This PhD research aims at analysing strategic behaviours of one or more stakeholders, related to the development and enforcement of marine spatial planning (MSP) in Europe. The analysis of the position of nature conservation (NC) in the MSP process was taken as a starting point for the exploration of strategic interactions between stakeholders at sea. The assumption that NC is at the center of MSP development was elaborated. Through literature review we observed that the need for NC to be integrated in the MSP decision-making process is highlighted in various initiatives around the world. However, none of these initiatives describes a commonly applicable framework to achieve this goal. Furthermore, the plethora of interpretations regarding the meaning, role and position of NC in planning, makes such an attempt more complex. Resolving the question of how NC can contribute to the achievement of sustainability in the context of MSP was therefore selected as the starting point for this PhD research. Further steps were taken to explore the different ways that NC has been interpreted over time.

We concluded that there is currently no common approach to NC in MSP initiatives and that NC should be treated as a means to achieve good environmental status and sustainable use of the ecosystem, based on its spatial, economic and conflict resolution dimension characteristics. Consequently, we proposed to put NC at sea in a central position during the MSP processes. A schematic presentation of the concept was proposed in which nature conservation serves as a vehicle to achieve sustainability during the MSP process. To this goal, it was proposed Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds –Oproep 2013/ Special Research Fund- call 2013 Afrondende doctoraatsmandaten (DC)- Finalizing PhD Grants 12 that equal contribution should be followed from the social, economic and ecological domain to the enhancement of NC. Especially the economic domain should increase biodiversity friendly investments, NC enhancement initiatives, etc. This study has been published as the scientific paper "The integration of nature conservation into the marine spatial planning process" in the a1 journal "Marine Policy".

From the finding that the economic domain should promote investments to enhance NC at sea presented in the aforementioned study, a second research question could be deducted. This question focuses on the feasibility and preferability of coexistence of offshore renewable energy (ORE) investments and NC, two major players in the current marine policy landscape. We presented a variety of policy options regarding the management of spatial overlaps between ORE and NC, along with their relevant interactions and interdependencies: a) the location of ORE constructions can be based on the selection under MSP; b) conducting Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs, Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and Appropriate Assessments, for the ORE construction and license approval and c) coexistence of ORE and NC and parallel monitoring of NC features. Departing from these policy options, our analysis focused on: a) the theoretic ideal type of ORE-NC interactions; b)the real world trends for managing coexistence between ORE and NC at the European level; c) balancing both ORE and NC interests to contribute to sustainability; d) the proposal of a mechanism supporting the optimal use of marine space, when NC interests are involved. The study departed from game theoretic modelling to predict the ideal combination of policy options for the optimal use of a certain area where ORE and NC, as two players, are involved. Starting from a theoretical perspective, the model was tested in case studies reflecting current European practice regarding ORE and NC (11 case studies taken from the EU-FP7 project MESMA, see: www.mesma.org.The empirical analysis took into account: a) the options to deal with interactions between ORE and NC chosen in each case study; b) the factors that influence the strategies for each player per case study; and consequently c) how the game changes in practice. The implications of the modelling exercise were used for designing a mechanism for an optimal management of ORE and NC. We concluded that coexistence should at least be considered a valid option in order to achieve optimal use of the marine space. Coexistence can however be better promoted through incentives to interested parties linked to ORE and NC. This study is a EU-FP7 project MESMA deliverable and is currently under submission as the scientific paper " Offshore renewable energy and nature conservation at sea. Coexistence or exclusivity?" in the peer reviewed journal "Marine Policy".