Short course300 h · Online · 5 modules

Marine Spatial Planning Course

This course prepares you to take part in marine spatial planning, the process that organises the uses of the sea in space and time: fishing, shipping, offshore wind, aquaculture, tourism and conservation. You will learn the ecosystem approach, the analysis of conflicts and compatibilities, GIS tools, the IOC-UNESCO and European Union reference frameworks, and the importance of stakeholder participation throughout the process.

Duration300 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules5
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About the programme

What is the Marine Spatial Planning Course?

This short course introduces you to marine spatial planning as a tool for organising an increasingly busy sea on sustainable terms. You will learn its principles and stages through the IOC-UNESCO step-by-step guide and the EU Maritime Spatial Planning Directive, analyse fishing, aquaculture, shipping, ports, marine renewables, cables, pipelines and resource extraction and the compatibility between them, integrate sensitive habitats, marine protected areas, cumulative impacts, ecosystem services and climate change, and work with open marine data, GIS, maps of uses and pressures, decision-support tools and future-use scenarios, before designing stakeholder participation, zoning and plan monitoring.

What sets this course apart: growing demand, as planning the sea becomes key with the expansion of offshore wind and other uses; the main reference frameworks, from the IOC-UNESCO guides to the EU directive; practical tools such as GIS, compatibility analysis and cumulative impact assessment; an ecosystem approach that builds conservation into the planning process; and a practical case in which you prepare a zoning proposal for a real marine area.

Programme typeShort course
ModeOnline
Duration300 hours
Modules5
Start1 December

Programme highlights

  • Growing demand: planning the sea is key as offshore wind and other uses expand.
  • Reference frameworks: IOC-UNESCO guides and the EU Maritime Spatial Planning Directive.
  • Practical tools: GIS, compatibility analysis and cumulative impact assessment.
  • Ecosystem approach: conservation built into the planning process.
  • Participation: stakeholder mapping and consultation processes.
  • Practical case: a zoning proposal for a real marine area.
Syllabus

Syllabus of the Marine Spatial Planning Course

5 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

Foundations of marine spatial planning

  • 1.1. What marine spatial planning is
  • 1.2. Origins and development
  • 1.3. The IOC-UNESCO step-by-step guide
  • 1.4. The EU Maritime Spatial Planning Directive
  • 1.5. Links with integrated coastal zone management
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 2

Uses of the sea and conflicts

  • 2.1. Fishing and aquaculture
  • 2.2. Shipping and ports
  • 2.3. Marine renewable energy
  • 2.4. Cables, pipelines and resource extraction
  • 2.5. Analysis of use compatibility
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 3

Ecosystem approach and conservation

  • 3.1. Sensitive habitats and species
  • 3.2. Marine protected areas
  • 3.3. Cumulative impacts
  • 3.4. Marine ecosystem services
  • 3.5. Climate change in planning
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 4

Data, GIS and support tools

  • 4.1. Open marine data sources
  • 4.2. GIS for the marine environment
  • 4.3. Maps of uses and pressures
  • 4.4. Decision-support tools
  • 4.5. Future-use scenarios
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 5

Participation, plans and monitoring

  • 5.1. Mapping marine stakeholders
  • 5.2. Consultation and participation processes
  • 5.3. Zoning and measures
  • 5.4. Monitoring and review of plans
  • 5.5. Practical case: zoning proposal for a marine area
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Marine Spatial Planning Course

It is 300 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.

4 h30 h
With 12 h per week
6
months to finish
25 weeks
weeks in total

This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the instalment plan.

Faculty

Academic leadership and faculty

The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programmes.

Dra. Marina AlcoverDr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Ing. Diego CifuentesEng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerDr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dra. Nuria LlobregatDr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Ing. Javier BañulsEng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Ing. Sofía MarquinaEng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Ing. Tomás RieraEng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration Coordinator
Objectives

Objectives of the Marine Spatial Planning Course

01Understand marine spatial planning.
02Analyse uses of the sea and their conflicts.
03Apply the ecosystem approach.
04Use spatial tools and GIS.
05Design stakeholder participation.
06Draw up zoning proposals.
Careers

Career opportunities after the Marine Spatial Planning Course

01Marine planning officerdrafting plans in public administrations.
02Marine GIS analystmapping and spatial analysis of sea uses.
03Marine environmental consultantstudies for marine projects and plans.
04Stakeholder engagement officercoordination of consultation processes.
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Marine Spatial Planning Course

Marine spatial planning focuses on organising the uses of the sea, whereas coastal management brings together the land and sea strips of the coastline.

It is not essential. The course includes a practical introduction to marine spatial analysis.

The EU directive is studied as a reference, alongside the international IOC-UNESCO guide and examples from other regions.

Yes. Planning determines where wind farms can be sited and how they coexist with other uses.

You prepare a zoning proposal for a real marine area, with an analysis of uses, conflicts and measures.

Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with live sessions that are recorded and tutorials with the teaching staff.

The course comprises 300 hours of study across 5 modules of about 60 hours each and ends with an applied practical case. You can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enrol.

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Online admission

Admission process

No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enrol in the same session.

Entry requirements
  • Profile: aimed at maritime and environmental administration staff involved in spatial plans, environmental consultants working on marine projects, offshore wind and aquaculture professionals who need to understand planning, fishing organisation and NGO staff taking part in consultations, and graduates in marine sciences, geography or environmental sciences interested in marine management; a background in these fields, biology or engineering, or professional experience in the marine sector, is recommended.
  • Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
  • Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and a camera for live sessions and project presentations.
  • Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
  1. 01
    Application
    Your details, background and documents.
  2. 02
    Instant review
    We check that everything is complete and in order.
  3. 03
    Enrolment
    Choose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Start my applicationFrom $180 deposit

Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.

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