From: Wahkiakum County Eagle

Wahkiakum County Marine Resources Committee will be hosting a workshop on Marine Spatial Planning on April 22 from 5-7 p.m. at the Grays River Valley Center at Johnson Park in Rosburg.

Marine spatial planning (MSP) is a public process for analyzing use of marine areas, with the goal of making informed and coordinated decisions on marine resource management. Those who could be affected by or have a vested interest in marine spatial planning include commercial and recreational fisherman, local ports, recreational users (beach goers, kayakers, surfers, etc.), and alternative energy developers. Some liken the process to zoning for the ocean.

Marine spatial planning began to materialize about a decade ago in various locations worldwide due in part to the many demands being placed on marine resources, including energy development. It is a fairly new concept in the United States but one that has become a priority since the Obama Administration assigned an ocean policy task force and began funding MSP in coastal states. In Washington, local marine resources committees are working with state and federal agencies to gather local input and understand existing uses on estuary and coastal waters.