Although MSP adoption is increasing worldwide (in August 2018, about 70 countries were preparing or had prepared MSP plans at the regional, national or local scale), many regions, countries or municipalities still need support to adopt it or to fully implement it where the process has already started.
In this context, UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC-UNESCO) and the European Commission adopted in March 2017 a Joint Roadmap to accelerate Maritime/Marine Spatial Planning processes worldwide. As a result of this fruitful partnership, the International MSPforum and the MSPglobal Initiative were established one year later. The first International MSP forum was organized in Brussels, Belgium in 2018. This year, IOC-UNESCO, the Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Commission (DG MARE), and the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia (MMAF) are co-organising the 6th International MSPforum in Bali, Indonesia.
This is the first time the International MSPforum is taken place in an Asian country, after previously being held on the European Continent, which is attended by 115 participants from 51 countries consisting of various elements and coming from various continents, from governments, NGOs, to private sector business actors. The forum is a place for discussion and sharing of information among stakeholders regarding experiences in formulating policies and strategies for sustainable marine space management in various countries. Through this meeting, practitioners are expected to discuss and produce recommendations for strengthening MSP related to the 3 thematic pillars promoted this year of the MSProadmap: marine protection and restoration, climate change, and sustainable blue economy. The format will be similar to previous forums, consisting of interactive panels followed by round-table discussions, as well as a day dedicated to visiting stakeholders to understand their needs, concerns and role in MSP.
MSc Phan Minh Thu from the Institute of Oceanography, Viet Nam has attended the event with a role as Table Facilitator of 3 group discussions in Session 2.2. MSP & Marine protection and restoration, Session 3.2. MSP & Climate change and Session 5.2. MSP & Sustainable Blue Economy. Through his participation, we hopes to promote international relationships and cooperation, enhance capacity and knowledge in MSP pratices for adoptation and implementation of MSP in Viet Nam.
Sources:
Phan Minh Thu, Institute of Oceanography, Viet Nam
https://www.mspglobal2030.org/
https://www.facebook.com/mspglobal2030
https://twitter.com/mspglobal2030
Forum organizers at the opening ceremony on 8 October 2024
Participants at the opening of the Forum
The first MSPforum panel - MSP & Marine Protection and Restoration,
with speakers from Seychelles, Canada and Thailand
Round-table discussions after panel in which facilitators ensure that every voice is heard
The participants of the forum were divided into groups for field trips around Nusa Dua (Bali) to visit local stakeholders and to understand their needs, concerns and roles in MSP. In the picture is the group visited the Mangrove Information Center to discuss mangrove forest management and its social benefits.
MSc. Phan Minh Thu from the Institute of Oceanography, Viet Nam at the Forum
