Baltic Sea regional cooperation for better maritime spatial planning

Joacim Johannesson,
Senior Advisor,
Marine Spatial Planning Unit,
Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management,
Sweden

Co-chair,
HELCOM-VASAB Maritime Spatial Planning Working Group

All EU member countries in the Baltic Sea region are expected to have maritime spatial plans in place later this year. For most countries it will be for the first time. In Russia preparatory work for the introduction of maritime spatial planning, is being carried out. Apart from huge national efforts to achieve this, there has been extensive Baltic Sea regional cooperation in the last ten years to support the introduction of maritime spatial planning, MSP.

MSP is a national responsibility, but countries in the Baltic Sea region have jointly developed guidelines, methods and planning evidence to support the development of MSP and plans in the region. This have been done with guidance from a regional roadmap on establishing maritime spatial planning in the Baltic Sea region and an EU MSP-directive.

MSP is a fairly recent addition in the marine governance framework around the world. Legislation differs between countries due to different planning traditions and systems. Some countries’ maritime spatial planning is detailed and binding in nature, while others’ are more at a strategic and guiding level. In general, the introduction of MSP means a shift from traditional sector planning to a more holistic and cross-sectoral planning and management approach. MSP is about thinking ahead, having a coordinated perspective and deciding how to use the sea space sustainably to reach societal goals. With support from MSP we want to generate economic and social development while at the same time protect and restore the marine ecosystems. The EU MSP- directive specifically requires that the EU countries shall consider economic, social an environmental aspects to support sustainable development and growth in the maritime sector, applying an ecosystem-based approach, and to promote the coexistence of relevant activities and uses.

The Baltic Sea, shared by nine countries, is a sea of vast economic and social opportunities, but also a number of environmental challenges. The Baltic Sea produces valuable ecosystem services such as fish and recreational experiences.  It is also very important for trade, accounting for about 15 percent of the world’s sea transport of goods. However, the environmental pressure is high and the biodiversity is still threatened.

At the same time there are shared goals for the Baltic Sea region, For the EU countries specifically, there is the EU Baltic Sea Region Strategy with the three overarching objectives to save the sea, connect regions and increase prosperity. In addition, there are number of sectoral objectives to be supported by MSP. One example is achieving good environmental status. In September 2020 the EU-countries also agreed on a joint declaration for the development of off-shore wind in the Baltic Sea.

The Baltic Sea region has been a frontrunner in regional transboundary cooperation on MSP. A regional framework for MSP have been developed. Already in 2010 a joint co-chaired Working Group on Maritime Spatial Planning was launched by HELCOM and the Vision and Strategies around the Baltic Sea (VASAB). The Working Group was established to ensure cooperation among the Baltic Sea Region countries for coherent regional MSP- processes in the Baltic Sea. In 2010 both organisations also adopted the Baltic Sea broad scale maritime spatial planning principles and in 2013/2014 they adopted a roadmap for MSP in the Baltic Sea region (2013-2020) with the aim to draw up and apply maritime spatial plans throughout the region. As part of the roadmap, regional guidance have been developed and adopted on the application of the ecosystem approach in MSP as well as on transboundary consultation and participation. A new roadmap is currently being developed as part of the process of updating of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan.

In parallel, a number of regional MSP- projects co-financed by the EU, have been implemented. The projects have supported transboundary cooperation, development of planning methodology and tools as well as of joint planning evidence. Most MSP planning authorities around the Baltic Sea have participated. Many of the project recommendations have been taken up by the HELCOM-VASAB MSP working group and have in that way reached the more formal cooperation within the Baltic Sea region.

In this decade-long process we have experienced the benefits of joint-learning in developing maritime spatial planning in the Baltic Sea region. Our extensive cooperation have led to better understanding of each other’s planning and circumstances. Our methods and planning evidence have been refined. Also, there is now more likelihood for functional coherence between the countries’ maritime spatial plans.  The cooperation has in the end helped us to get better planning and better plans. MSP has in turn contributed to advancing the marine management by providing new ways of thinking and methods on how to address marine and maritime challenges now and in the future. And strengthened and broadened the regional cooperation.

Expert article 2875

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