1The Paddle project created an opportunity for researchers from a range of scientific disciplines (law, political science, public administration, sociology, geography, economics, marine ecology, biology and physics) and a number of countries (in Europe, as well as Cabo Verde, Senegal and Brazil) to enrich understanding around marine spatial planning issues in an interdisciplinary and intercultural way. To foster effective communication within the consortium it was necessary to develop a common language in order to build a shared representation and to facilitate both training and innovation.

2This glossary is a first step towards a common understanding of key concepts in the field of marine spatial planning.

Why a glossary?

3The first step in interdisciplinary scientific collaboration is ensuring mutual understanding and a common language to talk about scientific knowledge. We have repeatedly observed that definitions of key words can vary from one discipline to another, leading to confusion or, worse, misinterpretation (Table 1).

4This glossary aims to lay a foundation for interdisciplinary work with non-native speakers of English.

Methodology

5At the Paddle project kick-off meeting, we asked for a list of terms considered essential in the disciplines represented in each working group. Working group members were then asked to provide definitions. Compiling the definitions revealed a spectrum of similarities and differences. Wherever possible, we use definitions shared within the consortium. If it was not possible to reach a consensus, the discipline related to the proposed definition is specified.

Structure of the glossary

6Several presentation options were considered: by type (theoretical basis, principles and instruments), by theme or by discipline. In the end, the chosen presentation underlines the importance of the definition of key words in the study of MSP processes. The limited number of themes compared to other glossaries produced during the research projects allows an alphabetical classification.

Baseline

7“The normal baseline for measuring the breadth of the territorial sea is the low-water line along the coast as marked on large-scale charts officially recognized by the coastal State.”

8Source: United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Article 5 of Part II, 1982

Biodiversity

9Derived from the Greek bios “life” and the Latin diversitãs “diversity, difference”, biodiversity refers to the degree of variety in the living world, including the taxonomic and functional diversity of species, the genetic diversity within species, as well as the diversity of habitats, ecosystems and landscapes.

Coastal zone

10The coastal zone is defined as a strip of land and sea of variable width depending on the nature of the environment and management needs. It rarely corresponds to existing administrative or planning units. Natural coastal systems and areas where human activities involve the use of coastal resources may therefore extend well beyond the limit of territorial waters, and several kilometres inland.

Source: EU, http://ec.europa.eu/environment/iczm/situation.htm

Connectivity

11Two approaches are typically used to model connectivity: (1) the Lagrangian approach describes motion by following an individual element (particle, organism) as it moves through space and time; (2) the Eulerian approach describes motion by focusing on specific locations in space through which elements pass over time.

Continental shelf

12“The continental shelf of a coastal State comprises the seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas that extend beyond its territorial sea throughout the natural prolongation of its land territory to the outer edge of the continental margin, or to a distance of 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured, where the outer edge of the continental margin does not extend up to that distance.”

Source: UNCLOS, Article 76 of Part VI, 1982

Ecosystem

13Derived from the Greek oikos “house” and systêma “system”, an ecosystem is the assemblage of interacting organisms (bacteria, archaea, protists, fungi, plants, animals – the biocenosis) in their abiotic environment (biotope or habitat).

Ecosystem processes

14Physical, chemical or biological activities or reactions (such as production or decomposition) that link organisms and their environment.

Exclusive economic zone

15“The exclusive economic zone is an area beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea, subject to the specific legal regime established in this Part, in which the rights and jurisdiction of the coastal State and the rights and freedoms of other States are governed by the relevant provisions of this Convention. The exclusive economic zone shall not extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.”

Source: UNCLOS, Articles 55 and 57 of Part V, 1982

Extension of the continental shelf

16“For the purposes of this Convention, the coastal State shall establish the outer edge of the continental margin whenever the margin extends beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured, by either: (1) a line delineated in accordance with paragraph 7 by reference to the outermost fixed points at each of which the thickness of the sedimentary rocks is at least 1 per cent of the shortest distance from such a point to the foot of the continental slope; or (2) a line delineated in accordance with paragraph 7 by reference to fixed points not more than 60 nautical miles from the foot of the continental slope. (b) In the absence of evidence to the contrary, the foot of the continental slope shall be determined as the point of maximum change in the gradient at its base.

Source: UNCLOS, Article 76

Food web

17An assemblage of organisms of different trophic levels that share the same habitat (even if only temporally) and are linked to each other by trophic relationships, i.e. one eats the other. The classical trophic levels of a food web are (primary) producers (normally photosynthetic plants), primary consumers (secondary producers) (herbivores), secondary consumers (carnivores or predators), etc. Only a few food webs comprise more than four trophic levels (top predators at the highest level), but since consumption of a food source may occur at more than one trophic level and many organisms are omnivorous (i.e. they feed on more than one trophic level, e.g. both plants and animals), it is sometimes impossible to clearly assign a species to a trophic level, and food webs are therefore made up of complex trophic interactions.

Habitat

18Derived from the Latin habitāre “to inhabit”, a habitat is the natural environment in which an organism lives, or the physical space in the environment that is suitable for providing the conditions for a set of organisms to live.

