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I. SPAIN
Disclaimer
This document has not been adopted by the European Commission and should therefore not be relied
upon as a statement of the European Commission. The purpose of this document is merely to provide
a comprehensive overview based on available information without claiming to be exhaustive.
Although stakeholder consultation has taken place to verify the collected information, it is possible
that this document does not reflect the view of all stakeholders involved. This document has been
updated until February 2011.
This country report provides a comprehensive overview and assessment of the current state-of-play
with regard to Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) in Spain1. After detailing Spain’s country
characteristics, its most important maritime activities are presented. Next, the country report discusses
the legal aspects, key players, plans and projects related to Integrated Coastal Zone Management
(ICZM) and MSP as well as the relevant international initiatives and platforms for cooperation. To
conclude, the main findings related to Maritime Spatial Planning are summed up. The sources of
information used and persons contacted are listed at the end. Please note that Spain forms part of one
of the four marine areas which were studied in further detail.
I.1. COUNTRY CHARACTERISTICS
Spain is a country located in the southwest of Europe, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the
Mediterranean Sea. Spain consists of 17 regions (“Comunidades Autónomas”), as well as the two
Autonomous Cities of Ceuta and Melilla. Those cities and four regions (Catalonia, Valencia, Murcia
and Andalucia), are located along the Mediterranean seashore. Also the Balearic Islands are located in
the Mediterranean Sea2, occupying an area of 4 992 km². On the seaside, Spain is bordered by France
1
2
For the purpose of this study 20 country reports have been drawn up in total. Relevant available information on Monaco
is included in the case study of the Western Mediterranean and information on the United Kingdom (Gibraltar) is
included in the case study of the Alboran Sea.
Spain has two major island groups, the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands; the Balearic Islands are situated in the
Mediterranean, whereas the Canary Islands are located in the Atlantic Ocean. In the Mediterranean, Spain counts a
number of additional islets such as the Columbrets Islands, Islas Chafarinas and Perejil Island with a land area of
maximum 1 km².
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and the UK (Gibraltar) and connects with Morocco and Algeria through the Alboran Sea. A summary
of the most important country characteristics is presented in Table 1.
Spain has a coastline of 7 880 km, with approximately 3 200 km in the Mediterranean. Spain has
established an Exclusive Economic Zone in the Atlantic Ocean, but not in the Mediterranean Sea
basin. Furthermore, Spain established a Fishery Protection Zone in the Western Mediterranean which
runs from Cape Gata in the south up to the maritime boundary with France3. This means that the
Fishery Protection Zone does not apply to the Alboran Sea4. The continental shelf in the Alboran Sea
is extremely narrow.
Table 1:
Country characteristics – Spain
Spain
Mediterranean coastal regions
Catalonia, Valencia, Murcia, Andalucia, The Balearic Islands
Mediterranean islands
The Balearic Islands (4 992 km²)
Mediterranean coastline
length*
Water depth
zones**
3 200 km²
Data not available
Breadth
Area (km²)
Territorial sea
12 nm
/
Contiguous zone***
24 nm
Exclusive Fishing Zone****
37 nm
Maritime
*
**
***
****
Cape Gata in the south of Spain up to
the maritime boundary with France
Source: Spanish authorities
Based on the national acts or decrees of the maritime zones
Source: CIA, The World Factbook
The Exclusive Fishing Zone only applies in the Mediterranean Sea (up to Cape Gata); along the Atlantic Ocean, Spain has declared an
Exclusive Economic Zone
Source:
Policy Research Corporation
I.2. MARITIME ACTIVITIES AND THE PROTECTION OF MARINE AREAS
The most important maritime sectors in Spain are coastal and marine tourism, fisheries, maritime
transport and mariculture. Plans for offshore wind farms in Spain, the world’s fourth largest producer
of wind energy, have been set-up and will possibly be established in the future.
The Spanish port system consist of 28 Port Authorities managing 46 ports of general interest, which
handled 412.7 million tonnes in 2009, 13 of these Port Authorities are located in the Mediterranean.
More that 115 000 vessels called at the Spanish ports, 72 500 in the Mediterranean ports. Spain has
become an important logistic platform in the Mediterranean Sea area. An important share of the total
3
4
The Fishery Protection Zone is defined by geographical coordinates based on the principle of the equidistant line with
States with opposite coasts; in the zone, Spain exercises sovereign rights for the conservation, management and control
of fishing activities, without prejudice to the measures adopted or to be adopted by the European Union as regards the
protection and conservation of living marine resources.
