The Portuguese established Blue Economy sectors directly employ approximately 287 thousand people and generate €8.2 billion in GVA (2023). The Blue Economy in Portugal contributes by approximately 3.5% to the national GVA and 6% to national employment.
The relative share of the Blue Economy in Portugal has been gradually increasing since 2011, until it was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. By 2022, employment in the established Blue Economy sectors, had already fully recovered, increasing by nearly 132 800 people between 2011 and 2022 (+81.5%) to reach its highest value on our records since 2009, in absolute terms (295.6 thousand people).
In terms of GVA, the Portuguese Blue Economy reached €6.5 billion in 2018, representing 3.7% of the national GVA. Then, it dropped to €3 billion in 2020, mainly as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the national Blue Economy has fully recovered, reaching €8.2 billion in 2023, its highest GVA on our records since 2009.
The Portuguese Blue Economy is dominated by Coastal tourism, which contributed to the Portuguese Blue Economy by 71% in terms of employment and 67% in terms of GVA. The second largest Blue Economy sector in Portugal is Marine living resources, contributing 24% and 23% to employment and GVA, respectively. This is followed by Port activities, contributing 5% to the Portuguese Blue Economy GVA and 1.6% to its employment.
In the EU, Portugal’s Blue Economy ranks 6th in employment and 9th in GVA. The country’s Coastal tourism sector ranks 5th in the EU in terms of GVA and employment.
The largest container port in Portugal is the Port of Sines, which is also the 15th-largest cargo port in the EU, handling 44 million tonnes in 2024. Other important seaports include the ports of Leixões (nearly 13 million tonnes), Lisbon (10 million tonnes), Setúbal (6.2 million tonnes) and Aveiro (5.6 million tonnes).
The largest passenger ports in Portugal are primarily located in major coastal cities and serve as key hubs for domestic and international maritime travel. The port of Horta (Açores) was the busiest passenger port, with 474 thousand passengers embarked and disembarked in 2024, followed by the port of Funchal, in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, with 417 thousand passengers.
Portugal is an oceanic country, with a coastline of approximately 2 500 km. It has the third largest Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the EU, spanning 1.7 million km2, after France (1st in the world) and Denmark (2nd in the EU). Additionally, the Portuguese continental shelf, with its delimitation beyond 200 nautical miles, is currently being revised within the United Nations. The proposal may increase the area encompassed by the maritime space under Portuguese sovereignty and jurisdiction to 4.1 million km2.
The National Ocean Strategy 2021-2030 is the current instrument that defines the course for the public ocean policy. It envisions the promotion of a healthy ocean for a sustainable blue economy, the prosperity and well-being of Portuguese people, strengthening Portugal's position as an eminently maritime nation, aligned with the great international challenges of the decade.
Portugal was the first EU Member State to publish an Ocean Satellite Account to measure the size and importance of the Portuguese ocean economy.
The entire national maritime space is covered by the National Maritime Spatial Situation Plan (PSOEM), as an instrument for planning all uses or activities, within the national maritime space, promoting the development and sustainability of the marine environment, minimizing the impact of human activities.
Ministry of Agriculture and Maritime Affairs is the governmental body responsible for formulating, conducting, implementing and evaluating development policies aiming at the sectoral coordination for maritime affairs.
Several institutional bodies and initiatives are coordinating and supporting the development of Portuguese Blue Economy, at the national level:
The Directorate-General for Maritime Policy (DGPM) is the executive body supporting the maritime affairs sectorial coordination, through the implementation and monitoring of the National Ocean Strategy 2021–2030, the national Blue Economy Observatory, which tracks data on marine-related employment, added value and economic sectors, supported by Statistics Portugal. DGPM's mission is to develop, evaluate and update the National Ocean Strategy (NOS), and to propose ocean's national policy in its various forms, plan and manage the maritime space in its different uses and activities, monitor and participate in development of the Integrated Maritime Policy of the European Union and to promote national and international cooperation related to the Ocean.
The Directorate-General for Natural Resources, Safety and Maritime Services (DGRM) mission is to develop maritime safety and services, including the maritime-port sector, the implementation of policies on fisheries, aquaculture, the processing industry and related activities, the preservation and knowledge of marine resources, as well as to ensure the regulation and control of activities in these areas.
The Portuguese Institute for the Ocean and Atmosphere (IPMA) conducts scientific research and publishes reports, and publications on oceanography, marine ecosystems, maritime resources, and environmental issues impacting the blue economy. The institute also provides data, statistics, and assessments of marine and atmospheric conditions relevant to the sustainable use of marine resources, fisheries, aquaculture, and coastal management.
The Hub Azul, Infrastructure Network for the Blue Economy, created several regional hubs by establishing a network of 6 Innovation Hubs and a Hub Azul School, aiming at the decarbonization and digital transformation of the blue economy, making it “more competitive, more cohesive, more inclusive and more sustainable”. The Blue School Hub, aligning vocational training - the Fisheries and Sea Vocational Training Centre (FOR-MAR) - and higher education - Nautical School Infante D. Henrique (ENIDH) - in an innovative approach to skills development for the Blue Economy.
The Oceano Azul Foundation, a Portuguese non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean, publishes a wide range of content related to the Portuguese blue economy. This includes reports, studies, and articles focusing on marine conservation, sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, marine technology, ocean governance, and maritime tourism. The foundation also shares information on its initiatives, projects, and partnerships aimed at promoting a healthy and thriving blue economy in Portugal.
Currently, there are numerous opportunities to access training and education in the field of the Blue Economy, through:
- Vocational Training system, which provides a wide range of qualifications for the Blue Economy. A key example is FOR-MAR – the Fisheries and Sea Vocational Training Centre, a public entity dedicated to training and capacity building.
- Higher Education — for example, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD degrees in Marine Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Aquaculture, Fisheries, Marine Biotechnology, or Marine Sciences, offered by institutions such as the Universities of Algarve, Aveiro, Leiria, and Lisbon, as well as the Nautical School Infante D. Henrique (ENIDH).
Marine Strategy Framework Directive: Economic and Social Analysis (ESA)
As part of the MSFD reporting obligations, Member States must provide an Economic and Social Analysis of the blue economy. This analysis is integrated into the broader reporting package under Articles 8, 9, and 10, which includes:
- The status of marine waters;
- The determination of GES;
- Environmental targets to achieve GES.
The Economic and Social Analysis (ESA) report for the 2024–2029 cycle is presented below in PDF format. This document is available in English translation, with the original language included where applicable.
The full reports submitted under Articles 8, 9, and 10 are available here: MSFD Reporting Portal.
For more information on the implementation of the MSFD, visit the European Commission’s MSFD page.
Text version
This interactive dashboard presents the evolution of the blue economy for Portugal. 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.