Coastal Marine Planning: Vision of the Maritime Authority. Case of the Department of Bolivar, Colombia

Abstract

Marine Spatial Planning is a tool that has acquired significant importance worldwide. Around 70 countries have implemented this initiative given the increased activity within the maritime sector and pressure on marine resources. The methods used are adapted to each country’s characteristics and articulated with other management processes. Although Colombia has progressed through on the processes regarding this issue, through different agencies, marine spatial planning related to maritime activities is absent. Therefore, the General Maritime Directorate (DIMAR in Spanish) through its commitment to turning Colombia into a bi-oceanic power, under a holistic and comprehensive maritime safety approach, contributes to marine and coastal areas management with a methodology for Marine and Coastal Management with a Maritime Authority Vision (MCM: MAV), focused on analyzed current and future conditions using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), multi-criteria analysis, and an Allocation and Co-location Model (ACM). The method was applied to Bolivar Department marine and coastal area, resulting in the identification of 55 uses/activities, and obtaining zoning by index and by the number of conflicts, as well as a map of free areas. This information is intended to improve monitoring, evaluation, and updating of maritime activities in these areas, and because it is applicable throughout the Colombian territory, it facilitates decision-making by several national governmental agencies.