The MareFuturo journey, which began in 2024, continued in 2025 with a new round of workshops dedicated to Maritime Spatial Planning as part of the MSP4BIODIVERSITY project.
Three events-in Palermo, Venice and Genoa-that involved institutions, research organizations, industry experts, administrations and local representatives to share visions, priorities and actions for the future of our seas.
ISIG oversaw the organization and facilitation of the workshops while contributing as a scientific partner in all three stages:
Strait of Sicily – Palermo, June 12-13, 2025
North Adriatic – Venice, June 26-27, 2025
Ligurian Sea and Northern Tyrrhenian Sea – Genoa, September 15-16, 2025
These workshops represented the second stage of a participatory journey dedicated to co-designing strategies for sustainable management of the maritime space. After a first meeting in which the three development scenarios-Slow Pace, Nature@Work and Blue Development-were consolidated and conflicts, synergies and factors influencing their implementation were analyzed, this new phase allowed for a step forward.
The work focused on a multi-sectoral and cross-disciplinary assessment of the scenarios, exploring their potential for implementation. Priority actions to be activated, supporting governance and financing tools, as well as the most effective ways to involve stakeholders in decision-making processes were explored in depth.
The workshops were held over a day and a half. The first morning was devoted to the presentation and discussion of “what if” environmental and socio-economic analyses developed by different research groups through dedicated models and analysis modules. In the afternoon, the focus shifted to participatory evaluation of the scenarios, integrating the results that emerged and input from experts and stakeholders. The last half day then focused on defining operational strategies for implementing the scenarios.
The overall goal was to create a solid and shared basis for transforming scenarios into concrete sustainable development strategies to be implemented through Maritime Spatial Planning, taking into account the best available knowledge and the needs of the actors involved, along with the environmental, economic and social dynamics at play.
The days consisted of plenaries and participatory tables, where impacts, conflicts and opportunities related to fisheries, shipping, tourism, energy and coastal protection were analyzed.
The final restitution event, where the results of the entire MareFuturo journey will be presented, is scheduled for April 2026.
European Union-funded project – NextGenerationEU – National Plan for Resilience and Resistance (NRP) – Mission 4 Component 2 Investment 1.4 – Notice No. 3138 of December 16, 2021 as corrected by D.D. No. 3175 of December 18, 2021 of the Ministry of University and Research; Award Number: Project Code CN_000033, MUR Directorial Decree No.1034 of June 17, 2022 granting funding, CUP D33C22000960007, project title “National Biodiversity Future Center – NBFC”.
The following participated: AGCI Fisheries and Aquaculture, AMP Pelagie Islands, CNR National Research Council., CNR-IAS, CNR-IRBIM, CNR-ISMAR, CNR-ISMed, Department of Mediterranean Fisheries of the Sicilian Region, ISPRA, OGS, Sicilian Region – Department BB.CC. and I.S. – Service S20 Superintendence of the Sea, Regione Siciliana – Regional Department of Mobility Infrastructure and Transport, Renewable Grid Initiative, RSE S.p.a., t-ELIKA, University of Palermo, University of Bologna, University of Messina, University of Naples Federico II, University of Rome Tor Vergata, CNR-IRBIM, CO.VE.P.A., CORILA, Dioniso Crosera, ENERGIA WIND 2020, Galpa Chioggia Delta Po,
