The sustainable development of aquaculture increasingly depends on the capacity of countries to integrate sectoral growth of blue economies within a marine spatial planning (MSP) integrated process. Aquaculture has the potential to contribute to food security, coastal livelihoods, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals/Agenda 2030 (Troell et al. 2023). However, its expansion often competes for space with other maritime activities and requires a science-based approach to identify suitable areas to be allocated to this activity, minimizing conflicts with other uses. In many regions, MSP has not yet been applied to aquaculture, or only partially introduced, leaving countries without the tools needed to plan for sustainable sectoral growth.
In this context, ISPRA and FAO co-organized in October 2024 the expert workshop “Spatial management for aquaculture planning: Defining needs for assisting countries”, held at FAO headquarters in Rome. The workshop brought together 18 experts from different regions of the world, representing diverse experiences and perspectives, to define priorities and outline a roadmap of actions for supporting countries in advancing aquaculture spatial planning. The initiative was motivated by the recognition that knowledge gaps, limited data availability, fragmented governance, and lack of institutional capacity are among the key challenges delaying the integration of aquaculture into the broader MSP processes.
The roadmap outlined during the workshop identifies strategic objectives and actions across five priority areas: (i) governance and institutional frameworks, focusing on streamlined interactions between authorities; (ii) knowledge support for spatial planning in aquaculture, including data, innovative tools, and smart aquaculture; (iii) criteria and guiding elements for allocation of space, co-use of marine areas, land–sea interactions, and adaptation to climate change; (iv) capacity building, awareness, and stakeholder engagement through training and digital platforms; and (v) marine conservation and restoration, emphasizing how spatial planning in aquaculture can contribute to ecological objectives and conservation targets. These directions reflect the need for both technical and policy support, highlighting the role of international cooperation in sharing experiences and mobilizing resources.
The workshop was also aligned with Action XIV of the Updated Joint Roadmap to accelerate Marine/Maritime Spatial Planning processes worldwide (2022–2027), which calls for co-producing sector-specific recommendations on MSP, including aquaculture.
In order to contribute to the development of MSP in the aquaculture sector within the broader MSPglobal framework, the workshop outcomes aim to contribute to the international agenda of extending spatial planning to at least one third of global maritime areas under national jurisdiction by 2030 (IOC-EC 2022). The tools and outputs developed through the workshop are also coherent with the FAO Blue Transformation roadmap (2022–2030), which emphasizes effective planning, governance, and cooperation as essential to sustainable aquaculture development and to the integration of the sector into cross-sectoral policies (FAO 2022).
This presentation provides insights into the rationale for convening the workshop, the process of building consensus among international experts, and the expected outputs in terms of guidance and actions. It also reflects on how this roadmap can serve as a practical contribution, helping countries in integrating aquaculture into MSP in a sustainable way that is sustainable, with a science-based approach, and consistent with global ocean governance objectives.
References
FAO. (2022). Blue Transformation – Roadmap 2022–2030: A vision for FAO’s work on aquatic food systems. Rome. https://doi.org/10.4060/cc0459en
IOC-UNESCO / European Commission. (2022). Updated Joint Roadmap to accelerate Marine/Maritime Spatial Planning processes worldwide – MSProadmap (2022–2027). Paris, UNESCO. (IOC Technical Series, 182).
Troell, M., Costa-Pierce, B., Stead, S., Cottrell, R. S., Brugere, C., Farmery, A. K., Little, D. C., Strand, Å., Pullin, R., Soto, D., Beveridge, M., Salie, K., Dresdner, J., Moraes-Valenti, P., Blanchard, J., James, P., Yossa, R., Allison, E., Devaney, C., & Barg, U. (2023). Perspectives on aquaculture’s contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals for improved human and planetary health. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, 54(2), 251–342. https://doi.org/10.1111/jwas.12946