Country information
Basic facts on marine waters
- Territorial Sea (12 NM): 155 500 km2
- Exclusive Economic Zone: Not yet established
Strategic documents related to MSP
Technical resources related to MSP
Relevant MSP projects
- HE – MSP4BIO (2022-2027)
- H2020 – Saturn (2021-2025)
- EASME/EMFF – MSP-MED (2020-2022)
- Interreg IT-HR – Soundscape (2019-2021)
- EASME/EMFF – AZA-CAMPANIA (2019)
- EASME/EMFF – AZA-LAZIO (2019)
- EASME/EMFF – MSPglobal – Transboundary pilot in the Western Mediterranean (2018-2021)
- EASME – SIMWESTMED (2017-2018)
- EASME – SUPREME (2017-2018)
- MED – PHAROS4MPA (2017-2020)
- ERA-Net COFASP – ECOAST (2016-2018)
- H2020 – MUSES (2016-2018)
- DG MARE – ADRIPLAN (2013-2015)
- MIUR – RITMARE (ICZM-MSP in the Adriatic-Ionian region) (2012-2017)
- IPA ADR – SHAPE (2011-2014)
- MIUR – PON Place
- MIUR – PON PRIMA RI infrastructural reinforcement (SZN-EMBRC-IT)
- EMODnet – Seabed Habitats (2009-2023)
- EU FP7 – MESMA (2009-2013)
Overview of MSP related maritime uses
Current main uses:
| Aquaculture | Offshore renewable energy |
| Cables and pipelines | Oil and Gas |
| Coastal protection | Ports |
| Fisheries | Scientific research |
| Military | Shipping |
| Mining | Tourism and Leisure |
| Nature conservation | Underwater Cultural Heritage |
Which marine spatial plans exist?
Name of the plan (year) |
Adriatic |
|---|---|
Scale of the plan |
National |
Pre-planning |
Status: Completed |
Assessment for planning |
Status: Completed |
Plan development |
Status: Completed |
Plan completion |
Status: Completed |
Plan approval |
Status: Underway |
Plan implementation |
Status: N/A |
Plan review |
Status: N/A |
Name of the plan (year) |
Ionian |
|---|---|
Scale of the plan |
National |
Pre-planning |
Status: Completed |
Assessment for planning |
Status: Completed |
Plan development |
Status: Completed |
Plan completion |
Status: Completed |
Plan approval |
Status: Underway |
Plan implementation |
Status: N/A |
Plan review |
Status: N/A |
Name of the plan (year) |
Tyrrhenian |
|---|---|
Scale of the plan |
National |
Pre-planning |
Status: Completed |
Assessment for planning |
Status: Completed |
Plan development |
Status: Completed |
Plan completion |
Status: Completed |
Plan approval |
Status: Underway |
Plan implementation |
Status: N/A |
Plan review |
Status: N/A |
National authority in charge of MSP |
Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport |
Governmental funding |
Yes |
External funding |
N/A |
Public-private funding |
N/A |
Size of planning area |
550 000 km2 |
Time required to complete the planning document |
N/A |
Main issued that led to the adoption of MSP (drivers) |
All coastal and sea uses; compliance with environmental objectives |
Stakeholder engagement activities |
Yes |
Sectors included in planning |
All sectors |
Articulation between MSP and coastal zone management |
Land-sea interactions aspects are considered in the plans in preparation |
Articulation between MSP and marine protected areas |
Conservation needs and trends and compliance with existing protected areas are considered |
Articulation between MSP and sustainable blue economy |
Sectoral plans (e.g. maritime transport, energy, fisheries and aquaculture, tourism, cultural heritage, coastal defense, climate change adaptation, etc.), at national and regional level, are being considered during the preparation of the Plan, aiming at their best integration and promoting their harmonized evolution in an MSP framework. Territorial Cooperation Programmes (i.e. Interreg), EMFF, and Smart Specialization Strategies in maritime regions are also very active in promoting sustainable blue economy in different sectors and consider ICZM-MSP as an important tool to reach their objectives. The need for constant and targeted knowledge inputs (i.e. new technologies, site-specific demands and challenges, impacts on ecosystems, etc.) to ICZM-MSP processes is recognized by main actors and research funders at regional and national level (e.g. MIUR, MATTM, MISE, National Cluster on Blue Growth (BIG), etc.). Aquaculture is a key blue economy sector in the MSP framework and MSP principles are applied in the process for the identification of Allocated Zones for Aquaculture (AZA, FAO) within subnational initiatives. New aquaculture sites in marine coastal waters are identified according to PCP objective and through the EMFF 2014-2020 (Measure 2.51) at regional level. Guidelines for spatial planning in aquaculture are in press to provide a common framework to regional authorities and stakeholders. |
Plan approval process |
Ongoing according to Decree 201/2016 |
Legal status of the plan (guiding or legally binding) |
Legally binding (according to Decree 201/2016 and National Guidelines (DPCM 01/12/2017)) |
Plan review process |
Possible mid-term revisions |
Performance monitoring and evaluation |
N/A |
Legal framework
The guidelines on how to prepare the Plans (DPCM 01/12/2017) were approved by an Interministerial Committee chaired by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.
Marine Spatial Plans are to be prepared for three maritime areas (Adriatic, Ionian-Central Mediterranean, Thyrrenian) by March 2021, for a period of ten years and with possible mid-term revisions. They are being drafted by a Technical Committee coordinated by the Ministry of Infrastructures and Transport, with the participation of other Ministries (Environment, Fisheries, Economic Development, Cultural Heritage) and of the Maritime Regions.
The Plans must consider all sea uses, take into account land-sea interactions and apply an ecosystem-based approach.
Contact
Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport
Directorate General for the Supervision of Port Authorities, Port Infrastructure and Maritime and Inland Waterway Transport
Maria Teresa Di Matteo – Director General