This edition of the MSP4BIO webinar Blue series gathered marine planners, policymakers, and researchers to explore how Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) can contribute to achieving the European Union’s commitment to protect 30% of marine areas by 2030.
Key Messages
- Marine biodiversity requires targeted, coordinated protection
There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Ecological priorities and human pressures vary across EU sea basins. - Area-Based Management Tools (ABMTs) are effective instruments for biodiversity protection, but their coverage must expand, and their impact must be improved.
- Protection and restoration should go hand in hand, based on ecosystem needs and long-term environmental goals.
- MSP provides a strategic and integrated framework to align marine protection, restoration, and sustainable use.
- Stakeholder engagement is essential — it is crucial to ensure that stakeholders understand the value and benefits of marine conservation.
Current Barriers in MSP Implementation
- MSP has been adopted by most EU coastal states (exceptions: Greece and Croatia, which are still progressing).
- Despite progress, implementation faces challenges:
- Uneven application across Member States
- Weak stakeholder coordination and public participation
- Conceptual and technical gaps, such as vague ecosystem-based approaches or undefined thresholds for Good Environmental Status (GES)
“MSP is a holistic and proactive approach that minimises negative impacts at sea and can enhance the social benefits of environmental legislation.”
🌍 Sea Basin-Specific Challenges
| Sea Basin | Key Challenges |
| Atlantic Sea | Ecological coherence, monitoring, stakeholder conflicts |
| North Sea | Spatial planning trade-offs, user conflicts |
| Mediterranean Sea | Hotspot identification, monitoring gaps, socioeconomic valuation |
| Baltic Sea | Legal harmonisation, enforcement mechanisms |
| Black Sea | Socioeconomic constraints |
🧭 Types of Integration in MSP
The webinar discussed four forms of integrating biodiversity into MSP, including:
- Conservation /MPA as the driver for MSP
- Conservation /MPA fully integrated into MSP across sectors
- Conservation/MPA integrated through SEA or other Environmental Spatial Strategies
- Conservation/MPA is a layer/sector in MSP
Each approach comes with benefits and trade-offs.
📊 Supporting Insights
- A social network analysis helped identify thematic connections and existing gaps among relevant EU projects.
- The European Commission will support Member States in integrating multi-use areas into national MSP plans as part of upcoming revisions.
🛠 Future EU Actions & Opportunities
The webinar outlined six strategic priorities shaping the European Ocean Pact, for integarted EU marine actions:
- Healthy ocean
- Maritime security and defence
- Competitive and sustainable blue economy
- Ocean knowledge, skills & literacy
- Coastal communities and islands
- Ocean diplomacy
Upcoming Policy Milestones:
- MSP Directive Implementation Report by March 2026, followed by revision
- European Ocean Pact by 2027
- MSFD revision by 2027 to better align with MSP
- Nature Restoration Regulation and national plans
- EU Ocean Observation Initiative and European Digital Twin Ocean (DTO) by 2030
- Marine Action Plan and Vision 2040 for fisheries and aquaculture
- Water Resilience and Innovation Strategy by 2026
Final Reflections & Recommendations
Between 2012 and 2023, MPA coverage in the EU increased from 5.9% to 12.3%, largely thanks to Natura 2000 and national efforts.
- However, coverage must grow significantly faster to meet the 30% target — using both MPAs and other ABMTs.
- It’s not just about quantity: ensuring the quality and effectiveness of protection is equally important.
- MSP can enhance both the extent and quality of marine conservation through targeted protection and ecosystem-based, multi-sectoral planning.
Recommendations:
- Strengthen biodiversity and climate resilience integration through enforceable measures, clear targets and comprehensive monitoring
- Enhance coordination across sectors and at all governance levels, from local to transboundary
- Ensure meaningful stakeholder involvement
- Reinforce legal and policy frameworks, and develop practical implementation guidelines
New and upcoming EU policy updates (MSFD and MSPD) represent crucial opportunities to improve marine governance. Additionally, many EU sea basins are shared with non-EU countries — regional cooperation and conventions are key to success.
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