The maritime public domain includes spaces and assets that serve navigation traffic, but this definition does not capture the wider interests of the coastal system. Europe, particularly the Euro-Mediterranean basin, has increasingly focused on social functions of the coast. The tourism industry, which exponentially developed in the last three decades of the twentieth century, has transformed coastal areas from places with a primarily logistical, commercial and military vocation to places for recreational uses. This shift is in line with the significant business potential generated by the city-sea interface but should also consider the community values inherent in coastal public spaces.