Maritime Spatial Planning as "Key Enabler" of Blue Growth through "Just Transformations" in the European Union

In the world of the pressures associated with the climate change, population growth and societal challenges, maritime/marine spatial planning underpinned by the ecosystem-based approach is an ocean management governance tool and the new buzzword of the maritime sustainability debates and marine governance system. This paper provides an insight into the interrelationship between the notions of ecosystem-based maritime spatial planning and Blue Economy or Blue Growth. Purpose of the paper is to explore how maritime spatial planning can operate as the key enabler of the Blue Growth in the European Union. In this regard, firstly, sustainability assessment perspective is used. Secondly, it is supplemented by the concept of just transformations. The analysis of chosen perspectives reveals the possibilities to improve the awareness and interpretation of the maritime spatial planning establishment to address social justice concerns. (C) 2020 Leila Neimane.