Zoning Process For Government of Seychelles Marine Spatial Planning Initiative 9 July 2014 Technical Working Group Meeting

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 Ocean Zoning: Making ocean management more effective. Routledge. 240 pp. 2

Zoning Zoning – legislated, Parliamentary Act, etc. zoning – policy guidance, management tool Photo: EnviroFishAfrica.com Photo: MightyTours.com 3

Zoning Approaches Use based Historic patterns and status quo Single or multiple divisions – “tourism zone” Dominant use is featured 4

Zoning Approaches Ecologically based Relative ecological importance Allocate intensive uses in impacted areas Uses transition and buffers 5

Zoning Approaches Objective based Determine highest or best use Broad or descriptive divisions – “multi-use” Provisions allow or preclude uses 6

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 7

Challenges Technical, legal and political complexities Competing interests and conflicting values Long timelines for formalising Dynamic ecosystem Property rights and ownership discussions 8

“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 9

“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 10

Zoning Example – St Kitts and Nevis, Caribbean Five Zones: Conservation Zone Fisheries Zone Multiple Use – Fishing, Conservation Multiple 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 11

Zoning Example – British Columbia General Management Zone Special Management Zone Protection Management Zone “Objective” based zoning Pros: Each zone is distinct Con: 2 zone names are ambiguous 12

DRAFT Zoning Process for Seychelles 1.Review existing plans, literature, guidelines 2.Review global “lessons learned” 3.Gather and review data layers 4.Zoning process 5.Scale and scope 6.Objectives 7.Approach, types and names 8.Criteria for defining the spatial extents 9.Develop spatial and non-spatial tools 10.Analyse information and data 11.Draft zones, management objectives and directions 12.Review and discuss 13.Assess, review and adjust 13

DRAFT Zoning Process for Seychelles 1.Review existing plans, literature, guidelines 2.Review global “lessons learned” 3.Gather and review data layers 4.Zoning process 5.Scale and scope 6.Objectives 7.Approach, types and names 8.Criteria for defining the spatial extents 9.Develop spatial and non-spatial tools 10.Analyse information and data 11.Draft zones, management objectives and directions 12.Review and discuss 13.Assess, review and adjust underway 14

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 15

Compatibility Matrix 16

Questions 17