Challenges and levers for developing Maritime Spatial Planning off the coast of a large Mediterranean city

The European Union's Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) Directive mandates the implementation of MSP in all EU member states by 2021. As a result, MSP is being defined across European seas, making it crucial to assess how it is being integrated and how it might be further tailored to specific geographic contexts. Yet, adapting MSP to regional specificities is essential to ensure effective, place-based management of marine spaces. This need is particularly pronounced in the marine areas off the coast of large cities, where diverse and dense maritime activities converge. However, the application of MSP in such context remains an underexplored topic in research.

This study aims to investigate how MSP is perceived by local stakeholders, to shed light on the main challenges and levers that might be relevant for its implementation in a large coastal city. This was achieved through a survey and a participatory mapping workshop conducted with stakeholders from Marseille, selected as case study of a large coastal city located in one of the EU's most heavily used marine regions, the Mediterranean Sea. The methodology employed and the key findings will be presented.