The European Union's Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) Directive aims to promote the sustainable development of the blue economy and to reduce conflicts between sectors. Fisheries plays a special role in MSP because it is a dynamic activity covering vast areas. However, the fisheries sector is under pressure from emerging blue economy sectors like offshore renewable energy. Safety concerns usually result in fisheries being excluded from offshore wind farms. Restrictions or bans on fishing gear may also be in place in marine protected areas. Given the EU's ambitious 2030 targets for offshore renewable energy and marine protection, the spatial pressure on fisheries is likely to increase. In recent resolutions, the European Parliament has called for the fisheries sector to be given a fair place in MSP. Given the increasing competition for space, Parliament emphasised the need for early spatial planning including all relevant stakeholders. On marine protected areas, Parliament calls for a balanced approach taking into account the conservation objectives of each specific area, but also activities that traditionally use those areas. The European Parliament's Committee on Fisheries is currently preparing an own-initiative report on the impact of the implementation of the MSP Directive on fisheries in selected fishing areas and sea basins. In June 2025, the European Commission adopted the ocean pact, a non-legislative strategy that serves as a framework for all ocean-related EU policies. As part of the pact, the Commission announced that it would propose an ocean act by the end of 2026. This would be a legislative proposal centred around a revision of the MSP Directive. It would strengthen and modernise MSP and bring ocean-related targets together in one legislative act.