“From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence” is this year’s IMO’s World Maritime Day theme. This motto sheds light on one of the mayor motivators in policy development – its catalysing effect into transforming actions. In IMO’s own words, the theme “places a spotlight on one of the most fundamental challenges in global maritime governance: ensuring that the rules developed at the international level translate into real-world improvements”. Groundbreaking ideas are key to innovation and evolution but the only way to ensure tangible results is through the understanding and application of regulations as they the ones laying the playing field.
SALINA acknowledges this dichotomy and feeds on it. One of our main goals with this Project resides in its first letter, S for scalable. We plan to replicate the cultivation processes and experience in new sites, expanding our already extensive limits and creating groundbreaking knowledge along the way. But doing so requires a lot of planning as each new location may not only differentiate in climate, salinity or geology, but also in regulations, licensing or authority competencies.
But fret not, as we have already thought of it and have included a thorough exploitation plan on our Project as well as coastal governance and policy landscape planning for the cultivation deployment.
What does coastal governance mean? And policy landscape planning? And how does it affect projects such as SALINA?
In honour of this year’s World Maritime Day theme, here you have what these terms mean to both our projects and the future of our oceans.
Firstly, coastal governance gathers all the instruments, and institutions by which areas up to 3 nautical miles are managed by authorities. Said fringe of territory requires specific methods and strategies to be efficiently governed. This is due to the vast diversity of actors involved in a very small space. From local sea-side towns to industrial poles such as ports, to regional and state governments, everyone has an interest in the coastal ecosystem. And we shall not forget the diversity of ecosystems lying there: estuaries, coral reefs, seagrass beds… All with their relevancy to the ecosystem as well as their regulations and needs. And the landscape of coastal regimes varies wildy across the globe.
A prime example of the importance of CG is found in the different competencies involved. For example, in Spain, one of our demonstration sites, coastal governance competencies are shared among the three types of government: local, regional and state. The application of basic legislation as well as the management of the
public maritime-terrestrial domain are competencies of the central government through several state agencies. Moreover, industry, tourism and urbanism regulations are managed by regional governments. And lastly, local government must safeguard the coastal environment.
This competency breakdown may look straightforward on paper, but many are the cases where authorisations find themselves stalled due to the number of actors involved. That is why having a string coastal governance plan and analysis as well as a thorough policy landscaping is key to projects developing in such diverse environments.
That is why a Policy Landscape Plan is vital to our project. Being able to anticipate legal details and barriers and how to overcome them if the time comes not only does streamline the development phase, but it ensures an easy and straightforward deployment phase where potential delays are anticipated. A policy landscape plan provides a structured assessment of the regulatory, institutional, and stakeholder framework that surrounds any project. It maps the relevant legislation, licensing requirements, spatial planning constraints, environmental obligations, and governance responsibilities across local, regional, national, and maritime authorities.
In the case of SALINA, consortium partners will map out for each site the competent authorities involved in aquaculture and coastal zone management at both national and regional level. Through the analysis of governance frameworks and regulatory processes a policy landscape will soon be discerned. Including stakeholders and actors, including local farmers, innovative projects in said analysis is crucial to develop a strong coastal strategy as well as making sure that our Project fits with the current marine protection figures.
Ultimately, the success of projects such as SALINA where depends not only on technical innovation or investment, but on a clear understanding of the policy and governance landscape in which it will operate. By identifying opportunities, addressing potential barriers, and strengthening coordination among institutions, these analyses help transform concepts into practical, effective, and lasting solutions.
As previously mentioned, this bridge is particularly relevant in the context of the International Maritime Organization’s World Maritime Day 2026-2027 theme, “From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence,” which emphasizes the importance of translating policies into tangible outcomes through effective implementation and cooperation. In similar fashion, policy landscaping and coastal governance assessments are not merely preparatory exercises; they are essential tools for turning vision into action.
By ensuring that projects are grounded in sound governance and supported by the right policy environment, they help deliver innovative marine-focused projects that are sustainable, impactful, and capable of creating real benefits for both current and future stakeholders.