The Prefect of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, Georges-François Leclerc, and Vice Admiral Christophe Lucas, Maritime Prefect of the Mediterranean, prefects coordinating the coastline, have approved the new Mediterranean maritime coastal strategy through an inter-prefectural decree.
This strategy will be implemented by all sea and coastal stakeholders over the next six years.
Validated unanimously by the eighty members of the Mediterranean Maritime Coastal Council on June 20, 2025, the updated Mediterranean maritime coastal strategy was approved on October 28, 2025, by inter-prefectural decree for a six-year period.
This represents a significant milestone following extensive work that actively involved both public and private actors along the coast. Consultation began in 2023 within the coastal maritime council and later with the general public, notably during the public debate “La mer en débat”, which was particularly rich for the Mediterranean.
The strategy aligns with France’s commitments at European and international levels and provides the Mediterranean coastline with a vision extending to 2050. State representatives, local authorities, socio-professional groups, associations, and federations are collectively working toward effective management of protected areas, maintaining sustainable fisheries, adapting to coastal retreat, enhancing inter-port cooperation, and strictly limiting the impacts of tourism and recreational boating.
For the first time, the Mediterranean coastline now includes mapping of areas eligible for strong protection by 2027, with a goal of 5% of French Mediterranean waters, as well as priority areas for offshore wind development over the next ten years and up to 2050.
These maps were developed in consultation with professional fishing representatives during the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, aiming to reconcile the continuation of economic activities with biodiversity protection and accelerating renewable energy production.
The state and stakeholders have chosen to make this strategy more readable and operational, updating the situation of the marine environment and maritime and coastal economic activities.
Ambitious yet achievable targets for the next six years include:
- Achieve 100% of bathing sites with good water quality;
- Reduce the number of illegal or accidental discharges of contaminants into the sea;
- Ensure 80% of cruise companies operating in French Mediterranean waters sign the “Sustainable Cruise” charter;
- Equip two-thirds of priority sites with tools to limit anchoring pressure on marine habitats;
- Raise awareness among 6,500 boaters on eco-friendly practices each season;
- Inventory 100 educational marine areas,
Source: Premar Mediterranee
