Gestión y planificación espacial marina

Solutions

The increase and diversification of human activities in the marine environment have highlighted the need to implement new management measures that ensure a rational and sustainable use of marine resources. In this context, Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) offers a practical approach to efficiently organising uses of marine space, balancing economic development with the conservation and restoration of ecosystems.

MSP contributes to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda and to the transition towards a sustainable Blue Economy.

Tools for Marine Spatial Planning (MSP)

Decision-support tools for Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) are systems designed to help managers, scientists, policymakers and other stakeholders in the assessment and sustainable management of marine space use. These tools:

Integrate diverse data: ecological, social, economic, legal, etc.
Assess impacts and risks: they make it possible to anticipate how different activities (such as fishing, aquaculture and renewable energy) affect the marine environment.
Simulate scenarios: they help to visualise what would happen if certain decisions were implemented (for example, creating a new conservation area or installing offshore wind farms).
Facilitate compatibility between uses: they identify conflicts and synergies between human activities.
Promote sustainability: by taking into account ecosystem services and environmental resilience.
Contribute to the identification of areas to be protected or restored.

In this respect, the following tools developed at AZTI are noteworthy:

Tools for the assessment and definition of strategies for ecosystem-based Marine Spatial Planning (EB-MSP).
Decision-support tools that assist managers in identifying suitable sites for the development of maritime activities (e.g. renewable energy, aquaculture, tourism, fisheries) and in making optimal decisions through the development and implementation of decision-support tools (VAPEM).
Technical advice using integrated environmental risk assessment methodologies for marine energy (WEC ERA and WIND ERA).

Socio-ecological systems for marine management and governance

New management models must be based on recognising that human (social) systems and natural (ecological) systems are closely connected and interdependent. The development of socio-ecological system (SES) models requires conceptual, methodological and data tools that reflect this complexity and support more integrated marine governance.

Specialised support in marine planning and governance processes.

Turnkey service: from data collection and integration through to the design, modelling and delivery of ready-to-use solutions.
Advisory service: technical and methodological support for decision-making, interpretation of results and training in the use of Marine Spatial Planning tools.

Our services

Solutions for planning the use of marine spaces, supporting public authorities and designing sustainable governance models. These solutions include assessing marine energy potential, conducting socio-ecological analyses, and developing tools to enable the orderly and compatible management of activities in the marine environment.

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Our products

Specialised tools to enable risk assessment, planning of new uses and analysis of ecosystem services in maritime spatial planning, including ecosystem-based assessment models, spatial planning tools and systems to analyse the impact of marine renewable energy.

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Marine observation research infrastructure

Infrastructure and scientific/technological equipment for Coastal Observation (EuskOOS-RI)

Marine Autonomous Systems (MAS)

From Pasaia Ocean Autonomy (POA) AZTI operates a fleet of unmanned vehicles —gliders, Itsasdrone and Ranger— designed for remote exploration and environmental monitoring in areas that are difficult to access. These systems allow work to be carried out both on the surface and in the water column, in coastal and oceanic environments, greatly expanding marine observation capabilities with high efficiency and autonomy.

Oceanographic ships and craft

AZTI has its own and partner fleets to support oceanographic and fishery research, combining its own resources with the support of specialist companies and public institutions. This capacity ensures that scientific campaigns can be carried out at sea and in coastal areas with the highest technical and safety levels.

Port infrastructure

The AZTI port infrastructure, on the Herrera dock in the Port of Pasaia (Gipuzkoa), provides the technical support necessary for marine research.

Marine spatial management and planning