Jersey Marine Spatial Plan (MSP)

Objectives and outcomes

The marine environment makes up 96% of Jersey's territorial area and includes the:

intertidal area
seabed
sea itself
sea surface
air above it

This diverse area hosts various ecosystem services that support human activities. Those activities include fishing, conservation efforts and recreational activities. As a result, marine space has become a crowded space, and different uses of the marine environment conflict with one another.

Objectives

An MSP's primary aim is to make sure we understand how people value and interact with our marine environment, which is achieved by making sure the MSP uses various evidence based factors.

The MSP process aims to find a balance between the different uses we have for our marine environment, and to make sure we interact with our local ecosystems in a sustainable manner.

Outcomes

Through the MSP process, there was an evidence gathering stage to highlight how Jersey's marine environment is used throughout its different areas.

The MSP focusses on human activity and how those activities relate to the ecology of our marine environment. Gathering evidence of this relationship allows us to determine how sensitive our marine environment is to the various ways humans interact with it.

This was assessed at a habitat level to demonstrate the importance of biodiversity and the ecosystems that are affected by human interaction.

The outcome of the MSP process is to make sure our marine environment is better protected and enjoyed for generations to come.

Jersey Marine Spatial Plan consultation draft

Jersey Marine Spatial Plan consultation map draft

The MSP structure

The final MSP will include:

a policy map showing the extent of zones and the locations where specific policies apply
a policy document which details the physical characteristics and current uses of the marine environment, along with policies for its future management
an evidence base which supports the policies described in the policy map and policy document

This will include an online interactive atlas showing the spatial extent of habitats and the areas used for different human activities identified through existing datasets and the stakeholder engagement process.

All documents will be made available at the end of the process through the Jersey MSP Portal. Printed versions of the policy map and policy document will also be available.

Timetable

Work is already underway on gathering information for the evidence base and we anticipate that the Jersey MSP will be produced to the following timetable:

Date	Action
January to February 2023	Evidence base compilation and review
February to March 2023	Stakeholder consultation workshops and suggestions window
April to July 2023	Writing draft MSP document and developing draft map
August 2023	Consultation draft published
24 October 2023 to 28 January 2024	Consultation process
January to March 2024	Edits following consultation
May 2024	Final documents issued and Jersey MSP Portal launched

How you can get involved

MSP consultation

Public participation and involvement from the outset of this project was fundamental in shaping the content for the MSP.

The public consultation phase ran from 24 October 2023 to 28 January 2024. The comments received will be used to shape the second draft of the plan and a consultation response document will be published in the coming months.

The team

To achieve this plan, consultants have been brought on board who have experience working with the specific needs of island life. This has been demonstrated by their policy making and their work on the Island Plan.

Government of Jersey Marine Resources have commissioned Fiona Fyfe Associates to prepare the MSP. Government of Jersey are providing much of the evidence base and will be closely involved with the project. Their team includes specialists in marine planning, marine biology and mapping.

Fiona Fyfe and her team know Jersey's landscapes and seascapes well through previous projects, such as the recent Integrated Landscape and Seascape Character Assessment, which is in regular use by several Government of Jersey departments.