I. LIBYA I.1. COUNTRY CHARACTERISTICS. Country reports

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1 Country reports I. LIBYA Disclaimer This document has not been adopted by the European Commission and should therefore not be relied upon as a statement of the European Commission. The purpose of this document is merely to provide a comprehensive overview based on available information without claiming to be exhaustive. Although stakeholder consultation has taken place to verify the collected information, it is possible that this document does not reflect the view of all stakeholders involved. This document has been updated until February This country report provides a comprehensive overview and assessment of the current state-of-play with regard to Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) in Libya 1. After detailing the country s characteristics, its most important maritime activities are presented. Next, the country report discusses the legal aspects, key players, plans and projects related to Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and MSP as well as the relevant international initiatives and platforms for cooperation. To conclude, the main findings related to Maritime Spatial Planning are summed up. The sources of information used and persons contacted are listed at the end. I.1. COUNTRY CHARACTERISTICS Libya is one of the North African countries having a coastline on the Mediterranean Sea basin. At the sea side Libya is bordered by Egypt, Greece, Italy, Malta and Tunisia. A summary of Libya s most important country characteristics is presented in Table 1. Libya has established an Exclusive Fishing Zone of 62 nautical miles. In May 2009, Libya declared an Exclusive Economic zone (General People s Committee Decision No. 260 of A.J (2009) concerning the declaration of the exclusive economic zone). 1 For the purpose of this study 20 country reports have been drawn up in total. Relevant available information on Monaco is included in the case study of the Western Mediterranean and information on the United Kingdom (Gibraltar) is included in the case study of the Alboran Sea. European Commission study - 1-

2 Exploring the potential of maritime spatial planning in the Mediterranean Table 1 : Country characteristics Libya Coastal regions Coastline length * Water depth Maritime zones ** Territorial sea Exclusive Fishing Zone Exclusive Economic Zone Al Butnan Darnah Al Jabal al Akhdar Al Marj Benghazi Al Wahat Surt km Data not available Breadth 12 nm 62 nm Libya Misratah Al Murgub Tarabulus Al Jfara Az Zawiyah An Nuqat al Khams Area (km²) * Source: MedPAN, ** Based on the national acts of the maritime zones; EarthTrends, Coastal and Marine Ecosystems searchable database Source: Policy Research Corporation I.2. MARITIME ACTIVITIES AND THE PROTECTION OF MARINE AREAS Figure 1 visualises that no main (oil tanker) routes pass by the Libyan coast or through water under national jurisdiction. Figure 1: Maritime traffic near Libya main oil tanker routes main routes Thicker and darker lines = more intense traffic Source: Policy Research Corporation based on the Safemed Project Maritime traffic flows and risks analysis in the Mediterranean Sea, Libya has established an Exclusive Fishing Zone (EFZ). Furthermore a fishing agreement between Libya and Egypt was signed in Egyptian fishermen are thereby allowed to operate in Libyan European Commission study

3 Country reports waters in case 20% of their total catch goes to Libya. Twenty-five Egyptian fishing boats with thirty fishermen each are allowed in the Libyan EFZ. In 2008, tonnes were caught 2. This does not implicate that the Libyan waters are low in fish stocks. In fact, important fishing areas are present. This attracted foreign fleets to fish in Libyan waters. After the establishment of the Fisheries Protection Zone fishing can still take place, but only after paying for permits to fish. With regard to offshore hydrocarbon activities in Libya, apart from national activities, the Pelagian Province and other cross-border oil and gas exploitations are of particular importance 3 : The Pelagian Province, which is the sea area between Tunisia, Libya, Malta and Italy encompasses (proven) cross-border petroleum systems; Cross-border exploitation (Libya Tunisia) takes place in the 7th of November Block : o Offshore block in the Gulf of Gabes; o Rich in oil and gas; o Owned by the Libyan-Tunisian Joint Oil Company (JOC), which was formed in May 1988 after a territorial dispute; Cross-border exploitation Libya Malta. I.3. LEGAL ASPECTS AND KEY PLAYERS With regard to Integrated Coastal Zone Management, Libya has no comprehensive legalisation that covers the entire coastline. Nevertheless, the Law 5 of 1969 concerning the organisation and planning of towns and villages is of relevance. Furthermore, the National Spatial Planning Strategy provides guidelines for the preparation of regional, sub-regional and urban plans and a method of comprehensive planning (from general concepts to more detailed issues). The focus of the strategy is mainly on terrestrial urban planning. A rather large number of plans failed in practice mainly because local conditions and needs were not considered properly. The most important actors involved in spatial planning and marine protection in Libya are: The Urban Planning Agency (UPA): monitoring the development of spatial development plans at regional, sub-regional and local level; The Environment General Authority (EGA). 2 3 FAO, Yearbook of fishery statistics. Joint Oil, 7th of November Block; Klett, T.R., 2001, Total Petroleum Systems of the Pelagian Province, Tunisia, Libya, Italy, and Malta. European Commission study - 3-

