Skip to main content
European Commission logo

Current Conditions and Compatibility of Maritime Uses in the Western Mediterranean

MSP Global

Abstract:

Successful marine management needs planners and managers who understand and work with the sea’s diversity in space and time. The new reports aim to assist the MSPglobal beneficiary countries in developing approaches, tools and actions at regional level to contribute to a coherent ecosystem-based MSP process, based on an analysis of existing conditions within the pilot project areas in the Western Mediterranean. More specifically, the reports focus on current conditions in the sea basin. 

Sea Basin(s):
Ico_WestMed Created with Sketch.
West Mediterranean
Country:
France
Italy
Malta
Spain
Application in MSP:
application0_unknown Created with Sketch.
Unknown effect
Sectors:
sek_aquaculture_rgb Created with Sketch.
Marine aquaculture
sek_fishery_rgb Created with Sketch.
Fishing
sek_Mineral_rgb Created with Sketch.
Marine aggregates and marine mining
sek_offshore_rgb Created with Sketch.
Offshore Wind Energy
sek_oilandgas_rgb Created with Sketch.
Oil and Gas
sek_shipping_rgb Created with Sketch.
Shipping and ports
sek_tourism_rgb Created with Sketch.
Coastal and Maritime Tourism
Type of Issue:
req_coexist_rgb Created with Sketch.
Coexistence of uses
req_data_rgb Created with Sketch.
Data
req_environment_rgb Created with Sketch.
Environment aspects
Type of practice:
type_guidance Created with Sketch.
Guidance
type_study Created with Sketch.
Study
Stage of MSP cycle:
stage2_stocktake Created with Sketch.
Stocktake
stage3_analyse Created with Sketch.
Analyse spatial aspects
Cross-border / trans-national aspect:
Yes
Key words:
maritime activities
marine environment
conflict
compatibilities
governance
maritime legislation
Source / Links:

NESCO-IOC. 2021. Technical Report on Current Conditions and Compatibility of Maritime Uses in the Western Mediterranean. Paris, UNESCO. (IOC Technical Series no 160)

Questions this practice may help answer:

  • What is the status of marine conservation in the Western Mediterranean?
  • What are the existing multi-use opportunities in the sea basin?
  • Which are the conflicting maritime activities in the sea basin?

Implementation Context:

This report was produced in the framework of the MSP Global initiative, an initiative of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC-UNESCO) and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) to support their Joint Roadmap to Accelerate Maritime/Marine Spatial Planning processes worldwide (MSP roadmap).

Aspects / Objectives:

This report is the deliverable of the WP2 of the MSP Global initiative and assesses the conflicts and compatibilities between maritime uses and activities in the Western Mediterranean Sea basin. It aims to support the discussions and development of the pre-planning phase of a regional transboundary MSP in the Western Mediterranean Sea basin.

Method:

This report is based on EU and non-EU Mediterranean States: France, Spain, Italy, Malta, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. The analysis provided by the report is based on existing data and information on current ecological, physical and socio-economic aspects for coastal and marine areas. Regional data sources such as EMODnet and SIMWESTMED were consulted. This allowed for a repository of data for the sea basin to be created.

Main Outputs / Results:

The report provides an overview of existing maritime activities in the Western Mediterranean Sea basin and highlights the challenges linked to the interaction of these activities. Recommendations are also provided to improve sustainable development of activities at sea and on the coast.

Transferability:

This report focuses on the Western Mediterranean case and is not transferable to other sea basins.

Responsible Entity:

MSP Global Initiative

Costs / Funding Source:

This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union.