We invite Med MSP experts to join the Community of Practice by contacting us at info [at] maritime-spatial-planning.ec.europa.eu (info[at]maritime-spatial-planning[dot]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu). For more information please refer to the call for experts.

The MED MSP CoP?

In the Mediterranean, several policy initiatives drive and support the coherent implementation of Maritime Spatial Planning at regional, sub-regional and national levels. These include the MSP Directive and the Sustainable Blue Economy Communication for the European Union Member States, the Ministerial Declaration on Blue Economy of the Union for the Mediterranean and the Conceptual Framework and the Working Group on MSP set in place by UNEP/MAP.

Given the existing policy framework and the broader political will to work on MSP commonly, there is a growing need for a continuous and structured dialogue within the MSP Community at the sea basin and sub-sea basin levels. This shared interest led to the creation of an MSP Community of Practice in the Mediterranean (MED-MSP-CoP).

What is a CoP?

A community of practice is a group of individuals who share a common concern, set of challenges, or interest in a particular topic, and who come together to pursue both personal and collective goals. These communities typically focus on the exchange of best practices and the co-creation of new knowledge to advance a specific area of professional practice. Ongoing interaction plays a vital role in sustaining and enriching these communities.

The objectives of the MED-MSP-CoP 

The main objective of the MED-MSP-CoP is to establish lasting cross-border communication and dialogue among MSP experts — including planners, technical specialists, and researchers — and to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and relevant experiences throughout the Mediterranean. The ultimate aim is to foster a shared perspective on issues of common interest and to strengthen regional cooperation. By engaging with and building upon past, ongoing, and future projects and initiatives — and by sharing technical expertise on various aspects of MSP — the CoP will contribute to greater coherence and alignment in the definition and implementation of MSP across the region. Through its work, the MED-MSP-CoP intends to support MSP and MSP-related processes, providing knowledge, methodologies and tools, to use MSP as an enabler for a more sustainable blue economy and improved protection of the marine environment.

A brief history of the MED MSP CoP 

The scope and framework of the MED-MSP-CoP were first discussed and delineated at the WestMED Hackathon held in June 2022 in Malta. The dialogue to frame the MED-MSP-CoP continued and advanced in 2022, including two pivotal events: (i) a Pan-western Mediterranean workshop held in September 2022 in Tunis co-organised by the EMFAF-funded MSP-MED project and the WestMED initiative, and (ii) the Final Conference of the MSP-MED project held in Rome in October 2022. This process culminated in the MED-MSP-CoP launching event organised by the European Commission Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) and the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) and supported by the WestMED initiative, held in January 2023 in Brussels.

Governance of the MED MSP CoP

The governance structure of the MED-MSP-CoP includes the following components and is summarised in the figure below.

• Pool of experts: This represents the core of the MED-MSP-CoP and gathers experts on MSP and related disciplines from all over the Mediterranean. Such experts contribute to the MED-MSP-CoP voluntarily, providing their knowledge and expertise; in this sense, they do not formally represent countries and institutions, although they contribute to the MED-MSP-CoP activities with different perspectives.
• Coordination team: It is formed by a few MED-MSP-CoP experts and has the role of steering and operationally organising the CoP activities, according to the CoP’s Terms of Reference and Action Plans. The coordination team and the overall MED-MSP-CoP are coordinated by two co-chairs.
• Working groups: These are technically discussion groups on topics of primary relevance for the MSP-MSP-CoP. Each working group is facilitated by two co-leads, who are responsible for steering its activities.
• Observers: These are institutions and cooperation mechanisms (such as the Union for the Mediterranean, UNESCO – IOC, UNEP-MAP, EUSAIR) committed to advancing MSP in the Mediterranean and that can benefit from the MED-MSP-CoP outcomes. The MED-MSP-CoP regularly links to other MSP-relevant initiatives in the Mediterranean and other sea basins.
• WestMED Initiative Steering Committee: The WestMED Initiative, through its steering committee, supports the MED-MSP-CoP since its birth. The Steering Committee includes national coordinators from the relevant ministries from participating countries (France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Malta, Algeria, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia and Libya), the European Commission. Its role within the CoP is to ensure guidance and necessary support.
• The EU MSP Assistance Mechanism: It provides technical support to the MED-MSP-CoP by hosting its web pages, disseminating news and information, linking the CoP with other EU MSP-related initiatives, and co-organising workshops and webinars.

Members of the MED MSP CoP

The MED-MSP-CoP is composed of voluntary experts from EU and non-EU countries working on MSP and related topics (e.g., sustainable blue economy, nature conservation, etc.) in the Mediterranean. Currently, the MED-MSP-CoP engages about 130 experts, from 15 Mediterranean countries, all countries involved in the WestMED Initiative, and some international, EU and Mediterranean organisations. Due to its expert-based nature, most of the MED-MSP-CoP members come from research institutions and academia. Nevertheless, the CoP also gathers people with different working backgrounds.

