Human activities in coastal and marine regions increasingly generate inter-sectoral conflicts, emphasizing the need of effective spatial planning. India's marine ecosystems, which sustain millions of livelihoods, are under mounting pressure from overexploitation, climate change and competing human uses. To address these challenges, developing a robust marine spatial planning framework is essential for both conservation and sustainable ocean use. Puducherry, with high recreational potential, serves as a pilot site for such an initiative, aiming to balancing stakeholder interests and needs, strengthening coastal resilience, and promoting a sustainable blue economy.

Ensuring sustainable ocean planning and management worldwide is imperative due to pervasive anthropogenic impacts that are adversely affecting a significant part of the ocean. In such context, marine spatial planning (MSP) emerges as a crucial strategy to achieve sustainability departing from sectoral management approaches. Widely acknowledged today, MSP is an integrated framework for ecosystem-based management, aiming to analyze and allocate marine spaces to achieve ecological, economic, and social objectives. The ultimate goal of MSP is to organize and manage marine resource use while balancing environmental, economic, and social goals, minimizing conflicts and promoting compatibility between human activities and the environment. Unlike traditional sector-by-sector designation, MSP offers a forward-looking approach to resolving disputes and fostering sustainable coexistence. It is crucial to note that MSP can only regulate human uses, such as fisheries, aquaculture, shipping, offshore wind energy, tourism, and mining, among others, but not the marine ecosystem itself or its individual components.

While MSP has been widely used in European seas and is gaining traction in Asian countries, it will continue to play a crucial role in achieving the objectives of a blue economy and biodiversity conservation globally. The relationship between MSP and the blue economy is symbiotic, as MSP facilitates the growth of blue economy sectors and ensures responsible and sustainable ocean resource use, particularly in resolving conflicts between users and the ecosystem. However, MSP is not without potential pitfalls and numerous studies have identified the importance of addressing social, political, ecological, economic, and governance challenges if MSP is to be sustainable and equitable. This study aims to develop a strategic framework for implementing MSP across diverse coastal regions in India, emphasizing the advancement of ecological sustainability, resilience and inclusive economic growth by addressing climate related challenges. Through a comprehensive analysis, this study underscores the need for strategic MSP implementation in Indian marine regions to balance ecological conservation and socio-economic growth.