Promoting good status and sustainable use of the marine environment through maritime spatial planning

The maritime spatial plan suggests potential areas that are suitable for different uses, such as fishing, aquaculture, recreation, tourism, and maritime transport. The aim is to reconcile the needs of different sectors and thus improve the maritime economy and the state of the marine environment. Natural values and their conservation have been taken into account in the plan solutions.

The information gathered through marine spatial planning can be used for further development and planning of the areas and for more detailed regional plans. The results can also be used by different sectors.

The plan was prepared in cooperation by eight coastal region councils for the Gulf of Finland, the Archipelago Sea, the southern part of the Bothnian Sea, the northern part of the Bothnian Sea, the Quark and the Bothnian Bay areas. The plan covers the territorial waters and the economic water zone.

Each coastal EU state is required to prepare a maritime spatial plan. In the other EU countries, the state is responsible for preparing the plans. In Finland, cooperation between the regional councils has been a good solution, as it has allowed for a broad and productive cooperation between different levels of government administration, organisations, and stakeholders. You can also join the cooperation network through the Merialuesuunnittelu.fi service.