The Romanian established Blue Economy sectors directly employ slightly more than 65 000 people and generate approximately €1.5 billion in GVA (2022). The share of the Blue Economy in Romania’s economy is relatively small, accounting for 0.8% of national employment and 0.6% of GDP, respectively.
The relative importance of the Blue Economy has been slightly reducing in Romania since 2012. In absolute terms, employment in the established Blue Economy sectors decreased by about 36 000 people between 2012 and 2022 (-36%), mainly driven by a sharp decline in the Shipbuilding & repair sector and in the Oil & Gas subsector. The COVID-19 pandemic had a considerable effect, with nearly 5 thousand jobs lost between 2019 and 2020, mostly in Coastal tourism.
On the other hand, since 2013, the Romanian Blue Economy GVA has started to increase in nominal terms after hitting its lowest level in 2012 (€887 million). In 2022, GVA reached its highest value on record since 2009, at €1.5 billion, despite a 10% contraction in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. All in all, the share of Blue Economy GVA to the national economy has decreased in nominal terms from 0.8% in 2009 to 0.6% in 2022.
In 2022, the largest Blue Economy sectors in terms of employment in Romania were Living resources (29% of national Blue Economy employment), Shipbuilding and repair (26%) and Coastal tourism (20%). In terms of GVA, however, Port activities were the largest Blue Economy sector in Romania (27% of national Blue Economy GVA), followed by Shipbuilding and repair (23%) and Living resources (22%).
The largest container port in Romania is the multipurpose trading port of Constanta, which is the ninth-largest in the EU, handling over 67 million tonnes in 2023. Other cargo-handling seaports include the ports of Midia on the Black Sea coastline (mainly serving the industrial and petrochemical industries located nearby) and Mangalia (0.3 million tonnes) on the Danube-Black Sea Canal.
The port of Costanta is also the largest and most significant port in Romania. It serves mainly as a hub for cruise ships and ferry services.
Several official bodies monitor the evolution and performances of blue activities in Romania. This includes:
The National Institute for Marine Research and Development "Grigore Antipa" (Institutul Național de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Geologie și Geoecologie Marină "Grigore Antipa" - NIMRD) conducts research and provides information on marine geology, ecology, and environmental issues, offering insights into the scientific aspects of the blue economy.
The National Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture (Agenția Națională pentru Pescuit și Acvacultură - ANPA) is responsible for fisheries and aquaculture management in Romania, providing information on these sectors and their contribution to the blue economy.
The National Administration "Romanian Waters", which administers water resources in the public domain, including the Black Sea's coastal waters. It focuses on flood protection, management of water infrastructure and monitoring of water quality.
The National Institute for Research and Development of Marine Geology and Geoecology (GeoEcoMar), which conducts geological and geophysical studies within the Danube – Danube Delta – Black Sea macro-geosystem, including environmental impact studies and assessments.
Other national sources of information on the Romanian Blue Economy are:
- Romanian Ministry of Waters and Forests.
- The Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution.
Currently, there are several opportunities to acquire Blue Economy education and skills within the country, such as the Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Marine Engineering or Navigation and Waterborne Transport offered by the Constanta Maritime University.
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.
This interactive dashboard presents the evolution of the blue economy for Romania. 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.