The Alboran Sea is located between Spain, Morocco and Algeria.
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container moves is related to transhipment. Some 200 000 ships cross the Mediterranean annually and
the maritime traffic becomes congested in narrow passages through which ships enter and exit the
Mediterranean Sea basin, such as the Strait of Gibraltar which is just 14 km wide. The International
Maritime Organisation (IMO) has established a Traffic Separation Scheme in the Strait of Gibraltar to
avoid collisions. Besides the risk of collisions, Spain also faces problems as regards oil spills and
pollution.
The Spanish coastal tourism industry accounted for more than 11% of the country’s GDP in 2004.
Along the Mediterranean coastline, the regions of Catalonia, Valencia, Andalusia and the Balearic
Islands attract most visitors5.
Spain is an EU leader regarding fisheries6. The Spanish fishing fleet consists of close to 11 420
fishing vessels (2009), representing the EU’s largest fishing fleet in terms of tonnage. Half of the
fleet, both in terms of vessels and tonnage is registered in Galician ports, along the Atlantic Ocean.
Furthermore, Spain is a major contributor to the EU’s mariculture production, both in terms of
quantity and value7. The distribution of mariculture production in Spain is visualised in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Mariculture production – Spain
XX Fish
XX Molluscs
XX Crustaceans
Source: Ministry for the Environment and Rural and Maritime Affairs, Spain
5
6
7
European Commission – DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, EU Maritime Policy – Facts and Figures: Spain.
According to the latest Eurostat figures, Spain caught close to 119 094 tonnes (live weight) of fish in the Mediterranean
in 2007.
In Spain, total mariculture production amounted to 294 982 tonnes live weight in 2007 (EUROSTAT figures).
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Within the shipping sector, cruise tourism is an important maritime activity along the Spanish
Mediterranean coasts. In 2008, more than 1 million cruise passengers embarked in Spain and close to
3.6 million passengers had Spain as their destination. The most important Spanish home ports in this
respect are Barcelona and Palma Majorca8.
Figure 2:
Source:
8
Offshore wind farms – Spain (concept/early planning stage)
Spanish Wind Energy Association aee), 2009, Wind Power 2009
G.P. Wild (International) Limited and Business Research & Economic Advisors, 2009, Contribution of Cruise Tourism
to the Economies of Europe.
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Finally, Spain is the world’s fourth largest producer of wind power9. In Andalucia for example, over
5 000 wind turbines have been installed within 10 km of the coast. Currently, no offshore wind farms
are installed, but the Spanish government has launched initiatives to speed up their installation10. The
Environmental Strategic Study for the Spanish coast11 analysed the environmentally suitable areas for
offshore wind farms along the entire coastline of Spain which is discussed in the remainder of this
country report (see Section I.4). At present, offshore developers have submitted 32 offshore wind farm
projects along the Mediterranean Sea basin. These projects are presented in Figure 2.
As to the marine biodiversity hot-spots, a number of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) has been
established along the Spanish Mediterranean coast, which are visualised in Figure 3. According to the
most recent information available to the European Commission (GIS calculated values, mid-2009),
the marine area designated as NATURA 2000 measures 7 835 km² in Spain12.
Of the coastal and marine protected areas in the Mediterranean Sea basin in Spain:
−
9 are recognised as Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Interest (SPAMI);
−
87 are recognised as marine and coastal NATURA 2000 sites;
−
21 areas are recognised as marine Important Bird Areas (IBA) by BirdLife.
Greenpeace, WWF – the World Wide Fund for nature – and IUCN – the United Institute for the
Conservation of Nature – state that unique deep sea ecosystems are situated in the Alboran Sea, the
Strait of Gibraltar and close to the Balearic Islands. Moreover, the Alboran and Strait of Gibraltar host
numerous threatened cetacean species13.
9
10
11
12
13
WWEA, 2010, World Wind Energy Report 2009.
Offshore development estimate: 1 000 – 1 500 MW installed by 2020 (~ 1% of total energy consumption in Spain)
according to EWEA and 5 000 MW installed by 2020 according to the Spanish Wind Energy Association (~ National
Renewable Energy Plan 2010-2020).
