Marine Spatial Planning - From a municipal perspective

Abstract

Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) aims to, through physical planning of the marine areas, contribute to a sustainable development where various interests can get along. This master thesis concerns Marine Spatial Planning from a municipal perspective in Sweden. The aim of the thesis is to investigate how MSP is performed on a municipal level. In order to investigate this the thesis has been structured into three themes; The work with marine spatial planning, Marine spatial planning and synergies between marine and terrestrial areas and lastly, Environment and growth in marine spatial planning. It is important to remember that the core theme throughout the thesis; The work with marine spatial planning is interlinked with the other themes and that all of them permeate each other in the municipalities work with MSP. The mixed methods applied to answer the aim in the thesis are semi-structured informant interviews with planners and project leaders of a selection of municipalities and a survey sent to all Swedish coastal municipalities. The results show that cooperation and collaborations are an important part in the work with MSP for several municipalities. Furthermore, the results show that the politicians and enthusiasts have a crucial role in how MSP is performed and prioritized. Municipalities that often are considered as forerunners in MSP have spent a lot of time and resources gathering data, as well as they have performed their work with MSP in a participative manner to get a basis. The results also show an apparent lack of knowledge and relevant data, which occurs as challenges in the municipalities continued work with MSP, for example when planners and decision makers are to make considerations and choices in MSP. The conclusions are that many municipalities are in a start-up phase in their work with MSP and not yet have come to the part in the process where choices between various interests must be made. The three commonly used pillars of sustainable development have all appeared as important in the work with MSP, at the same time a lack of knowledge makes it difficult to take well-grounded decisions to achieve sustainable development.