Description: The ecosystem approach to aquaculture provides the conceptual guideline to spatial planning and management. This publication describes the three major steps in spatial planning and management, namely, zoning, site selection and design of an aquaculture management area, or AMA. The rationale for and objectives of each step, the ways (methodologies) to implement it, and the means (tools) that are available to enable a methodology are described in a stepwise fashion. Recommendations to practitioners and policy-makers are provided. A separate policy brief accompanies this paper. The benefits from spatial planning and management are numerous and include higher productivity and returns for investors, and more effective mitigation of environmental, economic and social risks, the details of which are provided in this paper. (fao.org)