A theoretical exercise of Marine Spatial Planning in the Flemish Cap and Flemish Pass (NAFO Divs. 3LM): implications for fisheries management in the high seas
A theoretical exercise of Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) is currently being conducted within the Regulatory
Area of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO), using the MESMA framework to assess whether
the existing science base is sufficient to support a potential spatially managed area. The case study is located in
the high seas within the Flemish Cap – Flemish Pass area. It includes cold-water coral and deep-sea sponge
vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs), bottom fishing closed areas, and different blue economy activities, such
as high seas fisheries and offshore oil and gas. The paper summarizes the context setting for MSP, in a
theoretical scenario to accommodate an emergent offshore hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation,
minimizing impacts on VMEs and existing high seas fisheries. Biophysical and socio-economic components of
the ecosystem are mapped, including the spatial overlapping between new and traditional uses of the marine
space, focused on potential conflicts user-user (e.g. hydrocarbon industry and deep-sea fisheries) or userenvironment (e.g. hydrocarbon industry and VMEs) and considering transboundary conflicts (e.g. recent oil
spills). Current and potential management measures are described. This is followed by a discussion on the role
and challenges of MSP in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, as lessons learned from the present exercise.
Finally, the future work is briefly outlined