In 2022, the Spanish established Blue Economy sectors employ 937 000 people and generates around €36.5 billion in GVA. The Blue Economy has had a positive impact on the Spanish economy and employment rates. Indeed, the share of Blue Economy GVA to the national economy is 2.9% in 2022, registering a sharp increase from 2.2% in 2021. This share is however still below pre-COVID-19, when it ranged around 3.2% - 3.5% between 2017 and 2019.
A similar pattern is observed for the share of Blue Economy jobs to national employment, which records 4.6% in 2022, higher than the previous year (3.7%), but far below the range 5.2%-5.7% recorded between 2017 and 2019.
The Spanish Blue Economy is dominated by Coastal tourism, which contributed 70% to Spanish Blue Economy jobs and 64% to GVA in 2022.
The relative importance of the Coastal tourism sector has increased notably compared to 2021 (60% in terms of employment and 49% of GVA), although it still remains lower than in 2019 (72% for employment and 68% for GVA).
The second highest contribution in terms of employment and GVA is displayed in the sector Marine living resources sector, with 21% of the Spanish Blue Economy jobs and 18% of the GVA in 2022.
In 2022, Spain ranks first in terms of employment in EU for the sectors Coastal tourism, Marine living resources, and Marine non-living resources. As for the GVA, Spain ranks first in EU for the sector Coastal tourism and second for Marine living resources.
Some of the busiest container ports in the EU are in Spain: Port of Algeciras (8th), Port of Valencia (14th), Port of Barcelona (17th), Port of Cartagena (25th), Port of Tarragona (31st) in 2023. These ports are all located in the Mediterranean Sea. The port of Palma de Mallorca (7th), Santa Cruz de Tenerife (17th), Algeciras (18th) are in the top 20 of EU ports by number of passengers in 2023.
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.
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.
Catalonia: The Maritime Strategy of Catalonia (Estratègia Marítima de Catalunya) 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.
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.
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.
Currently, several educational opportunities are offered by universities in Spain, such as the MSc in Aquaculture (both at the Autonomous University of Barcelona and at the Polytechnic University of Valencia), the MSc in Coastal Management (University of Las Palmas), or the MSc in Advanced ship design and offshore renewable energies (Polytechnic University of Madrid).
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 Spain. 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.