The Strategy for Sea and Coast at a glance

In light of the main issues to be taken into account, the National Strategy for the Sea and Coastline is designed to promote and succeed in the long term (i) the ecological transition of the sea and the coast, (ii) the development of the maritime economy, (iii) the good environmental status of marine environments and the preservation of the attractiveness of the coastal zone ; and (iv) France’s international influence, which therefore constitute four complementary and inseparable objectives. However, the general guidelines that frame 26 priority actions of this national strategy are organised along four CROSS-cutting axes :

• Rely on knowledge and innovation.
• Develop sustainable and resilient maritime and coastal territories.
• Support and enhance initiatives and remove barriers.
• Promote a French vision within the European Union and in international negotiations.

  These guidelines apply to mainland France as well as overseas territories, which make a unique and original contribution to implementing them with their specificities : geographical positioning around the world, biodiversity, island situations, potential for marine energies and aquaculture. They will be adapted for each sea basin, as well as for mainland France’s coastlines, taking into account their distinctive characteristics, in particular in terms of governance and regional involvement.

  The National Strategy for the Sea and Coastline defines an ambition and a direction. It will then be necessary to continue to set targets and indicators and mobilise the necessary resources at the national, regional and local levels. The text is not fixed because it must be alive and, beyond the six-year review, its implementation and the achievement of objectives must be assessed and monitored within the framework of the National Assembly of the Sea and Coasts. It will be enriched through its revisions, the experiences of all stakeholders, civil society, the State and the elected representatives.

  Thus the will of a maritime nation will come together in the service of a great maritime plan.

Strategic axes in brief

I/ RELYING ON KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATION

France is one of the leading European countries supporting the construction of a marine and maritime knowledge-based society, thanks to the quality of its scientific work and research tools. However, the sea and marine environments are still only partially known and the possibilities for exploiting marine resources in a long-term perspective remain largely to be explored for many activities, such as : aquaculture, developing animal and plant biological resources, exploiting sea beds and renewable energies, how ecosystems work, the impact of our activities, the resilience of environments. The field of studies is vast and needs to be targeted as a priority objective. Moreover, it is also through research that France will strengthen its leadership on the international scene.

The ocean and its resources are addressed in two of the societal challenges that underpin the National Research Strategy : resource management and adapting to climate change on the one hand, and food security and the demographic challenge on the other. They are also addressed through two other societal challenges, those related to mobility, and those related to sustainable energy. The National Strategy for the Sea and Coastline will present a new cross-cutting challenge regarding the sea to be incorporated into the National Research Strategy during its revision.

• Better understanding the sea system
• Innovating to recover resources and develop the maritime economy
• Structuring research
• Developing research and knowledge for and by French overseas territories
• Building a marine and maritime knowledge-based society ; raising public awareness of major maritime issues
• Continuing training efforts

II/ DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT MARITIME AND COASTAL TERRITORIES

A territorial approach adapted to the sea and coastline must ensure the conditions for the development and management of the maritime domain under jurisdiction, which promote stakeholder involvement, the reconciliation of uses, the exploitation of resources and the protection of the environment. At the same time, it must allow existing uses to be adapted to the emergence of new activities, such as climate change or the evolution of the coastline.

It should apply at different scales (national, coastal or overseas basin, region, park, inter-communes) while respecting a principle of subsidiarity between the different nested levels.

It must be based on projects from territories that more solidly involve the stakeholders, both in defining and implementing such projects, as they concern them directly.

It must be articulated with the approach of the other countries bordering the same sea.

• Implementing strategic planning …
• … with a spatial component
• Developing "territorial projects"
• Protecting environments, resources, biological and ecological balance ; preserving sites, landscapes and heritage
• Adapting coastal management to global change
• Preserve national interests and prevent risk at sea

III. SUPPORT AND OPTIMISE INITIATIVES, AND REMOVE OBSTACLES

One of the main goals of the strategy is to monitor the transition or development of economic stakeholders, to give impetus to emerging activities, to combine efforts, and to facilitate and enhance the initiatives of companies and of civil society.

• Support new activities
• Assist development of traditional activities towards sustainable and resilient models
• Steer budgetary matters and set out a harmonious fiscal and funding strategy
• Make maritime careers attractive
• Improve governance, pursue modernisation of public action
• Draw on the Sea and Coast Monitoring Centre (Observatoire de la mer et du littoral), share data and information

IV. PROMOTE A FRENCH VISION AT THE HEART OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND IN INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATIONS, PROMOTING NATIONAL ISSUES

At the international level, France must pursue and strengthen its multilateral involvement, in order to carry out a better appraisal of marine, coastal and maritime issues in processes in which our country plays a recognised role : scientific research, safeguarding human life at sea, safe navigation, decent working conditions for seafarers, combating illegal fishing, combating illicit trafficking, governance of biodiversity in the high seas, implementation of the Mediterranean strategy for sustainable development 2016-2025 , better appreciation of the role of the oceans in adapting to and mitigating climate change.

At the European level, the national strategy for the sea and coast is part of the dynamic of the integrated maritime policy, and is in line with the guidelines set out in the Limassol Declaration and the European Commission Communication on “Blue Growth”. France, through its action in the European Council and Parliament, must play a leading role in guiding Community policies affecting the sea and coast. If the reorientation or confirmation of the integrated maritime policy must be the subject of a formal declaration, for example on the occasion of the Maltese Council Presidency, France must play its full part in the production of this declaration.