Model Cases of Multi-level MSP Governance

Numerous Baltic Sea Region countries are developing MSPs. These MSPs cannot only be based on a national level perspective. They must incorporate the demands and needs of local and regional coastal communities, ensure that they are consistent with and supportive of the spatial plans for land, create synergies with Integrated Coastal Zone Management, and balance the interests of the various stakeholder groups. Furthermore, the MSPs must take into account the transnational interdependencies and considerations of neighbouring countries.

Little practical experience existed on how to achieve all of the above requirements. PartiSEApate therefore developed and tested methodologies for how to carry out such multi-level maritime spatial planning processes via three concrete pilot cases:

The work was driven by an expert group of professional maritime spatial planners from the BSR countries involved. The cases were used to develop recommendations on transnational MSPs and related consultations. They fed into the development of an updated version – with specific emphasis on multi-level governance issues - of the Compendium on MSP systems in the BSR countries, which was produced by VASAB in 2009.

For each pilot case, the expert group explored issues pertaining to:

  • The intercultural environment (e.g. comparing planning cultures and potential pitfalls and problems in communication and collaboration)
  • Streamlining preparation of the maritime plans with cross-border impacts (e.g. topics with transnational impact, comparable legends, types of zones, restrictions, sea space prioritisation)
  • Already elaborated pilot plans for each model case (e.g. whether they can be used as templates for maritime plans in the EEZ of Poland, Lithuania or Sweden, whether changes are needed to achieve greater compatibility with the planning methodology of the respective bordering countries)
  • Practical methods for cross-border MSP consultation
  • MSP data (e.g. data availability, gaps, exchange and hierarchy, planning in case of non- availability of data, availability of technical equipment and skilled staff)