Adopted text
The impact of the implementation of the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive 2014/89/EU on fisheries in selected fishing areas and sea basins
TA-10-2026-0181 · P10_TA(2026)0181 · PE781.431
- Adopted in plenary on · Adopted 518–31–102 · See the decision →
- Full procedure 2024/2126
✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 4 Sept 2026
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Parliament's resolution on the impact of the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive on fisheries finds uneven implementation and calls for better integration of fisheries and aquaculture in maritime spatial plans.¶¶ It urges recognition of fisheries as strategic sectors, with priority zones, stakeholder involvement, and cross-border cooperation, and supports revising the directive to make participation binding and introduce minimum standards.¶¶¶
Key points
- Notes uneven implementation of the MSP Directive across Member States, with some well advanced and others hindered by fragmented governance and insufficient resources.¶¶¶
- Highlights that MSP has not delivered expected benefits for fisheries, lacking minimum targets and indicators, and that conflicts over maritime space remain unresolved.¶¶
- Calls for MSP to better integrate fisheries and aquaculture, including small-scale fishing, and to avoid marginalising them, with offshore windfarms placed in less suitable fishing zones when possible.¶¶¶
- Emphasises the need for a bottom-up, multi-use approach, with co-management as the governance model, and for mandatory cumulative impact assessments before zone demarcation.¶¶¶
- Calls for clear spatial zoning and priority zones for fisheries, based on scientific and socio-economic data, and for reserved areas for small-scale inshore fishing within the 12 nautical mile zone.¶¶¶
- Urges the Commission to propose compensatory measures or insurance schemes for fisheries displaced by other sea uses, and to support redesign of fishing routes or technological investments.¶
- Calls for further integration of aquaculture and shellfish farming into MSP, with dedicated spaces for sustainable aquaculture and facilitated licensing procedures.¶
- Demands early, meaningful stakeholder participation, including fishers and coastal communities, and calls for legally binding provisions on participation in the revision of the directive.¶¶
- Calls for enhanced cross-border and sea-basin cooperation, including with the UK and non-EU countries, and for regional management plans for the Channel and North Sea.¶¶¶
- Stresses the need to integrate climate change measures into MSP and calls for an EU plan for coastal resilience, addressing erosion and pollution.¶¶
- Calls for improved data collection and harmonisation, and for the use of tools like the European Digital Twin Ocean to support MSP.¶¶¶
- Supports the revision of the MSP Directive under the Ocean Act, with minimum standards for space for fisheries and aquaculture, and legally binding stakeholder participation.¶¶
Who is affected
- Fisheries and aquaculture sectors, including small-scale fishers and shellfish gatherers, who may gain priority zones and better participation.¶¶¶
- Member States, which must revise maritime spatial plans to integrate fisheries and aquaculture and ensure stakeholder involvement.¶¶
- Offshore renewable energy developers, who may face placement restrictions and mandatory consultations with fishers.¶¶
- Non-EU coastal states, including the UK, which are urged to cooperate on cross-border MSP.¶¶