Marine Spatial Planning for a Blue Economy

In October 2025, following extensive feedback on the draft reports, we are pleased to publish the final reports of the

• Guiding Principles for an Australian MSP Framework
• Implementing the Australian MSP Framework
• Key Enablers for Implementation of the Australian MSP Framework

This document forms the third major output on the road to produce an Australian MSP Framework (AMSPF). It builds on the first report ‘Guiding Principles for an Australian MSP Framework’, which details the results of the projects’ engagement with marine users and identifies five common principles for planning. It also builds on the second report ‘Implementing an Australian MSP Framework’, which describes a practical approach to operationalise the guiding principles.

In this third report, we describe the key enablers required to implement the proposed MSP process. These three reports constitute the AMSPF. Here we draw on the experience of integrated approaches in the global literature and best practise, learnings from existing Australian approaches, and the views of our >200 collaborators to discuss the key issues and challenges, and propose mechanisms to enable, the implementation of an MSP process in Australia’s marine estate. The AMSPF represents a policy-driven, needs-based, bottom-up approach to planning that works within existing sectoral-based processes.

This document forms the second major output on the road to produce an Australian MSP Framework (AMSPF). It builds on the first report, “Guiding Principles for an Australian MSP Framework” (Griffiths et al., 2024), which details the results of the projects’ engagement with marine users and identifies five common principles for planning. In this second report, we describe a practical approach to operationalise the guiding principles. It also links to the third report “Key enablers to implement an Australian MSP Framework” which describes the enabling conditions required to implement an MSP process (Griffiths et al., 2025a). These three reports constitute the AMSPF.

In order to develop an Australian Marine Spatial Planning Framework, the project team over many months, reached out and engaged with First Nations custodians and representatives of Sea Country and the marine estate.

Guided by an Indigenous Engagement Advisory Committee and facilitated by an Indigenous-led consultancy we developed and implemented an Indigenous Engagement Strategy and facilitated workshops in various locations that could capture different views and issues regarding the development and management of Sea Country.

This report summarises and highlights the various issues and views of First Nations people that were shared with us during our First Nations engagements including issues of importance with managing Sea Country, what could be done better, a vision for Sea Country in 20 years and how governments and other stakeholders can engage and work with First Nations people to care for, and manage, Sea Country.

“This report summarises and highlights the various issues and views of First Nations people that were shared with us during our online and in person engagements around Australia in 2024. The responses highlighted a variety of issues that need to be addressed in developing a marine spatial planning framework. The project team intends for this report to be a living document. We welcome further feedback from those that have been engaged in the process as well as those who have read the report and would like to be heard.” Ainsley Leaning, MSP team member, Griffith University.

This document represents the first step in developing a unified, whole of marine estate, approach specifically for Australia.

This approach has been developed levering off international exemplars of marine spatial planning (MSP frameworks), principes and best practise as advocated by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of United Nations Environment (IOC-UNESCO) and the European Commission, and existing integrated approaches used in Australia. It has been developed through a collaborative process with Australia’s First Nations people, established and emerging ocean industries, commonwealth, state, territory and local government agencies, non-government organisations, and researchers.

“This report details the results of extensive consultations with First Nations communities, industry, NGOs, national peak bodies and government agencies. We heard strong support for a holistic, and integrated process and strong alignment around 5 core principles a marine spatial planning process for Australia should embody. The project team are sharing these views to gauge wider views as preparation to the development of operational process that could implement the approach.”

“The results of the project suggest that a robust MSP process could support investment and development of the Blue Economy and support collaborative, inter-sector, approaches delivery of Australia’s Sustainable Ocean Plan.”  Prof Chris Frid, Project Lead

The Marine Spatial Planning project has released two milestone reports as part of the delivery of this project.

1. Evaluation of potential for interaction and/or conflict among ocean users and the environment in offshore waters in AustraliaAustralia’s ecosystems and the services they provide are essential to the country’s economy. Multiple industries utilise marine space and resources to deliver tradeable goods and services, such as seafood, oil and gas, mining materials, renewable energy, recreation and tourist activities, and transportation. The sustainable development and production of marine resources, whilst also preserving ocean habitat, biodiversity, and ecosystem services, forms the basis of the “Blue Economy” concept.To develop a management framework that considers the resource requirements and environmental impacts of multiple industries, the interactions between industries must be considered. These interactions range from interindustry conflicts and spatial overlap to intraindustry competition. Additionally, management should incorporate the cumulative impact of multiple stressors on the environment.
2. Identifying synergies and trade-offs between sectors in the Blue Economy ZoneBlue Economy sustainability goals aim to ensure the longevity of the economic, social, cultural, and environmental contributions of ocean ecosystems. Australia aims to double the value of its blue economy by 2025, while reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. To achieve this, Australia has invested significantly into offshore renewable energy. However, Australia’s oceans are crowded with uses, and ocean management is currently conducted using a sector-based approach, with little cross-industry integration.In this report, we discuss Australia’s need to implement integrated ocean planning and management using a case study of the Bass Strait, a hotspot of Blue Economy activity and an area targeted for significant offshore wind development. We review the guidelines for current Environmental Impact Assessments for Victorian offshore wind farms and collate the impacted species data to demonstrate the need for an integrated management approach for Australia to retain its biodiversity. We then use existing spatial data to map industry overlap in Australia, with a more detailed focus on Bass Strait.
   

The Marine Spatial Planning for a Sustainable Blue Economy project released Supporting Papers in March 2024. Marine Spatial Planning offers countries an operational framework to maintain the value of their marine biodiversity while at the same time allowing sustainable use of the economic potential of their oceans. The comprehensive supporting papers cover the common approaches to MSP – both nationally and internationally, integration with Indigenous Peoples and the context in Australia’s Marine Estate.

The Marine Spatial Planning for a sustainable Blue Economy project is on track to identify a draft framework for Marine Spatial Planning by Spring 2023. The project has engaged with 106 external stakeholders through focus groups, the project Advisory Committee and one-on-one meetings to understand the needs of government, industry and organisations who are interested in the management of Australia’s marine estate.

Engagement with Indigenous Australians is also gaining traction with the establishment of an Indigenous Governance Committee (IGC) tasked with identifying an appropriate mechanism to engage with Indigenous Australians to understand their views on an integrated management approach for the marine estate including recognition and respect of sea country.

Research on understanding the international approach for MSP has continued. Conversations with the Commonwealth Government’s Oceans Office has continued to ensure the emerging MSP framework is consistent with and can support Australia’s sustainability goals and national Sustainable Oceans Plan. The second phase of stakeholder focus groups will be carried out in late March. The conversations during these sessions are anticipated to provide the foundations for the MSP framework.