Semporna marine spatial plan to be M'sia's first
Published on: Friday, April 17, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Town and Regional Planning Department and WWF-Malaysia are jointly hosting a two-day Semporna Marine Spatial Planning in Semporna which began yesterday (Wednesday).The outcome is going to be historic since it will lead to the production of the first marine spatial plan in Malaysia! Marine Spatial Planning is a process using innovative mapping tools and engagement of stakeholders which in this case involve multiple and competing users of the seas to come out with an integrated or co-ordinated plan of actions on how to use the marine resources sustainably.
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Such integrated plan of action to ensure its future productivity is deemed urgent for the 7,684 sq km Semporna Priority Conservation Area (PCA) which constitutes 11.4pc of Sabah's waters especially because it is recognised as an area of outstanding universal value and ranked amongst the highest marine biodiversity in the world, according to planning consultant Janet Goh.On the flip side though, its extraordinary marine wealth has also attracted heavy competing human activities from fishing, aquaculture farming, island settlements, tourism and transport, with escalating detrimental effects on the seascape, the ecosystems which 'bank' its world famous marine biodiversity. The Town and Regional Planning Department is poised upfront in the picture since the State Government has the responsibility to manage State territorial waters under the Provision for the Town and Country Planning Ordinance (Sabah Cap.141): Part IA Structure Plan, Section 4C(2)b, Goh said.The enactment requires the State Town and Regional Planning Department (TRPD) to develop planning policies in respect of any development on land and sea within the State, that is, the TRPD needs to prepare land and sea planning documents to guide development, she noted.
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The current draft Sabah Structure Plan 2033 (prepared by RPD in 2014) set out the statutory authority for TRPD to prepare the marine spatial plans for Sabah. The interesting outcome of this rare TRPD/WWF-Malaysia collaboration is it will develop the first marine spatial plan in Malaysia.
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The entire plan preparation process which will incorporate all current activities to develop sustainable development and conservation strategies for the Semporna Priority Conservation Area, is expected to take two years, with TRPD being the appointed lead institution and secretariat to host all key stakeholders meetings over that duration.The aim of the Semporna Marine Spatial Plan (SMSP) is to provide an overarching policy framework to guide marine resource development and activities for Semporna, underpinned by the State Government's realisation that Sabah needs to make marine management more efficient, inclusive and accessible.One of the problems with current marine spatial planning endorsed through the daft Malaysia Ocean Policy 2011-2012 is its major focus on fishery sector only with little consideration to other impacted sectors.The 10th Malaysia Plan, supported by a range of statutory plans such as the National Physical Plan, National Coastal Zone Physical Plans, State Integrated Coastal Zone Plan, structure Plans and Shoreline Management Plans, advocate increased development in aquaculture, tourism and water transport industry for coastal districts across Malaysia. When properly aligned though, these national and State plans can provide a strengthened statutory marine programme to address three key fronts, according to Goh: i. One, marine resources: rebuilding depleting fish stock, protect endangered species, restore sensitive marine ecosystems; ii. Two, Marine environment: mitigate impact of climate change – rising sea level, coastal settlements, control pollution, protect mangrove forests; and iii. Three, Marine economy: fishing sector, aquaculture, tourism industry, water transportation, employment and food security.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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