Marine Spatial Planning Addressing Climate Effects

MSPACE is a UK-wide project that integrates climate change considerations into marine spatial planning (MSP). Its goal is to help policymakers, conservation bodies, and marine industries plan uses of marine space that are environmentally resilient, socially acceptable, and economically viable.

Key Outputs:

• Early Warning System (EWS): Identifies climate-resilient areas (“refugia”) for fisheries, aquaculture, and conservation across UK seas.

• Region-specific datasets: GIS maps showing climate change hotspots and resilient areas.

• Reports and policy briefs: Include a summary for policymakers, scientific reports, infographics, and annexes validating datasets and habitat assessments.

• Economic and social assessments: Ensure marine plans are practical and socially acceptable.

Why It Matters:

• Climate change is altering species distributions, habitats, and the suitability of marine areas for human use.

• MSPACE helps ensure marine spatial plans remain effective under future climate scenarios.

• Supports sustainable use of marine resources while balancing conservation, economic, and social needs.

Project Status:

• Started in August 2021 and ran until July 2024.

• Recognized as a UN Ocean Decade Action for sustainable ocean management.

• Outputs are being integrated into web-based tools to support real-world marine planning.

Relevance:
MSPACE provides evidence and tools for climate-smart coastal and marine planning, making it highly relevant for regional coastal coordination, marine conservation, and policy development in the UK.