The established Blue Economy sectors in Malta directly employ 17.7 thousand people and generate approx. €719 million in GVA (2022). The Maltese Blue Economy sectors represent an important share of the national economy, contributing by approx. 4.2% to national GVA and 6.2% to national employment.
In terms of employment, the size and share of the Blue Economy in Malta has been growing steadily between 2012 and 2019, reaching 33 thousand people (13.1% of national employment) prior to the COVID-19 crisis. In terms of GVA, the Maltese Blue Economy had reached its peak in nominal terms in 2019, with nearly €1.1 billion (8.4% of national GVA).
The 2019 pandemic crisis hit the Maltese Blue Economy particularly hard, comparatively more than other segments of the economy. Both employment and GVA shrank by approx. 62% in 2020, to their lowest levels since 2009 and 2013, respectively. Once the peak of the COVID- 2021 was overcome, the Blue Economy embarked on a recovery path, but without regaining pre-pandemic levels.
The Maltese Blue Economy is dominated by Coastal tourism, representing 50% of the entire GVA of the national Blue Economy and 64% of its workforce. The second-largest Blue Economy sector in the country is Port activities, with a share of 18% of the national Blue Economy Gross Value Added (GVA) and 10% of its workforce. Next is Marine living resources, accounting for 13% of the national Blue Economy GVA and 16% of its employment.
Malta has one dedicated container terminal, mainly an important transhipment hub in the centre of the Mediterranean. This is the Malta Freeport Terminal, in the Port of Marsaxlokk, handling approx. 4.6 million tonnes. Containers are also handled in the Grand Harbour (Port of Valletta) through the ro-ro vessels calling Malta, for a total of approximately 2.6 million tonnes (2023).
85% of local imports pass thorugh Malta Freeport. Malta Freeport also offers bunkering services, as well as blending and heating of storage oils and fuels. The Grand Harbour (Port of Valletta) mainly handles general cargo and bulk cargo.
The Port of Mgarr on the island of Gozo is the 12th largest in the EU in terms of passengers (nearly 6.6 million/year, 2023). Passengers calling Mgarr arrive mainly from Cirkewwa Port through the inter-island conventional ferry service and from the Grand Harbour (Port of Valletta) through the inter-island fast ferry service. Additionally, there is the only dedicate cruise liner terminal, the Valletta Waterfront Cruise Port within the Grand Harbour (Port of Valletta) where cruise ships call the Maltese islands.
Malta has established a comprehensive network of governmental organisations and research institutions to monitor and promote the performance of its blue economy. This includes:
The Planning Authority (PA), oversees the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Environment and Development (SPED), which serves as the Maritime Spatial Plan for Malta, ensuring sustainable use of marine resources.
The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), responsible for regulating and protecting the natural environment in Malta. It promotes marine biodiversity conservation, and pollution control, contributing to sustainable marine and coastal development.
The Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects coordinates Malta’s Integrated Maritime Policy.
Other national sources of information on the Maltese Blue Economy are:
- Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights: Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
- Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights: Aquatic Resources Malta
- Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Regeneration of the Grand Harbour
Currently, there are a few opportunities to acquire Blue Economy education and skills within the country, such as the Master in Blue Growth offered by the University of Malta and the MSc in International Maritime Legislation offered by the IMO International Maritime Law Institute.
This interactive dashboard presents the evolution of the blue economy for Malta. It is designed to provide insights into key economic indicators over time.
At the top of the dashboard, there is a drop-down menu that allows users to select one of the following data categories:
- Employment: Number of jobs and workforce trends in the blue economy sectors.
- Gross Value Added (GVA): The contribution of the blue economy to the national economy.
- Turnover and Gross Profit: Revenue and profitability metrics of blue economy industries.
- Investment: Capital investment levels in blue economy sectors.
Once a category is selected, the main panel updates to display relevant visualisations, such as line charts or bar graphs, showing trends over time. These visualisations are accompanied by labels, legends, and tooltips to ensure clarity and accessibility.
The dashboard is navigable via keyboard and compatible with screen readers. All interactive elements are clearly labeled, and data visualisations include alternative text descriptions summarising key insights.