This week marked the European Maritime Spatial Planning Week in Marseille (France)! Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) is the tool for managing the ocean and seas coherently and to ensure that human activities take place in an efficient, safe and sustainable way [1]. On 21 - 24 October 2024, dynamic events were dedicated to MSP, offering opportunities for stakeholders from industry, civil society, the public sector, and academia to come together to reflect on the achievements made in MSP across European seas, discuss current policies, and strategise the next steps forward. This year was particularly significant, marking a decade since the adoption of the European Union (EU) MSP Directive in 2014.
MSP plays a crucial role in balancing key Blue Economy activities such as coastal tourism, fisheries, marine renewable energy and shipping to ensure sustainable marine resources use. Coastal and maritime tourism, particularly strong in Southern Europe, is the largest employment sector in the Blue Economy. It not only supports local communities through direct employment in areas like accommodation, food services, and transport but also stimulates growth in related industries, from retail to cultural services [2]. As a cornerstone of the Blue Economy, coastal tourism drives regional development and sustainable livelihoods. With its growth potential, MSP helps ensure this sector balances economic gains with environmental protection, securing long-term benefits for coastal communities and ecosystems, in line with the EU’s Tourism Transition Pathway and a sustainable blue economy.
Speaking of coastal tourism, did you know that there is a map layer on the state of bathing waters in the European Atlas of the Seas? Bathing waters, vital for both tourism and local economies, are monitored and managed to ensure they are safe, clean, and sustainable [3]. This week’s map provides an overview of the bathing water quality (e.g. excellent, good, sufficient and poor) along the European coasts. It presents a compilation of data reported by the EU Member States and made available to the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) by the European Environment Agency (EEA). Zoom in and click on the flags to explore specific beaches and their water quality status.
Wish to learn more?
- Explore the European MSP Platform and learn about MSP projects across Europe;
- Watch the insightful video, “Maritime Spatial Planning in Europe: from plan to reality” by the EU MSP Platform, featuring five EU-funded MSP projects;
- Read WWF’s MSP assessment of EU basins;
- Are you a teacher interested in exploring Maritime Spatial Planning? Check out the interactive exercise available in the Atlas Teacher’s Corner and engage your students with fun educational content;
- Will you be in Brussels on 3-7 March 2025? Save the date for the European Ocean Days, a week of events focused on the EU Mission Ocean and Waters, fisheries science, blue innovation and investment opportunities, ocean literacy activities, and many other topics.
The data in this map is provided by EMODnet.
[1] https://oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu/ocean/blue-economy/maritime-spatial-planning_en
[2] https://blue-economy-observatory.ec.europa.eu/eu-blue-economy-sectors/coastal-tourism_en#1
[3] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/water/bathing-water_en