The Directorate General for Natural Resources, Security and Maritime Services (DGRM) released the Notice which starts the opening of the period of public discussion of the draft Plan for the Status of Maritime Spatial Planning, which will run from April 30th to June 30th.
«The Situation Plan is a national maritime spatial planning instrument that constitutes an essential tool for the policy of the sea, ensuring the development of the blue economy and the sustainability of the marine environment as defined by the Framework Directive “Navy Strategy” and for the National Strategy for the Sea», explains the DGRM in a press release.
It is a structuring and fundamental plan, which covers the entire national maritime space, from the baselines to the outer limit of the continental shelf, integrating the maritime inland waters, the territorial sea, the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf, including over 200 nautical miles.
O Maritime Spatial Situation Plan identifies the spatial and temporal distribution of existing and potential uses and activities, also identifying the relevant areas for the conservation of nature, biodiversity, the values corresponding to underwater cultural heritage and the networks and structures essential to national defense, internal security and protection civil society and combating coastal erosion.
Promoting the compatibility between competing uses or activities, with a view to contributing to a better economic use of the marine environment and minimizing the impact of human activities on the marine environment, this plan is also the instrument that allows the attribution of a Title of Private Use of the Maritime Space National.
The objectives of the Plan, according to DGRM, are to execute the objectives of the National Strategy for the Sea; promote sustainable, rational and efficient economic exploitation of marine resources; contribute to national cohesion and strengthen Portugal's geopolitical and geostrategic position in the Atlantic basin; contribute to the planning of the Atlantic basin.
Other objectives are to ensure the Good Environmental Status of Marine Waters; ordering uses and activities, preventing and minimizing conflicts between uses and competing activities; contribute to the knowledge of the ocean and strengthen the national scientific and technological capacity and also guarantee legal security and transparency in the attribution of the Title for Private Use of the National Maritime Area.
DGRM - Directorate-General for Natural Resources, Security and Maritime Services has as its mission the development of maritime security and services, including the maritime-port sector, the execution of fisheries, aquaculture, manufacturing industry and related activities, the preservation and knowledge of marine resources, as well as ensuring the regulation and control of activities carried out in these areas.
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