Toward Sustainable Development in the Ocean: A Framework for Blue Economy Marine Spatial Planning

The Blue Economy (BE) has emerged as a prominent concept that emphasizes the integration of environmental, economic, and social factors for the sustainable utilization of marine resources. Effective planning through Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) seeks to harmonize traditional and emerging marine industries, thereby mitigating conflicts and developmental pressures on natural resources, enhancing marine ecological protection, and fostering a sustainable BE. Nonetheless, MSP encounters challenges in reconciling BE growth with the sustainable multi‐use of oceanic spaces throughout the planning process. In Taiwan, despite the presence of extensive coastal governance regulations, the absence of a comprehensive MSP institution and operational framework has led to conflicts among maritime sectors, raising concerns regarding the future of maritime development. This study proposes a Blue Economy Marine Spatial Planning (BEMSP) framework designed to support multi‐use governance by emphasizing flexibility and adaptability across both legal and non‐legal governance settings, aiming to guide government decision‐makers in enhancing marine management and development. The framework provides two distinct pathways: (1) a structured approach under formal legal systems; and (2) bottom‐up, participatory, and cross‐sectoral planning approaches that support the coexistence of multiple marine economic activities in settings without dedicated MSP legislation or institutions.