MMO1338_Understanding and Exploring Co-existence Opportunities and Displacement

To undertake a review of existing co-existence evidence and produce a matrix of interactions, with particular focus on spatial and non-spatial case study interactions and the extent to which displacement may occur and how this can be applied in policy.

Space is essential for marine activities to function and in order to make the optimal use of space, it is important to understand which marine activities can be co-located and under what conditions this may be possible. As the coastal-marine environment becomes busier, the pressure on available space increases and there is a greater need for marine users to co-exist where multiple developments, activities or uses occur alongside or near each other in the same area, or at the same time.

The UK marine planning systems, directed by the UK Marine Policy Statement, have intent to manage competition and enable co-existence in the marine space as far as possible. English marine plans for example contain specific policies encouraging optimisation of the use of space, co-operation, co-existence and promoting compatibility and encouraging co-operation between different activities within the context of social, economic, and environmental considerations.

There is a body of work that has considered issues around potential for co-existence and co-location more specifically - considered a subset of co-existence. Specifically, terms are defined in the adopted East marine plans (East Marine Plans - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)).

Co-existence "where multiple development, activities or uses can exist alongside or close to each other in the same place and/or at the same time" (MMO, 2014, p187).

Co-location "where multiple developments (often structures), activities or uses co-exist in the same place by sharing the same footprint or area in the marine environment. 'Footprint' can include both the physical location of a development or activity, e.g. a built structure, and a wider area associated with the development or activity, e.g. a surrounding safety zone" (MMO, 2014, p187).