Italy's underwater economy hits €3.5 billion in first sub‑sea sector report
The first National Report on the Italian Sub‑Sea Dimension was presented to the Senate on 16 July 2026 during the Blue Forum 2026, under the initiative of Senator Simona Petrucci. The study, produced by the Osservatorio Nazionale sull’Economia del Mare with Unioncamere, Assonautica and the Polo Nazionale della Dimensione Subacquea, identified 189 firms operating in the underwater economy, employing 63 458 people (0.34 % of national employment). The sector generated €30.5 billion in turnover, €7.3 billion in value‑added and is valued at €3.5 billion, a 216 % increase over the last decade. It spans defence and security, offshore energy, submarine telecoms, scientific research and deep‑sea mining. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto and Civil‑Protection Minister Nello Musumeci stressed the strategic importance of the sub‑sea environment for Italy’s economic, technological and security future, calling for coordinated regulation and investment.