Marine protected areas and marine spatial planning: allocation of resource use and environmental protection for a sustainable and resilient future.

Mohammed A. QURBAN¹*, Lotfi J. RABAOUI¹, Abdulnasser S. AL QUTUB¹, Silvia  AROSSA¹, Afrah ALOTHMAN¹, Eman SABBAGH¹, Carlos GARCIA-SAEZ¹,

¹National Center for Wildlife, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

* Correspondence: mqurban@ncw.gov.sa   

Seldom is the strong link that exists between Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) explicitly recognised as is now being done by the National Center for Wildlife (NCW). MSP is the process by which the use of marine space is identified and used to inform development decisions made by regulators. Marine Protected areas that are important for marine conservation are a priority for the NCW. These marine areas are formally designated and have legal protection as MPAs. Where MPAs do not exist in the Saudi Red Sea or the Arabian Gulf, marine plans are of assistance in the identification of areas where they could be sited optimally; taking into account environmental, social, economic and political considerations and existing uses. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has been leading an intensive and extensive effort though the NCW designing and implementing MPAs, and developing a Marine Spatial Planning strategy in both the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea as part of the Saudi Green Initiative and its 30x30 commitment to contribute to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity framework, bringing together synergies between Marine Protected Areas and Marine Spatial Planning. Areas such as Farasan Islands Man and Biosphere Reserve and the newly declared Blue Holes and Ras Hatiba in the Red Sea, and the proposed World Heritage site in Gulf of Aqaba and the Northern Red Sea and Jubail and Ras Abu Khamis in the Arabian Gulf are part of these endeavours. MSP includes elements of zoning, with MPAs incorporated as areas where the conservation of biodiversity is a priority. The development of this system of MSP will expand the role and design of individual and networks of MPAs and clarify this role to other user groups and help to reduce conflicts of use and take into account cumulative effects of marine activities to develop a sustainable and resilient-based management of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia waters.