Contact: Valerie de Liedekerke
Like many of the world’s seas, the Baltic Sea is multi-functional and extremely busy. Sectors such as fisheries, shipping and renewable energy compete for the 404,354 km² of sea space with nature and communities. Maritime spatial planning (MSP) is a tool that can help mediate challenges by allocating space and resources in the most appropriate way to minimize conflicts and find synergies between different uses of the sea, including nature conservation. However, only one-third of the Baltic Sea countries submitted their MSP in line with the EU Directive March 31 deadline – and those three plans are extremely patchy.
The Baltic Sea faces incredible challenges due to the growth of maritime economic sectors and agriculture, increased climate change and the degradation of ecosystems as a result of unsustainable human activities. WWF advocates for ecosystem-based MSP across the region to deliver a more sustainable relationship with our seas and marine resources.
The new plans must meet the MSP Directive’s key requirements. These include being consistent and cross-border; founded on an ecosystem-based approach; promoting coexistence of activities and uses; contributing to the preservation, protection and improvement of the environment; and supporting the sustainable development of maritime sectors. All coastal EU member states must give due consideration to how their plans will help meet key policy targets, such as achieving Good Environmental Status in all EU waters (a target whose deadline has already passed). They must also strive to protect at least 30% of EU seas by 2030, including 10% strictly protected, as set out in the EU Biodiversity Strategy.
Unless the EU embraces a sustainable, strategic and forward-looking vision for our relationship with the ocean, and commits to implementing it, we will lose the vital ecosystem services humans rely on. The European Commission and member states must urgently deliver on their commitments to healthier seas.
This article is part of the WWF Baltic Newsletter – May 2021
