Zoning Process

For Government of Seychelles Marine Spatial Planning Initiative9 July 2014

Technical Working Group Meeting

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Marine zoning

• Method to delineate areas of the coastal and marine environment for specific activities in time and/or space.

– Alleviate competition and conflict

Agardy, T. 2012. Ocean Zoning: Making ocean management more effective. Routledge. 240 pp.

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Zoning

Zoning – legislated, Parliamentary Act, etc.

zoning – policy guidance, management tool

Photo: EnviroFishAfrica.com

Photo: MightyTours.com

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Zoning Approaches

Use based• Historic patterns and status quo• Single or multiple divisions – “tourism zone”• Dominant use is featured

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Zoning Approaches

Ecologically based• Relative ecological importance• Allocate intensive uses in impacted areas• Uses transition and buffers

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Zoning Approaches

Objective based• Determine highest or best use• Broad or descriptive divisions – “multi-use”• Provisions allow or preclude uses

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Benefits*

• Protect sensitive or vulnerable ecosystem types• Conserve heritage and cultural areas• Increase certainty for existing uses and activities. • Build efficiencies in marine-use decisions.• Reduce or minimise conflicts between marine users.• Recommend spatial locations for new or future economic

activities.• Recommend spatial locations for marine protection• Provide policy guidance for resource managers• Improve marine governance

*depending on the scale

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Challenges

• Technical, legal and political complexities• Competing interests and conflicting values• Long timelines for formalising• Dynamic ecosystem• Property rights and ownership discussions

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“Good practices” for zoning

• Set clear objectives for zoning• Clearly differentiate zone types• Build on existing zoning efforts• Respect existing laws and regulations • Educate and inform people build buy in

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“Good practices” for zoning

• Weigh simplicity against complexity• Small number of zones• Develop non-overlapping zones• Use straight lines for zone boundaries• Consider intensity and frequency of uses• Use a diversity of knowledge bases

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Zoning Example – St Kitts and Nevis, Caribbean

Five Zones:Conservation ZoneFisheries ZoneMultiple Use – Fishing, ConservationMultiple Use – Tourism, Fishing, Conservation Multiple Use – Transportation, Tourism, Fishing, Conservation

Hybrid of “use” and “objective” based zoning

Pros:2 “use” zones reflect the primary activity

Con: 3 “objective” zones, same names - different objectives

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Zoning Example –British Columbia

General Management ZoneSpecial Management ZoneProtection Management Zone

“Objective” based zoning

Pros:Each zone is distinct

Con: 2 zone names are ambiguous

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DRAFT Zoning Process for Seychelles1. Review existing plans, literature, guidelines 2. Review global “lessons learned”3. Gather and review data layers4. Zoning process 5. Scale and scope6. Objectives7. Approach, types and names 8. Criteria for defining the spatial extents9. Develop spatial and non-spatial tools10. Analyse information and data11. Draft zones, management objectives and directions12. Review and discuss13. Assess, review and adjust

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DRAFT Zoning Process for Seychelles1. Review existing plans, literature, guidelines 2. Review global “lessons learned”3. Gather and review data layers4. Zoning process 5. Scale and scope6. Objectives7. Approach, types and names 8. Criteria for defining the spatial extents9. Develop spatial and non-spatial tools10. Analyse information and data11. Draft zones, management objectives and directions12. Review and discuss13. Assess, review and adjust

underway

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DRAFT Zoning Objectives• Reduce spatial conflicts among uses • Identifying management directions for all uses• Provide overall guidance for resource managers -

business certainty and business efficiency• Identify areas for enhanced management for cultural,

ecological, and social objectives

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Compatibility Matrix

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Questions