REGINA-MSP project partners

SHOM stands for the French Hydrographic Offices and is the official provider for French national limits and for reference data regarding the physical marine environment (including hydrographic conditions and underwater noise) and navigation safety. Shom has been involved in the EU MSP projects SIMCelt, SIMNORAT and SIMWESTMED, SEANSE, SIMAtlantic and is currently a partner of MSPMED, eMSPNBSR and MSP-OR projects. SHOM is also contributing to major developments launched by DG MARE, such as EMODnet, Coastal Mapping, and Copernicus to improve the marine knowledge base. Shom will bring in its experience capitalized during its participation to the other MSP projects in terms of preparation of digital MSP plans, MSP data collection and management, and also, as the national hydrographic office, its knowledge in maritime safety of navigation and relationship with MSP.

CPMR, the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions represents some 150 maritime Regions in 24 European Union countries and beyond. It is both a think tank and an interest group for regional and local governments. Since its inception in 1973, the CPMR has been acting to promote a more balanced development of the European territory. Most of its work addresses EU policies with a strong territorial impact (e.g. energy transition and climate change, cohesion policy, accessibility & transport). The CPMR is structured around a core policy secretariat and six Geographical Commissions covering the main sea basins of Europe: Atlantic Arc, Balkans and Black Sea, Baltic Sea, Mediterranean, North Sea, and one for Islands. The Geographical Commissions provide active forums in which CPMR members address European issues and share best practices on areas of common interests, including the development of the blue economy, and the support of marine spatial planning in line with an ecosystem-based approach. Regional authorities form the backbone of the CPMR, contributing to its political deliberations and technical notes. The CPMR has over forty years’ experience influencing European policy development, and in implementing European projects. With member Regions from across the whole of the EU and outside the EU, it provides great opportunities for dissemination and transfer of knowledge and experience. The CPMR brings in the participation of not just one or two, but over 150 public authorities, who are best placed to structure local and regional value chains and ensure the right conditions are in place to support project aims and long-term sustainability of national marine spatial planning and their outcomes. The CPMR also provides the secretariat to the European Parliament Intergroup on Seas, Rivers, Islands, and Coastal areas (SEARICA), a direct channel to influence colegislators on policy related to maritime affairs.

CETMAR is a Public Foundation promoted by the Regional Government of Galicia (Xunta de Galicia) and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. CETMAR aims to promote a sustainable development of marine environment & resources and to foster links and cooperation between R&D agents, the maritime-fishing industry and other major stakeholders. CETMAR’s strategy is focused on the achievement of a higher degree of cooperation among the different stakeholders (industry, academy, government, consumers, etc.) through the integration of multiple disciplines and complementary capacities in projects and initiatives. Most relevant skills CETMAR can offer for the project implementation are linked, on one hand, to the background knowledge about the marine and maritime sectors and marine environment and resources related issues; to its wide experience and dynamic role in promoting and coordinating collaborative projects at national, EU and international level and finally to its capacity to mobilize stakeholders in marine and maritime industries. Within the field tackled in this project it is worth mentioning the involvement of CETMAR in SIMNORAT project and that it is currently providing technical assistance to Galician Regional Government in the Maritime Spatial Planning process.

DHLGH, The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is the lead authority for a range of marine functions, including implementation of the MSP Directive. DHLGH is responsible for marine planning in Ireland, ensuring adoption of Ireland’s first National Marine Spatial Plan in 2021. DHLGH is also responsible for the foreshore consenting process and administers applications for consent under the Foreshore Acts, 1933-2011 for developments that fall within the statutory responsibility of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. This process will be superseded by a new regime set out the Maritime Area Planning (MAP) Act, 2021, and be delivered by the new Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) that will be an agency of DHLGH. The MAP Act also enables public authorities to develop regional marine plans (Designated Maritime Area Plans or DMAPs) and DHLGH is currently developing implementation steps for this new process. Other marine functions in the Department include implementation of the MSF Directive as well as leading legislative and policy issues around Marine Protected Areas.

PUSPS, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences. The "Strategic and Maritime Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development" Lab of the Department of Economic and Regional development was created in 2002. The Lab ensures interdisciplinary and holistic approach to policy and planning issues and projects and has a longstanding experience on territorial/urban/maritime development observation, reporting and planning, place-based development policies, maritime spatial planning, ecosystem-based management, incorporation of maritime/underwater cultural heritage (MCH/UCH) in MSP, GIS applications etc. It implements virtual learning environments and provides targeted information/training to territorial stakeholders (regional and local authorities), produces educational and training material and hosts International and transnational conferences on all the above subject matters. It was the ESPON Contact Point 2000-2013 in Greece (www.espon2013.panteion.gr). Within this framework, the Lab provided consultation on all ESPON issues and projects to the Greek Ministry of Development and Competitiveness (2007-2014) and participated in several ESPON projects and transnational networking activities (TNAs). Recent MSP related national projects deal with Maritime Cultural Heritage, Fisheries Local Actions Groups and Community-Led Development Strategies, local and regional dimensions of blue growth in cooperation with “Development Companies” and other local/regional stakeholders and research on multi-use focusing on the combination of fisheries-tourism-nature conservation, and UCH-tourism-MPAs.