Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is defined as ‘a process by which the relevant Member State’s authorities analyse and organise human activities in marine areas to achieve ecological, economic and social objectives’ (EU, 2014). The European Union (EU) Maritime Spatial Planning Directive (2014) required all Member States with marine territories to prepare ecosystem-based maritime spatial plans for their waters by March 2021. This approach aims to maximise the benefits of our seas, while minimising the harm to our coastal habitats and species, in order to serve the common good.

Unfortunately, Ireland’s Plan is neither ecosystem-based nor a plan, according to analysis carried out on behalf of SWAN – An Evaluation of Ireland’s Marine Spatial Plan – The National Marine Planning Framework. Instead, the analysis concluded that it is a framework for future plans and should be replaced to comply with the MSP Directive when an actual plan is in place.  To date, no such plan exists.

Blue Ireland members believe that if the sites currently being proposed had been subjected to ecosystem-based scrutiny, it would have been obvious from the start that they were the wrong places for industrial development.