4 Exploring the potential of maritime spatial planning in the Mediterranean I.4. NATIONAL AND SUB-NATIONAL PLANS, PROJECTS AND STUDIES RELATED TO ICZM AND MSP Regarding Integrated Coastal Zone Management, the following should be kept in mind 4 : Coastal development in Libya is relatively low; The sustainable development of beaches for tourism is important because: o Libya has some of the most important and well-preserved beaches and near-shore marine areas in the Mediterranean region (sea turtles nesting areas); o At present, legal protection of coastal biodiversity is relatively weak. Libya has no comprehensive legalisation that covers the entire coastline; Environmental legalisation is weak; Major ICZM issues: o Biodiversity protection and the creation of coastal protected areas; o Pollution of coastal waters by municipal, industrial and ship-generated waste; o Lack of public awareness and participation; o Participation in international agreements would be desirable. I.5. INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVES RELATED TO ICZM AND MSP International initiatives (including EU-funded projects) related to ICZM and MSP in the Mediterranean Sea basin are presented in Annex II of the final report. Libya was is involved in: The following EU-funded projects: o The MedWetCoast project (Albania, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority and Tunisia); o The SAFEMED project (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey). 4 Mediterranean Environmental Technical Assistance Program (METAP), Coastal Zone Management Country Profiles Libya European Commission study

5 Country reports I.6. MAIN FINDINGS RELEVANT FOR MARITIME SPATIAL PLANNING The main findings with respect to the potential for the application of Maritime Spatial Planning in Libya are: Country characteristics and maritime activities: Libya has established an Exclusive Fishing Zone of 62 nautical miles and an Exclusive Economic Zone; At the sea side, Libya borders Egypt, Greece, Italy, Malta and Tunisia; Hydrocarbon activities are exploited in national waters as well as on the maritime borders together with Malta and Tunisia. Legal aspects and key players: The National Spatial Planning Strategy provides guidelines for the preparation of regional, sub-regional and urban plans and a method of comprehensive planning; The existing planning legislation focuses mainly on controlling development on land; There is no comprehensive legislation that covers the entire coastline; Environmental legalisation is weak; The Urban Planning Agency (UPA) monitors the development of spatial development plans on different levels. Current practice of Integrated Coastal Zone Management: Currently, there is no practice of Integrated Coastal Zone Management. Current practice of Integrated Maritime Spatial Planning: The existing planning strategy focuses mainly on controlling development on land, resulting in limited potential for the application of MSP. European Commission study - 5-

6 Exploring the potential of maritime spatial planning in the Mediterranean I.7. OVERVIEW OF SOURCES OF INFORMATION USED AND PERSONS CONTACTED Sources of information used: Azlitni B. R. Kh., 2005, The development of Physical and Urban Planning Systems in Libya Sustainability of Planning Projects; Bahar K., Javan, A., 2000, The Libyan Oil and Gas Report; EarthTrends, Coastal and Marine Ecosystems searchable database; FAO, Yearbook of fishery statistics; Joint Oil, 7th of November Block, Klett, T.R., 2001, Total Petroleum Systems of the Pelagian Province, Tunisia, Libya, Italy, and Malta; Mediterranean Environmental Technical Assistance Program (METAP), Coastal Zone Management Country Profiles Libya; Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs, 2005, Maltese Government seeks clarification on Libyan Government s decision on fishing zone; The Safemed Project Maritime traffic flows and risks analysis in the Mediterranean Sea, The Network of managers of Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean, VLIZ (2009) Maritime Boundaries Geodatabase, version X. Available online at Consulted on ; 2006, Libya - Urban Planning Agency. Persons contacted: Mr Abdulmaula Abdulmagid Hamza, Environment General Authority - Marine Conservation Department; Mr. Bashir R. Kh. Azlitni, University of Al-Fateh Department of Architecture and Town Planning; Mr. Mohamed Farhat, 1st secretary Lybian Mission to the EU European Commission study