Ministerios de Industria, Turismo y Comercio, de Medio Ambiente, y de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación, 2009,
Estudio estratégico ambiental del litoral español para la instalación de parques eólicos marinos.
European Commission – DG Environment, 2009, NATURA 2000 area calculation.
Greenpeace, Marine reserves for the Mediterranean Sea and IUCN, WWF and MedPAN, Status of Marine Protected
Areas in the Mediterranean.
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Figure 3:
Source:
Marine Protected Areas – Spain14
Policy Research Corporation based on The Network of Managers of Marine Protected Areas in the
Mediterranean, www.medpan.org
As regards Marine Reserves, the first protection measures were implemented more than twenty years
ago in the framework of fishery regulations.
Today, the policies related to marine protection aim to:
−
Regenerate the resources which have an interest to fisheries;
−
Guarantee the sustainability of artisanal fisheries;
−
Protect fish habitats;
−
Raise awareness on the problems associated to the environment in artisanal fisheries areas.
There are 22 marine reserves, 10 of them are managed by the Government. Figure 4 shows the last
ones that have been protected. Nowadays, Spain is processing the “Ley de Protección del Medio
Marino” which will include all the protection figures existing for marine areas. Another law which is
also being prepared and would contribute to protect marine zones is the one on biological research
(bioprospección).
14
The MPAs recognised as SPAMI (Specially Protected Area of Mediterranean Importance as defined in the Barcelona’s
Convention Protocol concerning Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean) are
Acantilados de Maro-Cerro Gordo, Isla Alboran, Cabo de Gata-Nijar, Fondos marinos del levante almeriense,
archipiélago de Cabrera, Mar Menor y zona oriental mediterránea de la costa de la Región de Murcia, Islas Columbretes,
Islas Medes and Cap de Creus; some MPAs recognised as Natura 2000 are El Estrecho, Islas Chafarinas, Cabo de Palos
and Ses Negrès; some marine areas recognised as IBA (Important Bird Area designated by BirdLife, a global partnership
of conservation organisations, that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity) are Estrecho de
Gibraltar, Plataforma-talud marinos del Cabo de la Nao and Plataforma marina del Delta del Ebro-Columbretes.
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Figure 4:
Source:
Recently declared Marine Reserves
Spanish Ministry of Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs
I.3. LEGAL ASPECTS AND KEY PLAYERS
Competences on maritime and coastal affairs are shared between central and regional
governments. There is no single body that coordinates the actions of all different bodies and
administrations with competences in maritime affairs. Institutional coordination is assured through
sectoral formal and informal platforms such as cross-ministerial commissions, national commissions
and sectoral conferences15.
Ministries involved in maritime governance at the national level are:
−
Ministry of Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs (MARM);
−
Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN);
−
Ministry of Public Works and Transport;
−
Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Commerce;
−
Ministry of Defence;
−
Ministry of Interior;
−
Ministry of Economy and Finance;
−
Ministry of Culture;
−
Ministry of Employment and Immigration;
−
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation;
15
European Commission – DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, 2009, Fact sheet on integrated maritime policy in Spain.
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− Several other organisations, e.g. National Research Council-CSIC, Spanish Oceanographic
Institute-IEO (attached to the Ministry of Science and Innovation); National Institute for
Aerospace Technology INTA (attached to the Ministry of Defence); Spanish National Ports &
Harbours Authority - Puertos del Estado (attached to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport);
Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA); Mediterranean Marine and
Environmental Center.
At the national level, the ministries with the most competences over maritime governance are:
− Ministry for the Environment and Rural and Maritime Affairs: responsible in the field of pollution
response, fisheries control, accident and disaster response, and biodiversity;
− Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Commerce: responsible for offshore wind energy installations;
− Ministry of Infrastructure: responsible in the field of pollution, maritime safety and security, vessel
traffic management, accident and disaster response and search and rescue;
− Ministry of Public Works and Transport.
I.4.
