regional intervention framework for the maritime environment

Occitanie's Mediterranean coastline is a tremendous asset for the region's appeal and development. With 220 kilometres of coastline, 1.3 million permanent residents, 20 seaside resorts, 70 marinas, 3 commercial ports, 40,000 hectares of lagoons and associated wetlands, 5,400 km² of protected marine areas including a 4,000 km2 marine nature park, the Mediterranean coastline offers a horizon for the blue economy.

The region's natural maritime and land areas contribute to its attractiveness. For this reason, the Occitanie Region is encouraging sustainable management of this coastal area and supporting local players in their projects to preserve the natural environment, restore ecosystems and manage lagoon, marine and port environments, which support a high level of biodiversity and the development of traditional economic activities (fishing, aquaculture) and recreational activities (yachting, water sports).

The Occitanie Region's financial support framework for the maritime and port environment aims to maintain this attractiveness by helping to limit competition between uses (economic, recreational, fishing, etc.) and to preserve or even restore the exceptional natural habitats of the Mediterranean.

Regional action will support the implementation of the Strategic Document for the Mediterranean Sea Front by :

- Preserving the marine environment,

- Controlling and reducing pressure on the environment from activities,

- Ecological restoration of shallow coastal waters,

- Increasing knowledge of habitats and ecological functions and disseminating information on the challenges of preserving them to as many people as possible,

- Networking players to optimise the management of lagoons and marine protected areas, and to boost the preservation of the marine environment.

It is also part of the Littoral 21 Plan, which aims to turn the Occitanie coastline and its inhabitants towards the sea and take advantage of this wealth to stimulate economic growth, employment and innovation, making it :

- A French showcase for ecological resilience,

- An innovative economy that permeates the entire region,

- A coastline that symbolises attractiveness, welcoming people and living together.

To this end, the Occitanie Region :

- Supports the integrated management of marine, lagoon (shellfish) and coastal environments, enabling ecological dynamics to be taken into account on a coherent scale and the harmonious development of the uses that develop there.

- Supporting the development of innovative techniques for the environmental management of maritime and port uses, enabling the preservation (or even restoration) of environments.

- Encourages marinas to adopt environmental management of their infrastructures through the "Clean Port" certification process. These objectives are consistent with the intervention framework for the modernisation and balanced development of coastal resorts and marinas.

- Develop knowledge of marine habitats and their ecological functions through integrated scientific monitoring and awareness-raising initiatives on a regional scale.