“Coastal zones are among the most productive areas in the world, offering a wide variety of valuable habitats and ecosystems services that have always attracted humans and human activities. The beauty and richness of coastal zones have made them popular settlement areas and tourist destinations, important business zones and transit points” (1).
In 2017, the European Environmental Agency published the report ‘State of Europe’s seas’. It provides a comprehensive overview about the utilization of coastal seas in Europe (2):
Extraction of living resources: Over the past ten years, EU-27 total catches in all fishing regions have been in steady decline. The EU is increasingly dependent on imports of the most widely consumed species: tuna, cod and salmon. Extraction of genetic resources from the sea for the purposes of biotechnology is in the early stages of growth. It is expected to increase significantly in the future.
Production of living resources: Aquaculture accounts for a significant portion of seafood supply in the EU. Marine aquaculture production is increasing in Europe, mostly due to salmon production in Norway. Fin fish production accounts for most of the increase in European aquaculture production in recent years. Aquaculture production of shellfish has been decreasing since 2004. Since 2007, production of aquatic plants has also been a growing sector.
Extraction of non-living resources and disposal of waste: Europe's seas contain valuable mineral and aggregate resources, as well as space to store and dispose of unneeded materials. The disposal of waste and the extraction of non-living resources such as marine aggregates, sand, and gravel are often driven by growth in other industries, for instance the high-tech or construction industries. It is expected that marine mining will see continued growth to meet the demands of high-tech industries. Desalination has grown in recent years, and is expected to continue to grow in order to meet demand for drinking water.
Transport and shipbuilding: Maritime transport of freight in Europe grew between 2002 and 2011. Passenger ferry services have seen a slight decline in passengers in recent years, although the sector remains highly significant for some Member States. The shipbuilding and ship-repair industries are expected to grow in the coming years, driven by a demand for new technologies to reduce the environmental impact of the shipping industry.
Tourism and recreation: Tourism and recreation are an important motor of the European 'blue' economy. Coastal areas are the top tourist destination in Europe, and marine and coastal tourism are expected to continue to grow.
Man-made structures: Man-made structures of various types in marine and coastal areas lead to multiple pressures on the environment. Changes such as sea-level rise and increased coastal storms may lead to new growth in the coastal-protection industry. The three largest European port operations, Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Antwerp are located on the North Sea coast.
Energy production - offshore renewables: Offshore wind power installations in Europe have greatly increased in number in the past decade. Installations are concentrated almost exclusively in northern Europe. Although offshore wind power is predicted to continue to grow in the future, it is expected that its growth rate will somewhat decrease due to high investment costs and a lack of political commitment. Wave and tidal power are considered to be a large untapped source of clean power, and are predicted to increase in importance in the next few years.
Energy production - oil and gas: Marine hydrocarbon extraction is declining in Europe but is still an important part of the maritime economy.
„In summary, Europe's seas provide a vast amount of valuable resources. It is estimated that maritime activities contribute around EUR 467 billion in annual GVA and 6.1 million jobs to the economy. Moreover, projections indicate that Europe's seas will deliver increasing value in the future across most activities“ (2).