Country information
Basic facts on marine waters
- Territorial Sea (12 NM): 155.500 km2
- Exclusive Economic Zone: Italy has not yet declared any EEZ
Strategic documents related to MSP
- Click here for a list of national practices
- SEA Preliminary Report – Adriatic
- SEA Preliminary Report – Ionian
- SEA Preliminary Report – Tyrrhenian
Technical resources related to MSP
Relevant MSP projects
- IPA ADR – SHAPE
- DG MARE – ADRIPLAN
- MIUR – RITMARE (ICZM-MSP in the Adriatic-Ionian region)
- MIUR – PON Place
- MIUR – PON PRIMA RI infrastructural reinforcement (SZN-EMBRC-IT)
- EU FP7 – MESMA
- H2020 – MUSES
- EASME – SUPREME
- EASME – SIMWESTMED
- EASME – MSP-MED
- MED – PHAROS4MPA
- EMODnet – Seabed Habitats
- ERA-Net COFASP – ECOAST
- EASME/EMFF/2019/ AZA-LAZIO/
- EASME/EMFF/2019/ AZA-CAMPANIA/
- EMFF/MSPMED
- Interreg IT-HR Soundscape
- H2020-Saturn
- HE-MSP4BIO
Overview of MSP related maritime uses
Current main uses:
| Offshore renewable energy | Shipping |
| Ports | Nature conservation |
| Fisheries | Aquaculture |
| Military | Scientific research |
| Coastal protection | Oil and gas |
| Cables and pipelines | Tourism and leisure |
| Underwater cultural heritage | Mining |
Which marine spatial plans exist?
Name of the plan (year) |
Adriatic |
|---|---|
Scale of the plan |
National |
Pre-planning |
Status: Complete |
Assessment for planning |
Status: Complete |
Plan development |
Status: Complete |
Plan completion |
Status: Complete |
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: Complete |
Assessment for planning |
Status: Complete |
Plan development |
Status: Complete |
Plan completion |
Status: Complete |
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: Complete |
Assessment for planning |
Status: Complete |
Plan development |
Status: Complete |
Plan completion |
Status: Complete |
Plan approval |
Status: Underway |
Plan implementation |
Status: N/A |
Plan review |
Status: N/A |
National authority in charge of MSP |
MIMS |
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 Plan 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 |
N/A |
Plan approval process |
Ongoing according to Decree 201/2016 |
Legal status of the plan (guiding or legally binding) |
According to Decree 201/2016 and National Guidelines (DPCM 01/12/2017)- legally binding |
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.
MSP 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 Infrastructures and Transport
Directorate General for the Supervision of Port Authorities, Port Infrastructure and Maritime and Inland Waterway Transport
Maria Teresa Di Matteo – Director General