NATIONAL AND SUB-NATIONAL PLANS, PROJECTS AND STUDIES RELATED TO ICZM
AND MSP
Integrated Coastal Zone Management receives much attention in Spain. In 2005, the Ministry for the
Environment and Rural and Maritime Affairs published a communication entitled ‘Towards
sustainable coastal management in Spain (Hacia una gestión sostenible del litoral español). This
communication served as a roadmap for sustainable coastal management, calling for a national coastal
management plan, following the EU Recommendation on Integrated Coastal Zone Management of
2002. The communication focused on ICZM in the coastal area, but did not make a concrete reference
to the territorial sea. In 2007, Spain presented a draft of its national ICZM strategy ‘Estrategia para la
Sostenibilidad de la Costa’. However, also in this strategy no explicit reference was made to the
management of the Spanish territorial waters16. This strategy is currently being developed through
specific memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between the Ministry for the Environment and Rural
and Marine Affairs and the Regional Governments.
In addition to it, the ICZM Protocol of the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Marine
Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean has been ratified and a pilot project has
been recently launched in the Almeria province (CAMP Levante de Almeria).
Spain is currently working on a (draft) law called ‘Marine Environment Protection’ (‘Ley de
protección del medio marino’ Bill 121/000059, 12th of March 2010) to develop a strategy for
protecting the maritime environment. Its development was triggered by Directive 2009/56/EC, the
Framework Directive on Marine Strategy. The current legislation is not sufficient to meet the
16
In addition, the Spanish regions of Catalonia and Andalusia have developed regional integrated plans to manage their
coastal zone, but also in these plans, no explicit reference is made to the Spanish territorial waters.
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requirements of the Directive and it lacks a comprehensive policy framework. Hence this law is
developed, which should provide a uniform and comprehensive framework. According to the draft,
the objective of this law is to establish a legal regime that enables the adoption of measures necessary
to achieve or maintain a good status of the marine environment through planning, guardianship and
protection. MSP is considered as one of the measures that can be used to reach the objectives of good
environmental status.
In Spain, planning of the marine area, receives primarily attention in the framework of the Spanish
Renewable Energy Plan 2005-2010. This plan calls for the establishment of pilot marine wind farms
and the installation of 1 000 MW in the territorial sea by 2010 (or 5 000 MW by 2020). In order to
reach this objective, the Spanish Ministry for the Environment and Rural and Maritime Affairs
together with the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade elaborated an Environmental Strategic
Study of the Spanish Coast (Estudio estratégico ambiental del litoral español para la instalación de
parques eólicos marinos). This study identified maritime-terrestrial public domain areas that fulfil the
environmental conditions required for the installation of marine wind farms as presented in Figure 5.
The study results were approved by the joint resolution of the Ministries of Industry, Tourism and
Trade and Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs in April 2009 and the specific marine wind
farm projects will be subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment.
Figure 5:
Zoning map of offshore wind farms – Spain
Zoning offshore wind farms:
Exclusive zones
Areas with environmental
determining conditions
Suitable zones
Source:
Policy Research Corporation based on Ministerios de Industria, Turismo y Comercio, de Medio
Ambiente, y de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación, 2009, Estudio estratégico ambiental del litoral
español para la instalación de parques eólicos marinos
For MSP comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the characteristics of marine physical
processes (tides, waves, currents, etc.) is needed. This knowledge is obtained mainly by networks of
measuring devices, complemented with analysis and forecasting tools, such as ocean wave and
circulation models. Several institutions in Spain have developed this kind of systems. Puertos del
Estado manages the most comprehensive measuring network in the country, which includes 15 deep
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water buoys, 22 coastal buoys and 40 tide gauges, all of them transmitting data in real time. The
system is complemented with forecasts for waves, sea level and circulation. All the information
generated is to be used by sectors such as ports, shipping, fisheries, coastal and marine tourism or
mariculture, and is freely available at Internet.
Figure 6 :
Source:
Buoys and tide gauges in Spain
Spanish authorities
In 2005, the Mediterranean Institute of Advanced Studies (IMEDEA) together with the Government
of the Balearic Islands (DG Research, Technological Development and Innovation) initiated the
R+D+i ICZM project in the Balearic Islands (2005-2008). The overall objective of this project was to
generate scientific knowledge to help achieve sustainability within an ICZM framework, with specific
focus on the Balearic Islands as a case study. The objectives were (1) to generate scientific knowledge
related to coastal social-ecological systems, (2) to develop techniques, frameworks and tools to help
implement ICZM, and (3) to enable the transfer of scientific knowledge and innovation to society and
decision-makers17.