Integrated coastal zone management

19“Integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) is a dynamic, multidisciplinary and iterative process to promote sustainable management of coastal zones. It covers the full cycle of information gathering, planning (in its broadest sense), decision-making, management and monitoring of implementation. ICZM uses the informed participation and cooperation of all stakeholders to assess the societal objectives in a given coastal area, and to take actions towards meeting these objectives. ICZM seeks, over the long term, to balance environmental, economic, social, cultural and recreational objectives, all within the limits set by natural dynamics. “Integrated” in ICZM refers to the integration of objectives and to the integration of the many instruments needed to meet these objectives. It means integration of all relevant policy areas, sectors and levels of administration. It means integration of the terrestrial and marine components of the target territory, in both time and space.”

Source: EU, COM (2000) 547

Management plan

1. “A written, circulated and approved document which describes the site or area and the problems and opportunities for management of its nature conservation, landform or landscape features, enabling objectives based on this information to be met through relevant work over a stated period of time.” (Eurosite, 1999).

2. “The guide by which Parks Canada manages the resources and uses of a national park. It contains the management objectives and the means and strategies for achieving them. The plan is not an end in itself; rather, it constitutes a framework within which subsequent management, implementation and planning will take place.” (Parks Canada, 1978).

3. “A document that guides and controls="true" the management of a protected area. It details the resources, uses, facilities and personnel needed to manage the area in the future. It is a working document that presents a programme for the coming 5–10 years.” (Ndosi, 1992).

4. “A document that guides and controls="true" the management of protected area resources, the uses of the area and the development of facilities needed to support that management and use. Thus, a management plan is a working document to guide and facilitate all development activities and all management activities to be implemented in an area.” (Thorsell, 1995).

5. “A document that sets forth the basic and development philosophy of the park and provides strategies for solving problems and achieving identified management objectives over a ten-year period. Based on these strategies, programmes, actions and support facilities necessary for efficient park operations, visitor use and human benefit are identified. Throughout the planning effort, the park is considered in a regional context that influences and is influenced by it.” (Young and Young, 1993).

Source: https://portals.iucn.org/library/efiles/documents/pag-010.pdf

Marine governance

20Marine governance is the way in which society has established objectives, priorities and systems of cooperation concerning the maritime space. Governance can be achieved at international, regional, national and local levels. It is the conduct of policy, actions and affairs concerning the world’s oceans. Governance incorporates the influence of non-governmental actors (i.e. stakeholders, NGOs), so the state is not the only power acting in policymaking.

Source: United Nations

Marine protected areas

1. Marine protected areas (MPAs) involve the protective management of natural areas to maintain them in their natural state. MPAs can be conserved for a number of reasons, including to protect economic resources, biodiversity or specific species. They are created by delimiting an area and defining permitted and non-permitted uses within that area.

2. “Any area of intertidal or subtidal terrain, together with its overlying waters and associated flora, fauna, historical and cultural features, which has been reserved by law or other effective means to protect part or all of the enclosed environment.”

Source: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Marine spatial planning

21“A process by which the relevant member state’s authorities analyse and organise human activities in marine areas to achieve ecological, economic and social objectives.”

Source: EU MSP Directive 2014

Source: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Ocean governance

22“International ocean governance is about managing the world’s oceans and their resources together so that they are healthy and productive for the benefit of current and future generations.”

Source: EU, https://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/policy/ocean-governance_en

Oligotrophic

23An oligotrophic aquatic ecosystem is characterised by low primary productivity, due to the low nutrient content. These ecosystems often have very clear water. The oxygen content is high.

Pelagic/demersal/benthic area

• The term “pelagic” comes from the Greek pelagos “open sea”. It refers to the water column of the open sea. Organisms that live in the pelagic zone are called pelagic organisms.

• Benthic is derived from the Greek bénthos “the depths”. The benthic zone is the ecological region at the very bottom of the sea. It includes the seabed and some subsurface layers. The marine organisms that live in this zone are called benthos.

• Demersal is derived from the Latin demersus “the descent”. The demersal zone is the part of the sea consisting of the water column close to the seabed and the benthos, which is significantly affected by it.

Resilience

24Derived from the Latin resilire “to return”, this is the ability of an ecosystem to respond to a disturbance by resisting damage and recovering quickly to return to its original state.

Territorial sea

25“The sovereignty of a coastal State extends, beyond its land territory and internal waters and, in the case of an archipelagic State, its archipelagic waters, to an adjacent belt of sea, described as the territorial sea. This sovereignty extends to the air space above the territorial sea as well as to its bed and subsoil. Every State has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles, measured from baselines determined in accordance with this Convention.”

Source: Unclos, Articles 2 and 3 of Part II, 1982

Upwelling

26Upwelling is a wind-driven oceanographic process in which deep, cold and generally nutrient-rich water rises to the surface. The upwelled, nutrient-rich water stimulates the growth and reproduction of primary producers such as phytoplankton.

Zoning plan

27“These are produced when different areas or ‘zones’ of a protected area are to be managed in different ways. They identify the boundaries of the zones and contain detail on how each of the zones is to be managed. Zoning plans provide additional definition and help implement the management plan, and are sometimes a part of it.”