16. (1) The competent authority (M) shall, following the carrying out of a process of maritime spatial planning, prepare and publish on a website of the Government a plan (in this Act referred to as a “maritime spatial plan”) for the maritime area in accordance with this Part and the MSP Directive.

(2) The objectives of a MSP shall be—

(a) to analyse and organise maritime usages in the maritime area for the purpose of achieving ecological, economic and social priorities,

(b) to establish a national strategy for the Government in relation to the strategic planning and sustainable maritime usages in the maritime area,

(c) to apply an ecosystem based approach for the purpose of supporting proper planning and sustainable maritime usages in the maritime area, and

(d) to promote the coexistence of different types of maritime usages in the maritime area.

(3) The competent authority (M) may prepare—

(a) one MSP for the whole of the maritime area,

(b) different MSPs for different geographical or sectoral areas, or both, of the maritime area, or

(c) a MSP referred to in paragraph (a) and different MSPs referred to in paragraph (b).

(4) The competent authority (M) shall, in the performance of his or her functions under this section—

(a) give consideration to the matters specified in paragraph 1 of Article 5 of the MSP Directive, and

(b) aim to contribute to the matters specified in paragraph 2 of Article 5 of the MSP Directive.

(5) A MSP shall identify the matters specified in paragraph 1 of Article 8 of the MSP Directive and the competent authority shall, when making a MSP, ensure compliance with paragraph 2 of that Article.