| dc.description.abstract |
The concept of spatial planning, or zoning, is widely applied for regulating land
use activities. This project assesses the potential for using ocean zoning as a management
tool in North Carolina. In particular, this project looks at the role of new offshore
energy developments, such as wind farms, and how management policies may adapt to
handle these projects. Ocean Zoning has been successfully applied in the Great Barrier
Reef Marine Park and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Zones are designated
based on their biological and physical properties. Activities within each zone are
classified as compatible, conditionally compatible, or incompatible and are permitted
based on their classification and the overall management objectives.
For this project, a survey of current users of the North Carolina coastal community
was conducted to gather data on the variety of activities in the North Carolina coastal
zone and the user’s opinions on compatibility of 13 different activities. These results
were compiled into a compatibility matrix to guide classification of activities. Based
on this matrix of responses, conservation and planning are clearly perceived as activities
benefiting the activities of all respondents. Conversely, minerals mining and coastal
development are perceived as harmful to all respondents activities. The apparent compatibility
of other activities varies by respondent and activity.
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