Marine spatial planning for new economic activities

Problem addressed

Marine space is limited and subject to increasing pressure from multiple uses: renewable energy, aquaculture, fisheries, transport, and tourism. The lack of integrated planning leads to conflicts, habitat degradation, and risks to compliance with environmental regulations. Both companies and public authorities need reliable tools to identify viable areas for new activities, minimising risks and ensuring sustainability.

What we do and how we do it

• We identify marine areas with high potential for new economic activities by integrating ecological, social, and economic variables.
• We apply ecosystem-based assessment methodologies to ensure that marine-use plans respect biodiversity and ecosystem services.
• We carry out spatial compatibility analyses to avoid conflicts with fisheries, shipping, tourism, and other established sectors.
• We incorporate climate change into planning by assessing risks related to erosion, extreme wave events, and habitat loss.
• We support public administrations and companies in defining technical and environmental criteria that ensure compliance with national and European regulations.

Key benefits

• Transparent and tailored marine zoning to locate new activities in a safe and sustainable manner.
• Reduced conflicts between sectors through an integrated planning approach.
• Regulatory compliance and increased legal certainty for investors.
• Alignment with European blue economy and energy transition strategies.
• Backed by AZTI’s proven experience in applying marine spatial planning to real-world contexts.