One of the major outcomes of the project was the development of a System of Indicators for ICZM in
the Balearic Islands, an initiative that was carried out by IMEDEA in partnership with the Economic
and Social Council of Mallorca (CES)18. In December 2007, the results of this project, which included
a system and implementation plan of 54 indicators (governance, socio-economic, environmental),
were formally adopted as a Dictamen (05/2007) by the CES, and presented to the Government of the
Balearic Islands at the end of 2008. The implementation of these indicators started in 2009 as a pilot
17
18
The objectives were accomplished and the major outcomes from 35 multidisciplinary initiatives can be traced at
http://www.costabalearsostenible.com.
Diedrich et al., 2010 – Marine Policy, 34 pp 772–781.
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project on the island of Menorca in collaboration with the Directorate General for Economy, the
Balearic Statistics Institute (IBESTAT) and the Socio-environmental Organisation of Menorca
(OBSAM). The objectives of the pilot study, which is currently being extended to the island of
Mallorca, are to test and adapt the implementation plan for the indicators system, promote
coordination among relevant agencies, further develop and standardise the methodologies of
measurement, and integrate the system into a broader ICZM governance structure for the islands.
Also important is a study carried out since 2008 in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce of
Mallorca to establish science-based sustainable development and sound limits to growth in the
Mediterranean Islands, as presented in the INSULEUR 2010 meeting of Chambers of Commerce
from Islands, in Mallorca in June 2010.
Since 2009, research related to ICZM (follow-up of I+D+i GIZC and new initiatives) is being carried
out at SOCIB, a Coastal Ocean Observing and Forecasting System in the Balearic Islands, established
in January 2009 with funding from the regional and national governments. SOCIB is a research
consortium with legal entity that is part of the Spanish Large Scale Infrastructure Facilities (ICTS). It
is a multi-platform, integrated facility that will provide streams of oceanographic data and modelling
services to support operational oceanography, including a strategic research branch that responds to
the needs of society. ICZM related research is being continued by SOCIB within the strategic research
area of Sustainability Science and Integrated Coastal and Ocean Management. This includes (a)
applied, problem-orientated science directed at developing and evaluating decision-making tools and
frameworks for managing social-ecological systems, (b) monitoring and the use of interdisciplinary
scientific data for decision-making, and (c) research related to effective governance systems for
supporting science-based, integrated approaches to managing coastal and marine ecosystems. The
development of Special Area Management Plans (SAMPs) through the application of a Marine Spatial
Planning approach, and its linkages with coastal areas through ICZM, will be a priority research area
for the team over the coming years.
A research project on ‘European Maritime Policy and Spatial Planning – Methodological application
to the Atlantic-Mediterranean Arc’ is currently ongoing in Spain. The project is coordinated by the
University of Seville and aims primarily to develop a Maritime Spatial Planning model to define,
describe and map the maritime territory in Spain (based on national legislation) and propose a
methodology to zone maritime areas in Spain. The project will include a specific case study for the
Alboran Sea. First zoning schemes developed by the University of Seville cannot be presented
because the project has not been published yet.
In addition to the above mentioned projects and initiatives, a cooperative project called EEZUNCLOS is being conducted by the Hydrographic Institute of the Navy (Instituto Hidrográfico de la
Marina). The project includes the systematic screening of the Spanish EEZ with multibeam probes to
study its geomorphology and morphostructural features, in order to determine its possible widening.
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In addition, the project PERSEO, carried out by the IEO (Spanish Institute of Oceanography) is
focussed on the widening of the Spanish continental platform. In this regard, the Secretariat General
for the Sea, is developing the ESPACE project aimed at obtaining a high-precision bathymetric
mapping (see Figure 7) with as much information as possible about benthic bionomics and at
identifying the qualities of the seabed and its distribution within the Spanish continental shelf through
high-resolution geophysical techniques (multibeam echosounder and seismic parametric sounding
Topas probes).
