by Stella Kyvelou*
Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) initially emerged as a technical tool for organizing marine space. Today, however, within the context of the Blue Economy, it is evolving internationally into a critical governance mechanism that connects economic development, environmental protection, energy transition, geopolitical stability, and investment security.
Its importance is becoming even greater as marine areas host an increasing number of often competing activities, including shipping, tourism, fisheries, aquaculture, offshore wind farms, energy infrastructure, protected areas, critical subsea networks, and underwater cultural heritage.
The European Union’s Blue Economy is estimated to generate more than €620 billion annually and employs approximately 4.5 million people. In Greece, the sea-based economy is directly linked to strategic sectors such as shipping, tourism, port services, and fisheries. Maritime Spatial Planning therefore functions as an “operating system” for the maritime economy, enabling the coordination of uses, investments, and policies within a common spatial and institutional framework.
The fundamental contribution of MSP lies in transforming a space characterized by multiple and often conflicting uses into a predictable and transparent decision-making system. It determines in advance where specific activities may be developed, under what conditions, and according to which environmental protection requirements. In this way, it substantially strengthens the Governance pillar of ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) criteria by reducing administrative uncertainty, enhancing legal certainty, promoting stakeholder participation, and integrating scientific evidence into decision-making processes.
In countries such as Greece, the sea constitutes not only an economic, geopolitical, and environmental asset but also a component of national and cultural identity. Consequently, MSP acquires a clear strategic dimension. Through MSP, national priorities regarding the use of marine space are articulated, administrative presence and the exercise of sovereign rights are reinforced, and energy, transport, defense, and environmental policies are interconnected. Particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea, maritime planning also serves as an instrument of strategic stability.
Its significance is further amplified in the era of energy transition, the expansion of offshore renewable energy sources, and the growing importance of critical subsea infrastructure such as data cables and natural gas pipelines. More than 95% of global data transmission is estimated to occur through submarine cables, making maritime security and spatial organization critical components of economic and geopolitical resilience.
One of the most significant benefits of MSP for businesses is the reduction of uncertainty and investment risk. Investors seek regulatory stability, predictable licensing procedures, and a clear understanding of environmental constraints. When zones for offshore wind farms, aquaculture, port infrastructure, or tourism investments have already been strategically assessed through MSP, delays, legal disputes, and social conflicts are significantly reduced. This lowers the overall ESG risk profile of an investment and facilitates access to international financing.
At its core, MSP is designed to prevent and manage conflicts among competing activities. Island and coastal economies depend heavily on the quality of marine landscapes and the preservation of ecosystems. In Greece, where tourism contributes approximately 25% of GDP directly and indirectly, uncoordinated development can generate serious social and economic conflicts. MSP enables the prior allocation of activities in marine space, reducing conflicts among tourism, aquaculture, fisheries, and offshore renewable energy developments.
Particular importance is also attached to the protection of sensitive ecosystems and underwater cultural heritage. Greece possesses a rich marine biodiversity, numerous Natura 2000 sites, and a significant number of underwater archaeological resources. MSP facilitates the mapping of sensitive areas, the assessment of cumulative impacts, and the restriction of high-risk activities. In this way, it functions as a mechanism for preventing environmental and cultural crises rather than merely managing them after they occur.
From an ESG perspective, Maritime Spatial Planning contributes to all three pillars of sustainability. At the environmental level, it supports ecosystem conservation and climate adaptation. At the social level, it strengthens the participation of local communities, ensures the representation of professional groups such as fishers, and contributes to what is increasingly referred to as “Blue Justice.” At the governance level, it enhances transparency, policy coordination, and the overall quality of the investment environment.
In today’s context of increasing ESG requirements, energy transition, and geopolitical tensions, MSP constitutes a critical governance infrastructure for the Blue Economy. It is no longer merely a spatial planning tool but a fundamental mechanism for strategic resilience, risk management, and the sustainable development of maritime economies.
*Prof. Stella Kyvelou, Eastern Mediterranean Sea-bain Expert for the MSP Assistance Mechanism, is Founder and CEO of SDMED MARIS.
**This article has first been published in the Greek newspaper "ESTIA" (19/6/2026)
