MSPglobal

🎓Have you explored the new course yet on Ocean Observations and Data Management for Marine Spatial Planning (MSP)?

Join a growing community of MSP practitioners building stronger data skills for better planning outcomes! Enroll here: https://oceanexpert.org/event/5002

💡 Why it matters:
Reliable, accessible, and well-managed data is at the heart of an effective MSP. This course helps you turn data into actionable insights for sustainable ocean use.

🌊This new course builds on the key insights of the two MSPglobal Data Toolboxes on (1) Spatial Data Infrastructure: https://tinyurl.com/3btrmyrh
(2) and Ocean Observations for MSP: https://tinyurl.com/y7vvetr6

Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO
EU Maritime & Fish

🌊 Advancing Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) in the Wider Caribbean and Latin America

🤝 From May 11-13, 2026, the and initiative of -IOC, will bring together MSP practitioners from IOCARIBE Member States and regional organizations at in Santa Marta, Colombia for two engagements that will:

- Strengthen collaboration and share regional processes at the Second IOCARIBE Marine Spatial Planning Task Team meeting (IOCARIBE MSP-TT).
- Develop hands-on skills in the regional training on biodiversity inclusive & climate-smart MSP

🌍 These engagements provide a space for exchange, learning and action toward more inclusive and climate-smart planning.

-IOC

Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO
Invemar
EU Maritime & Fish
Procaribe Plus
Global Environment Facility
UNOPS
United Nations Development Programme - UNDP

🚀 Ahora tenemos la versión en español de nuestro nuevo curso en línea para ayudar a los profesionales de la Planificación Espacial Marina a integrar las consideraciones sobre la conservación de la y el climático en su proceso de planificación.

🎓 Este curso gratuito y autodidacta, es adecuado para cualquier profesional del océano, desde estudiantes de posgrado hasta funcionarios gubernamentales y expertos técnicos.

¡Próximamente también estará disponible en francés!

Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO
EU Maritime & Fish

📢 Job opprtunity

The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO is seeking an experienced Communication Consultant to support the global efforts of MSPglobal.

This consultancy will contribute to:

🔵 Communicating MSP knowledge, tools and impact worldwide
🔵Managing MSPglobal digital channels (website, newsletter, social media)
🔵Producing engaging multilingual content for events, trainings and publications
🔵Supporting outreach and visibility of MSP processes across regions

🗓️ Deadline: 1 May 2026; 17:00 CEST
➡️ Apply: https://ow.ly/OoNO50YKxgk

Join us in turning ocean science and knowledge into action!



📷 Kogia - Karimi Iliya

🔵 Are you from Pacific SIDS and working on MSP and/or BBNJ?

If YES, apply now to the training 'Building Capacity on Biodiversity Inclusive and Climate-Smart MSP & Area-Based Management for ABNJ'!

This in-person training aims to enhance national and regional capacity for marine spatial planning (MSP) with tools applied to areas within and beyond national jurisdiction, including ecosystem-based and climate-resilient approaches, and area-based management methodologies and processes.

🗓️ 13-17 July, Busan (Republic of Korea)
⚠️ Deadline to apply: 30 April
🔗 More info and application: https://ow.ly/LFfo50YI9WW

Organized within the framework of the Programme and the UN Ocean Decade by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO in collaboration with the Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology (KIOST), and the Marine Institute - Foras na Mara.

As part of this, we are doing an open call for participation for ocean professionals in the Pacific SIDS. Candidates should meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Currently working in an operational MSP or BBNJ-related role (e.g. MSP or BBNJ focal point, or equivalent)
• Employed by a government agency, regional organization (RFMO, Regional Seas Programme), or NGO with an active mandate in marine spatial planning or ocean governance
• Formally nominated or endorsed by their organization or government, confirming institutional support for participation

🌏 Applicants need to be a national of the following countries, and are eligible even if they're currently based elsewhere: Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Torkelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

EU Maritime & Fish

📩 MSPglobal newsletter — out now!

Nine months into the third phase of , we’re excited to share a fresh set of resources and updates focused on advancing
(MSP) worldwide.

In this edition, you’ll discover:

📡 Data Toolbox on Ocean Observations for MSP — practical guidance on how to include ocean observations data into planning processes

🌊 Best Practices for Engaging the Offshore Wind Sector — recommendations based on global experiences

🌎 Global Capacity Needs for MSP — survey results on capacity needs and recommendations

🎓New online courses on ‘Biodiversity Inclusive and Climate-Smart MSP’ & 'Ocean observations and data management for MSP' - for all levels of knowledge

👉 Read the newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/unesco/mspglobal-newsletter-april-2026

Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO
EU Maritime & Fish

📢 The wait is over! The new online course “Ocean Observations and Data Management for Marine Spatial Planning” (MSP) is now live!

Designed for practitioners, this self-paced course will help you build the skills needed to manage and use data effectively for evidence-based decision-making.

What you’ll learn:
✔️ Fundamentals of data, metadata, and data management
✔️ How (SDIs) support collaboration and efficiency
✔️ The role of , including Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) & Climate Variables (ECVs)
✔️ How to identify, access, and assess data for your MSP needs

Whether you're a specialist, data manager, ocean observations professional, or planner with a technical focus, this course is for you. It will also be available in Spanish and French soon!

Start learning today ➡️https://oceanexpert.org/event/5002

Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO
EU Maritime & Fish

🌊 will attend the Marine Data for Marine Spatial Planning workshop by Copernicus EU on 31 March 2026.

🛰️Join us online to learn more about our two data toolboxes on
(1) Spatial Data Infrastructure for MSP: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000395316
and (2) Ocean Observations for MSP: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000397053.locale=en

Register here to join the livestream: https://tinyurl.com/5fktz4xs

Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO
EU Maritime & Fish

Something new is coming for Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) practitioners… 🌍
🌊Are you working with , geographic information systems, or marine planning tools and want to strengthen your technical skills?
🚀A new online course on Ocean Observation and Data Management for MSP is launching soon!
This course will help you:
🔹 Better understand how data supports evidence-based MSP
🔹 Explore Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs) for collaboration & interoperability
🔹 Learn how ocean observations inform sustainable decision-making.
Stay tuned for the launch and get ready to level up your data skills for smarter .

🌊The integration of Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) data and tools is a fundamental milestone for Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) initiatives. They support the measurements of multiple sectoral impacts on marine ecosystems.

➡️ is in the process of producing a data toolbox to provide global guidance on the use of CIA for MSP and make CIA more accessible to any MSP practitioner.

Today, we are meeting with experts in data, modelling, marine conservation, , and more for the third round of consultation to co-develop this data toolbox together.

➡️Read more about the toolbox and its development process here: https://shorturl.at/uy481