Figure 7 : Bathymetric map and distribution of seabed qualities in the area of Palamós (left)
and Digital model of the continental shelf of the Atlantic Islands (right)
Source:
Secretariat General for the Sea. Ministry for the Environment and Rural and Maritime Affairs, Spain
Some of the current projects developed by the IEO are dealing with data acquisition and treatment in
order to support the management of the marine environment. The SIDFOMAR project, which is being
conducted by the IEO, has the goal of organising, merging and homogenising the existing information
and future information on the marine environment. Likewise, it tries to develop a system for a better
exploitation of the results that come up from marine research projects. At the same time it intends to
get a better integration in the Spanish Infrastructure for Spatial Data (IDEE-Infraestructura de Datos
Espaciales de España). The project also plans to develop a system for data treatment from multibeam
and Topas probes, which incorporated scientific and methodological standards, and for producing
cartographic maps. In parallel, the IEO is carrying out the project SIREMAR that intends to collect,
summarise, interpret and integrate all the information on marine seabed (for the areas classified under
the denomination of Marine Reservoirs) in a Geographic Information System (GIS). The database
also incorporates information on the biological richness, habitats, etc. The ultimate aim is to provide
advice and support to the current Marine Reservoirs as well as for the designation of new ones.
Currently Spain is involved in the process of identification, study and characterisation of some areas
of high ecological interest relevant to the Natura 2000 Network of MPAs with a view to their eventual
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designation as new MPAs within this network. This work is being carried out through the LIFE+
project INDEMARES19.
Other initiatives are the project POSIRED20 for the study of the long term evolution of Posidonia
Oceanica mats and the spread of the alien species (Caulerpa recemosa) in the region of Murcia,
including the fauna associated to these habitats. The IEO is also conducting a study for the
establishment of a fisheries protected area in Andalusia, along the coast of the Granada province,
between the coastal towns of Calahonda and Castell de Ferro. The study is supported by the Regional
Government (Junta de Andalucía).
Relevant activities of the IEO in the Atlantic Ocean are the integral study of the Bank Le Danois21 (El
Cachucho), which is one of the most singular ecosystems in the Atlantic coasts of Europe, and the
project MESH Atlantic22.
In 1991 the IEO started a programme for the Study of Temporal Oceanographic Trends along the
coasts of Spain, which is the framework for several projects. Some of the IEO projects carrying out
oceanographic monitoring studies are RADIALES23, RADMED and STOCA24.
In addition to oceanographic data, studies are also carried out with regard to heavy metals and organic
pollutants. The IEO25 is also involved in the monitoring of pollutants along the Spanish coasts,
developing different programmes and projects in the Mediterranean coasts and the Atlantic coasts.
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
The project, co-funded by the EU and the Spanish Ministry for Environment and Marine and Rural Affairs, is addressing
the study of ten locations from the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Macaronesic regions. These locations are: the Avilés
Canyon, the Bank of Galicia, the Vents of Cadiz, Bank of Chella, the Alboran Island, the Ebro Delta and the
Columbretes.
The project is co-funded by the Regional Government of Murcia and the EU through the Financial Instrument for
Fisheries Guidance. Simultaneously, other similar initiatives are being developed in other Spanish regions (Catalonia,
Balearic Islands, Valencia, and Andalusia) with the overall aim of setting up a National Network for monitoring the
Posidonia oceanica mats.
El Cachucho is one of the most singular ecosystems in the Atlantic coasts of Europe. Currently, the IEO also conducts
the Project ECOMARG, which is focussed on the monitoring of this Marine Protected Area. The study is carried out
with the collaboration and support of the General Direction for Biodiversity (Spanish Ministry for Environment and
Marine and Rural Affairs) since 2002.
This project is co-funded by the EU through Interreg (IVB), and aims to map the Atlantic area seabed habitats for a
better management of the marine environment. The project started at the beginning of 2010 and will last 3 years. It
consists of a consortium of 9 partners and 2 associated partners from France, Spain, Portugal and Ireland.
The project aim was studying the long-term trends and variability of oceanographic processes in the northern Spanish
coast, by means of the systematic collection of physical, biogeochemical and biological variables. Furthermore, the
programme tries to understand the response of the ocean and the pelagic ecosystem to climate change and anthropogenic
pressures. The samplings are carried out monthly by means of oceanographic cruises in a set of fixed oceanographic
stations located in 5 transects which are situated off Santander, Gijón, Cudillero, A Coruña and Vigo.
RADMED and STOCA are projects carried out in the Spanish coast of the Western Mediterranean and the Gulf of
Cadiz. They are based on the collection of samples at fixed oceanographic stations, but the sampling cycle is quarterly
instead of monthly.
With the support of the Spanish Ministry for Environment and Marine and Rural Affairs, and within the framework of
international conventions, agreements and organisations, for the protection and study of the marine environment
(OSPAR; MAP, CIESM).
