Please note that this section of the EU MSP Platform website is not currently being updated with new information. However, the resources throughout our website remain relevant to our mission of sharing knowledge and experiences on MSP in the EU.
General Introduction to the North Sea
The North Sea region is bordered by a number of strong economies: France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway (non-EU member but a member of the European Economic Area) and the United Kingdom (England and Scotland) (non-EU member), and is one of the most heavily used seas with extensive shipping, fishing, energy (hydrocarbon and offshore wind), aggregate extraction, defence, recreation and includes 2 of the world’s largest ports (Rotterdam and Hamburg).
The Blue Growth potential of the North Sea area was analysed in a 2014 report (“Blue Growth Scenarios and Drivers for Sustainable Growth” (Ecorys, et al., 2012) which estimated that the North Sea’s maritime (blue) economy represented at least €150 billion (or approximately 30% of the EU total) and employed at least 850,000 people. The following key sectors are considered the most important in the North Sea: offshore wind, offshore oil & gas, aquaculture, shipping, shipbuilding, cruise tourism and coastal protection.
The North Sea is situated on the continental shelf of north-west Europe. It forms part of the North East Atlantic region as defined by the North East Atlantic Regional Sea Convention, OSPAR. It opens into the Atlantic Ocean to the north and, via the English Channel to the south-west, into the Baltic Sea to the east and extends to Arctic Waters in the north.
The North Sea is relatively shallow, with an average depth of 90m and a maximum depth of 700m. The seabed is mainly composed of mud, sandy mud, sand and gravel with an important variety of marine landscapes, including fjords, estuaries, sandbanks, bays and intertidal mudflats. The North Sea is situated in temperate latitudes with a climate that is strongly influenced by the inflow of oceanic water from the Atlantic Ocean and by the large scale westerly air circulation which frequently contains low pressure systems. Extreme weather conditions have a direct impact on hydrography, which is characterised by water exchange with surrounding ocean areas, and strong tides.
Biological systems in the North Sea are rich and complex with significant areas of importance for birds, fish and marine mammals. Approximately 230 species of fish are known to inhabit the area, with important spawning grounds for a number of commercial species and prey for birds and marine mammals. Some 10 million seabirds are present at most times of the year with extensive migration of protected species across the region. Marine mammals occur regularly over large parts of the North Sea including long-finned pilot whale, harbour porpoise, common dolphin, white-sided dolphin, Risso's dolphin, killer whale, grey seal, harbour seal, hooded seal (OSPAR, 2015).
A number of areas are highly important for nature conservation, including the Dogger Bank in the southern North Sea, which is protected under the EC Habitats and Birds Directive (with different approaches) by the countries which include this area within their EEZ (UK, Netherlands, Germany and Denmark). The whole North Sea has been declared a special area under Annex V of the MARPOL Convention (the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships) which prohibits release and disposal of garbage and other domestic wastes from ships.
Relevant pan-North Sea MSP institutions and structures
The North Sea Commission is a politically-led cooperation platform for regions around the North Sea, bringing together the Presidents and delegates appointed by the Regional Authorities immediately below the level of Government which border the North Sea. Through dialogue and formal partnerships, they aim to promote common interests, especially in relation to European Union institutions, national governments and other organizations dealing with issues that are relevant to the North Sea. The focus for the North Sea Commission's work is the North Sea Region 2020 strategy document. It defines the following focus areas under the priority 'Managing Maritime Space'; maritime spatial planning, exploitation of marine resources and the North Sea Maritime Stakeholder Forum.
The Commission has a thematic working group called Marine Resources, which includes a number of measures related to MSP in the North Sea, including exchange of best practice on MSP and ICZM across the North Sea and promoting dialogue between all users of the North Sea to facilitate policy integration.
MSP in the North Sea
The nations bordering the North Sea are developing MSP to fulfil their requirements under the EU Directive for MSP, to deliver maritime spatial planning by March 2021. The following MSP activity is under way in the North Sea:
Belgium MSP for Belgian part of the North Sea (2014)
Germany MSP for North Sea EEZ (2009)
England MSP (regional MSP is under development for the North East Inshore Plan Area, North East Offshore Plan Area, South East Inshore Plan Area, South East Offshore Plan Area. The first plans, the East Marine Plans, were published in 2014. The second plans, the South Marine Plans, were published in 2018.)
Scotland (Regional MSP is being developed for 11 Scottish Marine Regions as set out by the Scottish Marine Regions Order 2015, with 5 of these included within the North Sea)
The Netherlands Integrated Plan for the North Sea (2015) and the North Sea 2050 Spatial Agenda
National initiatives include developing arrangements for planning across jurisdictional boundaries, however there is currently no MSP at a North Sea scale. A need for strategic action has been noted, but a lack of overarching authority with a broad enough remit to facilitate the political co-operation required presents a key challenge. There is international co-operation on a regional basis; the Wadden Sea Forum provides a mechanism for Dutch-German-Danish trilateral co-operation including on Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and provides a basis for co-ordination with regard to MSP.
Related Transnational, Non-sectorial Organisations & Policies
NSMC is a not-for-profit collaboration between business, scientific and academic expertise for the benefit of the regional marine sector, developing new avenues for marine science and service, and fostering collaboration across the marine-related sectors in the North Sea.
A web-based forum for sharing information relevant to maritime affairs across Member States.
This MSEG meets on a regular basis and with the objective of developing the guidance supporting the implementation of the MSP Directive, on aspects such as co-operation across borders and the use of data.
OSPAR monitors MSP developments as these relate to implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive but no longer has an active MSP working group.
MASPNOSE was a study carried out for the European Commission, focussing on the issue of cross-border maritime spatial planning. The project undertook two case studies in the North Sea, engaging governmental parties and stakeholders (fisheries, NGOs and other industry bodies). One focussed on developing an international fisheries management plan for the Dogger Bank in the central North Sea, and the second looked at potential areas of collaboration for wind energy and the harmonisation of marine planning on Thornton Bank in the southern part of the North Sea. The project concluded that cross-border co-operation efforts often lacked commitment and did not lead to a unified marine spatial plan for the area, and that a pre-agreed process with a clear mandate and responsibilities was necessary.
Relevant Sector Organisations
Shipping and Ports
OSPAR North Sea Conference
OSPAR Commission for the North Sea Region
SAHFOS Continuous Plankton Recorder
OSPAR Joint Assessment and Monitoring Programme (JAMP)
The Wadden Sea Trilateral Monitoring and Assessment Programme (TMAP)
Offshore Renewable Energy
North Seas Energy Cooperation
European Wind Energy Association (EWEA)
North Sea Link (NSL)
European Commission Strategy for an Energy Union on 25 February 2015
North Seas Countries Offshore Grid Initiative (NSCOGI)
Scientific Research and Data
North West Shelf Operational Oceanographic System (NOOS)
North Sea Hydrographic Commission
European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) Central Portal North Sea Checkpoint
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Data Centre
NORDREGIO – Nordic Centre for Spatial Development
Wadden Sea Region Planning Portal
INTERREG North Sea Region (NSR) Programme