Spatial planning map of the Baltic Sea

One way to strike a balance between developmental interests and environmental protection is to ensure the spatial planning of the sea. This is a new concept in Europe, and most countries are only now drafting their first plans on the basis of a “learning by doing” approach. In the Baltic region, only Germany and Lithuania have created such plans. A maritime spatial plan in Latvia is being drafted, while in Estonia two pilot territories have been planned to date and preparations are being made for the imminent drafting of a national maritime plan. Maritime spatial planning means identifying possible areas for development, as well as organizing the way that the sea is used in terms of time and space. Activities are arranged and prioritized in a spatial way, with particular focus on their potential impact on the marine ecosystem. As is the case with terrestrial planning, maritime planning involves both the public and a series of institutions. Unlike the land, the sea is publicly owned, which means that the public have greater opportunities to influence decisions that relate to the management of the sea. In practice, public interest in the development of the sea is far lower than in the case of similar questions around land—particularly when it comes to territories that are beyond one’s horizon. This is due to low interest in the processes that do not directly affect one’s everyday life, as well as the comparatively short history of maritime spatial planning. Maritime economic activities and the sustainability of marine ecosystems are transboundary by nature, and therefore countries must harmonize solutions, for example in terms of ecological value protection networks or the co-ordination of the placement of linear objects. The Baltic Sea region is at the forefront of such processes, actively looking for new approaches towards better co-operation in the planning of the Baltic Sea as a collective resource.
Text: Jānis Ušča