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Spain has a substantial submerged archaeological heritage. The Spanish Government (through
cooperation between the Ministries of Culture and Defence and coastal regions) is mapping these
archaeological areas in order to give them the appropriated protection against illicit exploitation. The
areas, once they are mapped, could be incorporated in this report, with the appropriated security
provisions.
I.5. STATUS OF
DIRECTIVE
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
MARINE STRATEGY FRAMEWORK
Table 2 provides insight into the current status of the implementation of the Marine Strategy
Framework Directive (MSFD) in Spain.
Table 2:
Status of the implementation of the MSFD - Spain
What is the status of:
The assessment of the current
environmental status of the
waters concerned and the
environmental impact of
human activities thereon
The determination of good
environmental status for the
waters concerned
Not started
In development
Completed
An appropriate coordination
and technical working structure
has set up; moreover, the task
of identifying information
sources has started
The establishment of a series
of environmental targets and
associated indicators
The establishment and
implementation of a
monitoring programme for
ongoing assessment and
regular updating of targets
Source:
For compliance with OSPAR,
UNEP-MAP and WFD, a
number of monitoring
programmes are already in
place; these will be adjusted to
meet MSFD requirements
Policy Research Corporation based on Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs,
e-mail of July 16, 2010
The Marine Protection Act, which transposes the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, is under
Parliamentary procedure. This act establishes the Ministry of Environment and Rural and Marine
Affairs as the competent authority. Nevertheless, as the act is not yet approved by the Parliament,
alterations to the proposed text (and consequently to the competent authorities) are possible26.
With regard to the implementation of the MSFD, a web-based public consultation was conducted
during the period July – September 2009. In addition, all NGOs related to the protection of the marine
environment and maritime industrial sectors as well as trade unions and all public administrations
have been consulted. All of these contributions have been taken into account in the final text of the
Marine Protection Act27.
26
27
Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs, e-mail of July 16, 2010.
Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs, e-mail of July 16, 2010.
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I.6. INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVES RELATED TO ICZM AND MSP
International initiatives (including EU-funded projects) related to ICZM and MSP in the
Mediterranean Sea basin are presented in Annex II of the final report.
Spain is / was involved in:
−
The Alboran platform (Spain, Morocco and Algeria);
−
The EU-funded projects:
o The ACCESIBILITA INTERMODALITA project (Italy, Portugal and Spain);
o The AMPAMED project (France, Italy and Spain);
o The BEACHMED project (France, Italy, Spain and Tunisia);
o The BEACHMED-E project (France, Greece, Italy, Morocco, Spain and Tunisia);
o The BLUEMASSMED project, for the integration of maritime surveillance in the
Mediterranean Sea and its Atlantic approaches (France, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Malta and
Spain);
o The COASTANCE project (Croatia, Cyprus, France, Italy, Greece and Spain);
o The DEDUCE project (France, Latvia, Malta, Poland and Spain);
o The ECASA project (Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia,
Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom);
o The ECOSUMMER project (Greece, Spain and the United Kingdom);
o The EMPAFISH project (France, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom);
o The ENCORA project (Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy,
Morocco, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom
and Ukraine);
o The EUROSION project (France, Spain and the Netherlands);
o The HERMES project (Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Morocco,
the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United
Kingdom and Ukraine);
o The INDEMARES project (co-funded by the EU through LIFE+)
o The MedPAN project (Algeria, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Morocco, Malta, Slovenia,
Spain, Tunisia and Turkey);
o The MESH ATLANTIC project (France, Spain, Portugal, Ireland)
o The PEGASO project (Algeria, Belgium, Egypt, France, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Lebanon,
Morocco, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Ukraine);
o The SEAS-ERA project (Spain, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Norway, Malta, Portugal, The Netherlands, Turkey, United Kingdom,
Romania, Ukraine, Georgia) is coordinated by Spain and aims at improving cooperation at
regional level of marine research programmes and fostering synergies to reach a critical
mass to address major cross-thematic marine and maritime research challenges.
