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EU Blue Economy Observatory

Spain

The Spanish established Blue Economy sectors employ almost 625 300 people and generates around €21.3 billion in GVA. The Blue Economy has had a positive impact on the Spanish economy and employment rates.

In Spain, the share of Blue Economy GVA to the national economy increased until reaching 3.2%, its highest point in 2018. Then decreasing to 1.4% in 2020, mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic and recovering since then, with 1.9% of the overall national GVA in 2021.

Similarly, the share of Blue Economy jobs to national employment increased until reaching 5.1%, its highest point in 2018. Then decreasing to 2.9% in 2020, mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic and recovering since then, with 3.2% of the overall national GVA in 2021.

El Caballo Lighthouse, Cantabria, Spain

The Spanish Blue Economy is dominated by Coastal tourism, which contributed 68% to Spanish Blue Economy jobs and 55% to GVA in 2021. The relative importance of the Coastal tourism sector has decreased due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Coastal tourism was the sector most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with employment decreasing by half and GVA by more than four times in 2020.

It is followed by the Marine living resources sector, which is also an important contributor, with 19% of the Spanish Blue Economy jobs and 18% of the GVA. Port activities also contribute with 17% to the Spanish Blue Economy GVA and 7% of the employment.

In the EU, Spain ranks first in terms of GVA and employment for Coastal tourism; and first in terms of employment and second in GVA for Marine living resources; and third in terms of GVA and employment for Port activities.

Traditional fishing boats, Port Andraxt, Mallorca, Spain
Figure 1: Spain: Evolution of the Blue Economy established sectors (2021)
Figure 1: Spain: Evolution of the Blue Economy established sectors (2021)

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Some of the busiest container ports in the EU are in Spain: Port of Algeciras (5th), Port of Valencia (7th), Port of Barcelona (11th), Port of Cartagena (25th), Port of Tarragona (26th), Port of Huelva (28th), and Port of Bilbao (29th) in 2021. These ports are mostly all located in the Mediterranean Sea, only the Port of Bilbao is in the Atlantic Ocean.

The port of Palma de Mallorca (Balearic Islands) and Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands) are in the top 20 of EU ports by number of passengers the sixth and tenth, respectively, in 2021.

The Spanish Ministerio de agricultura, pesca y alimentación recognises the importance of the seas and oceans as engines of the economy thanks to the potential for innovation and growth. It launched the strategy Crecimiento azul (i.e. Blue growth), based on the Europe 2020 Strategy, with the objective to support the sustainable growth of the marine and maritime sectors. 

The Red Española de Espacios de Conocimiento de Crecimiento Azul (REECCA) has been established to facilitate communication and dissemination within the framework of the strategy Crecimiento azul, and it integrates universities, technology centres and other institutions working in this space.

Port of Algeciras, Andalucía, Spain

There are important initiatives at regional level:

Canary Islands: The creation of the Canary Islands Blue Economy Observatory (Observatorio Canario de la Economía Azul), one of the main actions of the recently approved Canary Islands Blue Economy Strategy promoted by the Government of the Canary Islands, is due to the need to enhance the coordination and integration of the different public policies that They are carried out in the field of the Blue Economy in the Canary Islands.

The mission of the Canary Islands Blue Economy Strategy (ECEA) is to promote maritime identity and the Blue Economy, where the cultural, environmental, social and economic activities and interactions that take place in the coastal maritime space converge, aimed at improving the public services, sustainability and economic development of the region.

Wind turbine in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain

Catalonia: The Maritime Strategy of Catalonia (Estratègia Marítima de Catalunya) is based on the principles of the sustainable ocean planning to achieve an Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP) that emphasizes the environmental dimension and protects sustainability, ensuring the preservation of marine ecosystems that are essential for the provision of services to society. The relevance of the blue economy in Catalonia as an economic engine is shown with a blue economy Gross Added Value and employment above 5% and 3% of the national total, estimated by the Oficina del Mar of the Generalitat de Catalunya. A particularly relevant source of Blue Economy in Catalonia is the maritime recreational activities sector which is developed by local residents throughout the year, creating a considerable economic activity. Therefore, the Maritime Strategy of Catalonia, unlike other European strategies, considers the maritime recreational activities sector as an independent sector from maritime tourism.

The 2023-2026 Plan of the Maritime Strategy of Catalonia focuses on the following four areas of action: i) a sustainable blue economy within the framework of an integrated maritime policy that respects all uses of the sea; ii) healthy and resilient ecosystems; iii) A citizenry that loves and values the sea as a source of well-being and wealth; and iv) an innovative maritime governance in the hands of citizens.

Monitoring of the 2023-2026 Plan

The Catalan Maritime Co-management Council, created by law in 2017, is the governance instrument for the integrated maritime policy. One of the functions of the Catalan Maritime Co-Management Council is to contribute actively to the implementation of the Maritime Strategy of Catalonia, to assess the results achieved in the objectives, strategic lines and planned actions, and guarantee the transparency of all processes. In order to be able to execute these functions, a monitoring method has been developed and implemented with the corresponding indicators to report the degree of compliance with the actions included in the last Plan. You can check here the progress of the Maritime Strategy of Catalonia implementation.

Catalan barges with Catalan flag on mast, Catalonia, Spain

Galicia: The Port of Vigo is a pioneer port in Europe in the implementation of the Blue Growth strategy and Sustainable Blue Economy Communication in a comprehensive manner with the collective work of all users of the port.

The Port of Vigo promotes competitiveness, efficiency and sustainability in all its activities, facilities and services. Amongst its activities, the port works to regenerate the seabed, recover biodiversity throughout the port area and the collection of marine litter.

Port of Vigo

For more national level data, please visit the Dashboards section within the EU Blue Economy Observatory. Visit the EU Blue Economy Observatory for more information on the Educational and Employment opportunities in the Blue Economy sectors in your country.

Figure 2: Spain: Evolution of the Blue Economy established sectors (2009-2021)
Figure 2: Spain: Evolution of the Blue Economy established sectors (2009-2021)
Figure 3: Spain: Evolution of the Employment by Blue Economy activity (2009-2021)
Figure 3: Spain: Evolution of the Employment by Blue Economy activity (2009-2021) - Persons employed
Figure 4: Spain: Evolution of the GVA by Blue Economy activity (2009-2021)
Figure 4: Spain: Evolution of the GVA by Blue Economy activity (2009-2021) - M€