ISLANDERS and organisations associated with the marine sector are invited to take part in consultations which will help inform the delivery of a ‘long-overdue’ marine spatial plan.
The States Assembly voted to develop an MSP last year during the Bridging Island Plan debate, to provide guidance on how the marine environment could best be used and protected.
Environment Minister Jonathan Renouf said: ‘Jersey’s planning system extends to the marine environment, so preparing a high-quality Marine Spatial Plan is in many ways long overdue.
‘Our marine estate covers an area around 20 times larger than our land area, so there is both a huge opportunity and a huge challenge in working out a strong planning framework for our marine environment.’
At the same States sitting last year, Members rejected a proposal from then Senator Lyndon Farnham which called for about 900 sq km of sea to be protected, in favour of the MSP.
Stakeholder consultations will run between 28 February and 3 March. Organisations and Islanders associated with the marine sector are invited to attend in-person workshops.
Deputy Renouf added: ‘A great deal of work has already been undertaken to gather information for the evidence base, and we are now looking forward to the first series of consultations with Islanders and organisation representatives who are associated with the marine sector.
‘It is important we engage with all interested stakeholders, as this will help inform the next stages of developing the draft plan.
‘We will also be seeking the views of all Islanders via an online consultation in March.’
Those wishing to attend can get more information and register their interest by emailing msp@gov.je.
