gain from the MSP process?

A:

Ocean planning can benefit a wide range of stakeholders and partners. Planning processes typically focus on identifying existing and emerging uses, reducing conflicts among users, reducing environmental impacts, and increasing coordination among state, tribal, and federal agencies.

Washington expects to gain the following from its MSP process:

• Improved baseline information on the marine environment and current uses like fishing, shipping, recreation, and aquaculture;
• Improved coordination among governments, include improved integration of existing policies and management;
• Analyses to support decision-making;
• Recommendations for siting new ocean uses, including protections for current ocean users and ocean environments;
• A clearer, more predictable framework for agencies to communicate about and respond to new ocean uses;
• Increased scientific research and the ability to adapt the plan based on new information.

Similar benefits have been observed by coastal states that have completed a Marine Spatial Plan and have been recognized by the National Ocean Policy. Washington expects these types of improvements to benefit ocean users, the marine industry, tribal governments, fishermen, and all recreational users.

Washington State’s law also articulates several broad principles for developing a marine spatial plan such as engaging the public and stakeholders; recognizing and respecting tribal treaty rights and existing uses; protecting working waterfronts; encouraging sustainable economic opportunities; enhancing public access; and restoring ecosystem health.

For more information, visit the National Ocean Policy website or read Marine Spatial Plans from other states.

Q:

The planning process identified many activities that occur in Washington’s marine waters. How will information about those activities be used in the planning process?

A:

To avoid and minimize significant adverse impacts from potential future activities, current marine activities are identified, mapped, and researched throughout the planning process. An intent of the marine spatial plan is to ensure that future marine activities can successfully coexist with other activities and to help maintain a productive, healthy environment.

In order to do that, stakeholders and the state will evaluate conflicts between each type of activity and identify areas to avoid during future developments. Areas that are potentially suitable for new activities and areas that could benefit from potential new uses will also be identified through the planning process.

The plan will include information that helps managers avoid or minimize impacts to current marine activities when potentially siting future marine activities. State, local, and tribal governments can use this information when their authorities are triggered by a specific project proposal.
 

For more details, see the SEPA document and the MSP Actions List.

Q:

What is the driving force behind MSP?

A:

In 2010, Washington State Legislature adopted a state law for marine planning (RCW 43.372) in response to local and national-level issues. At the time, a number of local proposals for marine renewable energy projects raised concerns about the impacts to existing marine uses and the environment as well as the lack of a proactive plan to address how and where this new use should occur. At the national level, the President Obama’s National Ocean Policy identified developing marine spatial plans for large marine ecosystems around the country as one of nine ocean priorities. Washington’s law provides a way for the state agencies to proactively plan for potential marine uses such as marine renewable energy and to ensure that Washington’s plan and priorities are represented in any future planning efforts in the region.

In July 2012, the state legislature provided funds for the state to create a Marine Spatial Plan on Washington’s Pacific Coast. MSP development activities have included collecting data, mapping uses and resources, performing an ecosystem assessment, developing data tools, and engaging stakeholders. For information on the variety of projects funded, visit the MSP Projects page.