The blue economy already represents 5% of Barcelona's GDP, generating 11.2 billion euros in business volume and being one of the fastest-growing sectors for job creation in the city. Based on these results, the council has designed the new Blue Economy Promotion Strategy 2026-2030.

This new roadmap foresees a public investment of 150 million euros, tripling the previous plan's allocation, to act as a lever and attract private investment. The goal is to consolidate this sector as one of the strategic pillars of Barcelona's economy, leveraging local talent and the capacity to attract international projects.

The initiative includes 20 projects and a notable innovation: expanding the focus beyond the sea to also include freshwater. Facing climate challenges such as droughts and floods, priority will be given to urban drainage systems, greywater reuse, and water reservoirs as strategic infrastructure.

Public-private collaboration will be key, with close coordination between the City Council, the Generalitat de Catalunya, and the Port of Barcelona. Among the new facilities driving the sector are the Maritime Technology Park (60 million), the BlueTechPort (56 million), and the Barcelona, Sea of Science space (30 million), promoted by the Institute of Marine Sciences-CSIC.

These spaces will facilitate knowledge transfer, talent creation, and international projection. The plan also includes the Tomorrow Blue Economy forum, the UNESCO collaborating Blue Economy Center, entrepreneurship programs, improved access to financing, and initiatives to measure and guide the sector, such as the Blue Barometer.

Talent training is another fundamental pillar, with new proposals ranging from Vocational Training to the creation of a new international Blue Economy master's degree in Barcelona, to ensure the necessary professional profiles for the sector's growth.