Presidential Decree No. 88/23 approving the Marine Spatial Management Plan (POEM).

This Presidential Decree approves the Marine Spatial Management Plan (POEM). Marine Spatial Planning (OEM) is a development planning process in marine areas aiming to organize the use of space, taking into account the multiple uses and the different users. The OEM provides comprehensive, integrated and complementary management across all sectors and for all uses of the ocean, identifying appropriate management strategies that maintain a healthy marine ecosystem and that will facilitate national economic and sociocultural development. This Planning for the Marine Space of Angola intends this area to be a productive, healthy, accessible, preserved, safe and conflict-free marine area, managed in an integrated and sustainable manner, economically developed and socially fair for the benefit of all users and that considers the socio-economic uses and ecological functions of the ocean. This Marine Spatial Planning recognizes the following priority measures: Identification of areas of greatest vulnerability, environmental sensitivity and coast protection; Planning, enhancement and environmental rehabilitation of the coastline; Protection and rehabilitation of dune systems and sandy beaches; Classification, valuation and qualification of beaches considered strategic in terms of the environment and tourism; Coastal profitability and sustainable use of living and non-living marine resources; Susceptibility and vulnerability to the impact of climate change; Continuous application, by the responsible sector institutions of the zoning regulations of the Marine Spatial Planning and other management instruments.
The general objectives of this Marine Spatial Management Plan include: Developing a set of principles, management approaches and guidelines for the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Marine Spatial Management; Establish an effective management system that promotes collaboration between all users and stakeholders; Implement a Marine Spatial Planning allowing multiple uses of oceanic and coastal zones without compromising the functions of the sea and the interdisciplinarity of the various sectors; Arrange the uses and activities of the marine environment in close collaboration with the various sectors, avoiding conflicts; Preserve marine resources, ecosystem integrity and health by protecting biodiversity and maintaining its productivity; Ensure sustainable access to marine resources by coastal communities and other stakeholders; Collect information and map the different uses of the sea in oceanic and coastal areas; Improve knowledge about the potential of the ecosystem in the oceanic and coastal space; Promote the active participation and involvement of all stakeholders in the management of the oceanic and coastal space; Develop awareness on the importance of Marine Spatial Planning for future generations; Provide decision makers and managers with reliable information on the state of the ecosystem in the oceanic and coastal space, as well as potential threats to its conservation.