Israel (ISR)
From The Israel Marine Plan:
Israel's marine space in the Mediterranean Sea is larger than the country's terrestrial land area, and can serve many needs of society, the economy and the environment. It contains enormous potential energy resources and is also the main source for the production of water for domestic consumption, and holds valuable natural and heritage resources. The marine space is the main commercial and an infrastructure bridge to the rest of the world, and it could be seen as a future land reserve for infrastructure development, and perhaps even for urban development. At the same time, the marine space is also Israel's "blue lung," ofering a vast open seascape and opportunities for leisure and recreational activities. In recent years the marine space, due to emerging human activities, has become an arena of conlicting uses, and between these uses and the natural and heritage resources it harbors. Nonetheless, until now there has been no overall planning of the marine space, and policies addressing this area are currently lacking, especially when compared to the level of administrative concern and planning efort allotted to Israel's terrestrial part.
The Israel Marine Plan aspires to realize a new marine vision. Through its goals, the plan offers ways for informed and responsible management of the sea, applying an overall eco-logical approach. It aims to develop marine knowledge, to improve public awareness of what exists in the marine space, and to shape the way it is depicted spatially. The Israel Marine Plan outlines a vision and a series of clear objectives, as well as policy measures for attaining them. Planning and management of Israel's marine space according to this plan will enable realizing all objectives and to create synergies between them.
https://msp-israel.net.technion.ac.il/files/2015/12/MSP_plan.compressed.pdf
Israel’s 204 km long coastline borders the Mediterranean (190 km) and Red Seas (14 km) [1]. Israel’s territorial water (12 nm) is approximately 4,200 sq km [1]. Israel has nine designated, and eight proposed marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Mediterranean Sea [2]. Fourteen of these areas are described as being “strictly marine” [2]. All of these areas are established in one of the following categories; Marine Protected Area, National Park or Nature Reserve. The management authority for all of Israel’s MPAs is the Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA).
In late 2011 Israel adopted new science-based marine policies.
[1] “Ecosystem Approaches to Coastal and Ocean Management Marine Protected Areas as an Ecosystem-Approach tool:Israel Red and Med(iterranean) Seas” Dr. Ruthy Yahel, Science Division, Israel Nature and Parks Authority. (Powerpoint presentation).
[2] MedPAN (this is new data that will be incorporated into the updated MedPAN website.)
More Information:
Can Marine Reserves Save Israel's Seas? (10 Aug 2016) Haaretz
Israel's Agriculture Ministry to target over fishing in the Mediterranean
