Marine space supports a wide range of activities essential to coastal economies and livelihoods, including fisheries, aquaculture, maritime transport, coastal and maritime tourism, offshore renewables, and other blue economy sectors across the Mediterranean.
As these activities evolve and diversify, they place increasing pressure on marine ecosystems and resources, particularly in areas where uses overlap or compete for space. This calls for careful coordination to ensure that shipping routes, fishing grounds, maritime tourism zones, and offshore energy developments remain compatible with the conservation needs and ecological limits of the marine environment.
Ensuring long-term sustainability requires recognising the sea as a shared and interconnected system. In this context, the sustainable blue economy in the Mediterranean depends on balancing economic development with the protection of marine ecosystems, applying climate-smart and ecosystem-based approaches, addressing cumulative pressures and land-sea interactions, and underpinning decision-making through continuous monitoring and assessments of the marine environment. This approach supports the responsible use of marine resources while maintaining the health and productivity of Mediterranean marine ecosystems.