The European Commission has announced plans for a new European Ocean Act aimed at strengthening ocean governance and supporting the sustainable development of the blue economy across Europe. The proposal also focuses on improving maritime spatial planning, the process of organising how marine areas are used for activities such as shipping, fishing, offshore energy and environmental protection.

The proposal forms part of the wider European Ocean Pact, which seeks to create a more coordinated approach to the management of Europe’s seas. It also aims to improve marine protection, strengthen ocean observation systems and reduce fragmentation between existing EU marine policies.

A public consultation on the proposal is currently open until 16 July 2026, with the Commission inviting feedback from governments, researchers, maritime industries, coastal communities and citizens across the European Union. More information about the consultation and how to participate is available through the European Commission’s consultation portal.

The growing importance of maritime spatial planning and sustainable marine management is acknowledged by projects such as MEDSEAPLAN, a three-year initiative launched in 2024 and financed through the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership. The project focuses on sustainable marine planning and the blue economy, a term used to describe economic activities linked to oceans and seas, ranging from traditional sectors such as fisheries and shipping to emerging industries including offshore renewable energy and marine biotechnology.

Led by the World Ocean Council, the project brings together 16 partners from eight countries: France, Turkey, Spain, Malta, Italy, Cyprus, the Netherlands and Germany. The consortium is working to improve marine data collection, support ecosystem-based maritime spatial planning and develop future planning scenarios for the Mediterranean region through research, digital monitoring tools and cross-border collaboration.

MCAST is representing Malta in the MEDSEAPLAN project and is leading the initiative’s Ocean Literacy activities, which focus on increasing public understanding of maritime spatial planning, sustainability and marine governance. The work includes educational and outreach initiatives aimed at helping students, researchers and the wider public better understand how decisions about the sea can affect industries, coastal communities and the marine environment.

The project also prioritises stakeholder engagement, bringing together maritime industries, researchers, policymakers and national authorities through interviews, workshops and collaborative meetings. These collaborations are intended to improve transparency, strengthen cooperation and support more informed decision-making on the future management of Mediterranean marine areas.

With the European Commission planning to adopt the legislative proposal for the European Ocean Act by the end of 2026, projects such as MEDSEAPLAN are expected to play an increasingly important role as Mediterranean countries face increasing pressure linked to shipping activity, tourism, fisheries, coastal development and climate change. Recent storms and extreme weather events across the region have further highlighted the need for coordinated

marine planning, stronger environmental management and long-term cooperation between governments, researchers and maritime industries.

Project MEDSEAPLAN is financed by Xjenza Malta through the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership that is supported by the European Union through Horizon Europe.