Portugal

Maritime Spatial Plan(s) 

Status: Adopted

Portugal's entire maritime space is now covered by the PSOEM. Portugal adopted its maritime spatial plan, the Plano de Situacão do Ordenamento do Espaço Maritimo Nacional (PSOEM), corresponding to the subdivision of the mainland, the subdivision of Madeira and the subdivision of the Extended Continental Shelf in December 2019 by the Council of Ministers (Resolution No. 203-A/2019)

Portugal's maritime spatial plan is available here

View the brochure presenting the Portuguese maritime spatial plan (in English) 

The Geographical Information System (GIS) for the Portuguese maritime spatial plan is available here

A website has also been created containing all the updated information regarding Portuguese maritime spatial planning.

The Situation Plan for the Azores subdivision (PSOEM-Açores) was approved by Resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 136/2024 of 16 October 2024. The geoportal OEAM supports technical consultations and the subsequent implementation process. With the adoption of PSOEM-Açores (PSOEMA), the entire Portuguese maritime space is now covered by the Maritime Spatial Planning Situation Plan (PSOEM).

Latest MSP developments

Since its approval, the PSOEM has gone through various other public consultation periods for the PSOEM-Açores subdivision (2023-2024), the PAER (2024-2025), and the PAID (2025).

Public consultation periods for permits for private use of the national maritime space (TUPEM) and well as aquaculture-related permits have also been launched since the approval of PSOEM (2019). 

The Plano de Situação (PSOEM) in Portugal does not have a fixed expiration date or a static duration period. Instead, the PSOEM is legally designed as an indefinite, dynamic, and permanently updated management tool. It is continuously being updated through the AP - Planos de Afetação and Titles for Private Use (TUPEM - Título de Utilização Privativa do Espaço Marítimo nacional).

In June 2025, OSPAR Ministers adopted an amendment to extend the geographical scope of the OSPAR Convention to Macaronesia, including the maritime areas surrounding the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands. This represents an important development for regional marine governance, strengthening cooperation on marine environmental protection and providing a broader environmental framework for ecosystem-based Maritime Spatial Planning, MSFD implementation, environmental monitoring and the sustainable development of maritime activities in the region.

MSP Legislation

The EU MSP Directive is transposed into national legislation through Law No. 17/2014 on ‘marine spatial planning and management‘, approved for the entire Portuguese maritime space, including the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles. Its enabling legislation, Decree-Law No. 38/2015, entered into force on 12 March 2015, and develops the marine spatial planning and management law, defining, among others, the MSP instruments: 

• i) the Situation Plan with the identification of the protection and preservation areas of the maritime space, and the temporal and spatial distribution of current and potential uses and activities; 
• ii) the Allocation Plans for the private use of some areas or volume of the maritime area not considered in the situation plan.

National MSP authority

The Directorate-General for Maritime Policy (DGPM) (Ministry of Agriculture and Sea, Secretarias de Estado do Ministério da Agricultura e MarMinistry of the Sea ) is the national competent authority and main and operational manager regarding the implementation of the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive (MSPD). 

The Directorate-General for Natural Resources, Safety and Maritime Services (DGRM) ((Ministry of Agriculture and Sea, Secretarias de Estado do Ministério da Agricultura e Mar) is responsible for coordinating the preparation, implementation and updating of the Situation Plan (PSOEM) for the Continental and Extended Continental Shelf Subdivisions, covering the maritime area between the baseline and the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, with the exception of the maritime space adjacent to the Azores and Madeira archipelagos.

The Regional Directorate for Sea Affairs (DRAM) of the Azores Regional Government is responsible for the preparation and development of the Situation Plan for the maritime space adjacent to the Azores archipelago.

The Regional Directorate for the Sea (DRM) of the Madeira Regional Government is responsible for the preparation and development of the Situation Plan for the maritime space adjacent to the Madeira archipelago.

Contact

Ministry of the Sea
Directorate-General for Natural Resources, Safety and Maritime Services (DGRM)
José Manuel Marques
(Head of Marine Environment and Sustainability Department)
jmarquesdgrm.mm.gov.pt (jmarques[at]dgrm[dot]mm[dot]gov[dot]pt)

Directorate-General for Maritime Policy (DGPM)
Pedro Goncalves
pedro.goncalvesdgpm.gov.pt (pedro[dot]goncalves[at]dgpm[dot]gov[dot]pt)   

Autonomous Region of the Azores
Regional Directorate for Maritime Policies
Rui Miguel Oliveira Martins (Regional Director for Maritime Policies)
info.drpmazores.gov.pt (info[dot]drpm[at]azores[dot]gov[dot]pt) 

Autonomous Region of Madeira
Direção Regional do Ambiente e Mar (DRAM)
Manuel Ara Oliveira (Regional Director for Environment and Sea)
drammadeira.gov.pt (dram[at]madeira[dot]gov[dot]pt) 

For more information

For more information regarding the evolution of the MSP process in Portugal please see the dedicated country profile below.