The Speak Up For Blue Podcast

The Indigenous Fisheries conflict in Nova Scotia could have been avoided if the proper planning of the Ocean was completed when marine scientists and conservationists introduced the concept of Marine Spatial Planning. Spatial Planning is similar to urban or rural planning. It sets zones of usage or protection based on the specific needs and wants of the people managing the area (citizens in the form of representation by elected officials).  Planning on land has been happening for quite some time and the goal of the planning is to make sure users (developers, industries, residences) know where they can do their functions.  Ocean planning would guide users to where they could do their function and how they could do it. The planning would reduce the harm on sensitive Ocean habitats as well as allow for conservation. It would also reduce ocean user conflict by setting out the guidelines of where and when people can conduct their uses.  Imagine is an Ocean plan was conducted a number of years ago. It could have se