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Exploring the potential of maritime spatial planning in the Mediterranean
I.7. MAIN FINDINGS RELEVANT FOR MARITIME SPATIAL PLANNING
The main findings with respect to the potential for the application of Maritime Spatial Planning in
Spain are:
Country characteristics and maritime activities:
− Spain established a Fishery Protection Zone in the Mediterranean Sea basin which runs from the
border with France up to Cape Gata (border of the Alboran Sea);
− The main maritime activities in Spain are coastal and marine tourism, fisheries, mariculture and
maritime transport; furthermore Spain has concrete plans to establish several offshore wind farms
in its territorial sea;
− Together with Algeria and Morocco, Spain borders the Alboran Sea which is characterised by a
large marine biodiversity; human activities that currently put pressure on the Alboran Sea are
shipping, land-based water discharges, tourism, overfishing and sand extractions (not in Spain);
− Spain is a Contracting Party to the Barcelona Convention.
Current status of Integrated Coastal Zone Management and Maritime Spatial Planning:
− Spain is advanced in Integrated Coastal Zone Management at national as well as regional level;
however, coastal management plans do not explicitly refer to the Spanish territorial sea;
− The multiple initiatives aiming at improving knowledge of the sea and at improving sustainability
(e.g. SOCIB) contribute to the opportunities for the development of ICZM and MSP;
− Spain’s concrete efforts towards zoning of the marine area emerged from the plans to establish
offshore wind farms in Spanish territorial waters; in addition, the University of Seville is currently
conducting a research project aiming to propose a methodology to zone maritime areas in Spain;
− Spain is developing a draft law for the protection of the marine environment; the Spanish
government considers MSP as a useful tool for reaching the targets of this law;
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© European Commission study
Country reports
I.8. OVERVIEW OF SOURCES OF INFORMATION USED AND PERSONS CONTACTED
a/ Sources of information used:
− Cachón de Mesa J., 2009, Presentation on Marin Wind Farms in Spain – Environmental
Assessment Strategic Study;
− Diedrich et al., 2010 – Marine Policy, 34 pp 772–781;
− European Commission, 2009, Fact sheet on integrated maritime policy in Spain;
− European Commission, EU Maritime Policy – Facts and Figures: Spain;
− Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, www.fao.org;
− G.P. Wild (International) Limited and Business Research & Economic Advisors, 2009,
Contribution of Cruise Tourism to the Economies of Europe;
− Greenpeace, Marine reserves for the Mediterranean Sea;
− IUCN, Alboran, une vision pour le futur;
− IUCN, 2007, Conservation et developpement durable de la Mer d’Alboran: Eléments stratégiques
pour sa gestion future;
− IUCN, 2009, An agreement regarding the future of the Alboran Sea;
− IUCN, WWF and MedPAN, Status of Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean;
− Ministerios de Industria, Turismo y Comercio, de Medio Ambiente, y de Agricultura, Pesca y
Alimentación 2009, Estudio estratégico ambiental del litoral español para la instalación de
parques eólicos marinos;
− Ministry for the Environment and Rural and Maritime Affairs, 2007, Estrategia para la
Sostenibilidad de la Costa;
− Ministry for the Environment and Rural and Maritime Affairs, 2005, Hacia una géstion sostenible
del litoral español (ICZM strategy);
− Spanish Wind Energy Association, 2009, Wind power 2009;
− Suarez de Vivero J.L. (University of Seville), European Maritime Policy and Spatial Planning,
Methodological application to the Atlantic-Mediterranean Arc;
− The Network of Managers of Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean, www.medpan.org;
− WWEA, 2010, World Wind Energy Report 2009
Offshore,
2009,
Global
− 4C
http://www.4coffshore.com/offshorewind.
© European Commission study
Offshore
Wind
Farms
Database,
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Exploring the potential of maritime spatial planning in the Mediterranean
b/ Persons contacted:
− Ms Ainhoa Pérez Puyol, Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs;
− Mr Alain Jeudy de Grissac, IUCN;
− Mr Andres Alcantara, IUCN;
− Ms Ana Lloret Capote, CEDEX;
− Ms Ana Pello, Consejeria de Medio Ambiente (egmasa);
− Mr Israel Sanchez, Regional Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture, Andalusia;
− Mr Jorge Baro, Insituto Espanol de Oceanografia (Malaga);
− Mr Jose Luis Buceta Miller, Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs;
− Mr Juan Luis Suárez de Vivero, University of Seville;
− Mr Julio de la Rosa, Consejeria de Medio Ambiente (egmasa);
− Mr Miguel Aymerich, Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs;
− Ms Pilar Marin, TRAGSA;
Spanish authorities have provided feedback on a draft version of the country report.
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© European Commission study