This map was compiled from different international sources such as EMODnet, EEA or Marine Regions. Information obtained from these sources was cross-checked with data from national sources. While compilation was carried out by the European MSP Platform, validation and quality assurance remain the responsibility of the primary data sources.
Basic facts on Marine Waters
Relevant links
Maritime Spatial Plan(s)
Status: Adopted
France adopted four maritime spatial plans, the Documents Stratégiques de Façade (DSF) between April and May 2022 for the following sea basins:
View DSF for East Channel-North Sea
View DSF for North Atlantic-West Channel
View the DSF for the Mediterranean
They are the legal mechanism chosen by France to address the requirements of both the MSF Directive and MSP Directive and specify the conditions to implement the National Strategy for the Sea and the Coast (SNML) in accordance with local specificities. All the DSF contain two parts:
1.Initial assessment and strategic objectives and MSP - vocational map and fact sheets (finalised between September and October 2019)
2.Monitoring mechanism and action plan (finalised between April and May 2022)
Latest MSP developments
France endorsed its new National Strategy for the Sea and Coast by decree on 10 June 2024, for the period 2024-2030.
More details are available here (in French)
A public consultation was opened between November 2023 and April 2024 to integrate new offshore renewable and biodiversity protection areas into the maritime spatial plans ("Documents stratégiques de façade" DSF). On 18 October 2024, on the basis of this public consultation, the French Government published mid term (2040) and long term (2050) maps for offshore wind farms but also for strong protected areas.
Find out more here (in French)
Next steps
The Documents stratégiques de façade will be updated accordingly before being submitted to public consultation in June 2025.
MSP legislation
The EU MSP Directive was transposed into national legislation through article 123 of law n°2016-1087 for the “reconquest of biodiversity, nature and landscapes” adopted on 8 August 2016. This article modifies the French Environmental code through the introduction of the concept of maritime spatial planning. The approaches for implementing article 123 are further elaborated through the political decree n°2017-724 adopted on 3rd May 2017.
National MSP authority
France's competent authority for MSP is the Secrétariat d’Etat en charge de la Mer.
Contact:
Secrétaire général de la mer
sgmer
pm.gouv.fr (sgmer[at]pm[dot]gouv[dot]fr)
20 avenue de Ségur
75007 Paris
Secrétariat d’Etat en charge de la Mer
Direction des affaires maritimes - Direction générale des affaires maritimes, de la pêche et de l'aquaculture (DGAMPA)
Tour Séquoia – 92 055 La Défense Cedex
For more information
For more information regarding the evolution of the MSP process in France please see the dedicated country profile below.