 

Contact us

MED-MSP-CoP co-chairs

• Emiliano Ramieri, Institute of Marine Sciences, National Research Council of Italy - emiliano.ramieri [at] cnr.it (emiliano[dot]ramieri[at]cnr[dot]it)
• Samir Bachouche, National Centre of Research and Development of Fishing and Aquaculture of Algeria - bachouche.samir [at] gmail.com (bachouche[dot]samir[at]gmail[dot]com)

Info contact: info [at] maritime-spatial-planning.ec.europa.eu (info[at]maritime-spatial-planning[dot]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)

Four working groups were established as a follow-up to the MED-MSP-CoP workshop held in Madrid (Spain) on the 29th of January 2025. Given its bottom-up and expert-based nature, additional working groups can be activated in case of shared interest among MED-MSP-CoP members. Each working group is coordinated by two co-leaders.

MSP and Aquaculture

Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is essential for guiding the sustainable development of aquaculture. It supports the identification of Allocated Zones for Aquaculture (AZAs), promotes ecosystem-based management, helps address user conflicts, and contributes to climate change adaptation while ensuring environmental protection.

Priority topics under discussion: 

1. Interactions between aquaculture and marine conservation

2. Multi-use, including aquaculture

3. Proper allocation of space for aquaculture through MSP

4. Strengthening the engagement of aquaculture stakeholders in MSP

Other topics:

5. Sustainable site selection to minimise ecological disruption

6. Improving adaptation to climate change

7. Energy transition in aquaculture

MSP and Fisheries

MSP is a key tool for achieving sustainable fisheries management. By enabling the integration of ecological knowledge and spatial data, it supports decision-making to protect fish stocks, preserves ecosystem functions and promotes long-term socio-economic benefits for coastal communities.

Priority topics under discussion: 

1. Co-management of fisheries, in particular within MPAs

2. Climate change and fisheries: impacts, adaptation and mitigation

3. Improving fisheries and ecological data (including stock assessment and socioeconomic aspects) collection and availability, in particular in the southern Mediterranean

4. Supporting the sustainability of fisheries and facilitating the implementation of fisheries management policies through ecosystem-based MSP

5. Improving the dialogue between MSP practitioners and fisheries stakeholders at regional, sub-regional and local scales

Other topics: 

6. Extension and management of Fisheries Restricted Areas

7. Marine governance and policy coordination to improve the sustainability of the sector

8. MSP-related initiatives supporting small-scale fisheries (dialogue, knowledge exchange, synergies with marine conservation, etc.)

9. The way MSP can contribute to combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, particularly in sensitive Mediterranean ecosystems

10. MSP support for innovation in low-impact fishing techniques

MSP and Offshore Renewable Energy

Offshore renewable energy offers an opportunity to foster a “regenerative blue economy”. Through the combined use of ICZM and MSP, it is possible to balance energy development with environmental protection, ensuring that offshore activities contribute to sustainable and inclusive growth.

Priority topics under discussion: 

1. Knowledge needed for ORE sustainable development and its spatial allocation (i.e. on impacts to the marine environment, conflicts with other uses, etc.)

2. Co-location, co-existence and multi-use, in particular regarding nature protection

3. Suitability maps for ORE

4. Regulatory and governance challenges

Other topics:

5. The role of MSP in advancing ORE and meeting the EU objectives (GW)

6. Transboundary planning, cooperation and mutual learning for ORE

7. Cost-benefit analysis throughout the life cycle of renewable energy devices

8. Synergy opportunities between shipping and ORE sectors

9. Regulatory framework for facilitating a just, sustainable and effective deployment of ORE

10. Innovation

MSP and Nature Protection

Nature protection is central to MSP’s ecosystem-based approach. By embedding conservation objectives into planning frameworks, MSP strengthens Marine Protected Area networks, enhances ecological connectivity, and supports international biodiversity goals such as the 30x30 target, potentially promoting a coherent approach at the Mediterranean scale.

Priority topics under discussion:

1. Strengthening the integration of MPAs, MPA connectivity and ecological corridors in MSP

2. Assessing cumulative impacts of multiple sectoral activities in shared marine spaces

3. The role of MSP in meeting the EU objectives on biodiversity protection (including 10% of strict protection) and nature restoration

4. Integrated climate change in nature protection in terms of expected impact (on habitats and species) and protection needs. Using climate change impact modelling in MSP

5. Cross-border and transboundary MSP for nature protection

Other topics:

6. Data availability and data gaps for improvement in nature protection

7. Implementing ecosystem-based management strategies that support the EGD objectives

8. Working with maritime sectors on OECM designation and management

9. Moving from paper MPAs to implemented protection

10. Integrating the human/social dimension in nature protection

11. Better designation of MPAs and other protection measures (including OECM)

12. Reinforcing the effective role of strategic environmental assessment in MSP

13. The role of MSP in supporting the sustainable management of maritime uses outside protected areas and minimising of pressures and impacts

14. Developing/implementing social criteria to assess the multiple values (e.g. relational values), belief systems and perceptions of stakeholders using and benefiting from nature

15. The importance of standardised methods for biodiversity assessment and improved data accessibility across the Mediterranean for MSP