Orange

General Information

North Sea

Baltic Sea

Clyde Marine Region

Adriatic Sea

In each edition of the MSP Challenge, countries are coded by colours. This is to help users to distance themselves a bit from the real-life countries and assume a more playful mode - one where they are in control and can try out new things. The idea is to make plans for a managerial area without thinking too much about the how the real-life politicians and policy-makers from the actual country might think about it. Thus, the countries profiles are explained to the users for context and objective specification only. It is up to the users to decide what they want to achieve in MSP Challenge and how.

Click on the tab corresponding to the edition you are interested in and check the profile of the orange country in that edition.

Orange

Layer Info
Category	Governance
Editable	No
Area Size	63021.79 km2
Utilizing Layer
EEZ
Territorial waters

Country Orange has a relatively large marine presence in the North Sea (large in relation to country size) and has had a strong presence there with fishing, shipping and fossil energy forms (oil and gas) as traditional sectors. Commercial fishing and oil and gas are still important sectors but with strong competition with new sectors, such as green energy forms at sea (wind, wave and current) and closer to the coast, aquaculture.

The country's government has a sustainable growth perspective, which means that exploitation of marine resources, especially green energy forms, and protection of marine resources are both prioritized. Concerning the latter, there is currently talk about phasing out some oil- and gas rigs in favour of protection, especially around the Dogger Bank area.

The domestic case concerns planning for a scenario where some oil- and gas rigs are phased out over 10 years in favour of areas with renewable energy (both wind, wave and current) and MPAs. At the same time, there is competition with existing sectors (like fishing and shipping). A current concern is also fishers from countries not or no longer participating in the EU Common Fisheries Policy, who are difficult to negotiate with. Planning border activities is therefore not easy, and collaboration depends on sectors across borders. The country wants to propose a new plan for its North sea area, with special attention given to the needs of the following three sectors:

1. Renewable energy (misc. renewable energy forms)
2. Commercial fishing (keep areas for all fishing fleets)
3. Environment (conservation and more MPAs)

The country needs to be mindful about international traffic at sea, both shipping lanes and passenger traffic (i.e. should not/cannot be changed). In addition, any national defence needs must be left unchanged. Finally, attention needs to be paid to environmental conditions and ecological qualities in the area, e.g. wind speed, currents, various species, pressures, biodiversity, etc. that may affect marine activities.

Country Orange has a relatively small but in several ways vital marine presence in the Baltic Sea. The majority of vessels going in and out of the Baltic Sea from and to the North Sea go through this country's EEZ. IMO always keeps an eye on this country's area, since there are only a very limited number of suitable commercial shipping routes through it. The many many islands that also make up this country introduce a rather unique ecosystem, and a unique dynamic of passenger and fishing vessels (commercial and private) throughout the entire EEZ. The country also has a presence in the North Sea, so it can use both its Baltic and North Sea areas to try to pursue its marine and maritime ambitions.

The country's government wants to further grow in renewable energy. It is already one of the most progressive countries in the world in this sector, really an 'early adopter', and the government wants this to stay that way. Simultaneously, the government wants to explore other new sustainable 'blue growth' sectors, notably offshore aquaculture. Given the shallow, still salty sea and abundance of islands, the unique ecosystem in this country's EEZ needs to be better protected, according to the government.

Consequently, the government is looking for a scenario where offshore renewable energy areas are increased substantially in the short and medium term. Shipping traffic going in and out of the entire Baltic Sea has limited and well-established routes that need to be maintained, in the eyes of this country's government. A significant increase in suitable, meaningful marine protected areas as well as aquaculture sites need to occur. The country's strong commercial fishing industry has so far been content, but is under pressure because of all of this, of which the government is of course very aware.

More internationally, the country needs to be mindful of EU policies concerning marine protected areas and commercial fishing. It is a member state, after all. The IMO routes established in this country's area is a point of international concern too.

The Orange authority area is a relatively large one in the Clyde Marine Region with a huge role to play. It consists of a piece of the mainland in the east, and several islands, of which one large (Isle of Arran). These islands are major (marine) tourist attractions, with lots of sailing, boating and diving going on particularly close to shore. Lots of commercial ship traffic going upstream into the Clyde also go through this authority's area. Passenger vessels between the mainland and the islands cross this shipping line too.

The authority wants to improve or at least maintain the status quo in terms of tourism and commercial shipping. Closer to shore there are some, but limited, opportunities to explore offshore renewable energy development, in which the authority is interested to an extent. The authority wants to combine this energy interest with further marine protection. Actually, the authority values marine protection much higher, given its clear link to the kind of tourism this area attracts.

Consequently, the authority is looking for a scenario where more marine protected areas are defined and strictly enforced, perhaps combined with small offshore renewable energy areas at strategic locations relatively close to shore. To ensure (marine) tourism's continued existence and development, commercial shipping routes should stay well away and might need to be redefined, according to this authority.

Within the wider Celtic Sea context, the country needs to be mindful of UK and Irish policies concerning marine protection, commercial shipping and commercial fishing. The UK's departure from the EU has increased the complexity, which surely trickles down to this important authority area, but how exactly?

Country Orange has a relatively small marine presence in the Adriatic Sea, both in terms of surface and influence. The country is still relatively young in its current form, and has politically been incredibly dynamic over the past decades. Once part of a much larger nation with strong communist foundations and eastern alliances, it is now up for full EU membership and part of other more western alliances. The coastal area does not have the highest priority on the country's political agenda. Still there are important passenger routes across this country's part of the Adriatic. There are also several important electricity interconnecting cables connecting this country's grid to others'.

The country's government is looking to see its (marine) touristic areas grow. Offshore renewable energy development might be technically possible, but is not really on the government's agenda. It would rather focus on 'blue growth', notably commercial fishing and aquaculture. In the past neighbouring countries laid telecommunication cables through this country's EEZ, without really involving it. The country would like to see this change.

Consequently, the government is looking for a scenario where areas closer to shore are reserved for marine tourism interests, fishing and aquaculture. The government is open to exploring new marine protected areas further out at sea, in collaboration with its neighbouring countries. The commercial shipping traffic further out at sea needs to maintain its status quo.

More internationally, while the country is aware of new impending regulations because of its upcoming EU membership, it is unsure how to deal with them given the national interests.