Publications

MSP Governance Framework

The overarching ambition of the PartiSEApate project was to develop a MSP Governance Model. The various above project activities (see below) all feed into this model. Additionally, interviews with sector representatives as well as MSP governance experts entered into the analysis.

The report provides recommendations on the respective role and responsibilities of  Baltic Sea region institutions with regard to transboundary consultation and cooperation in the field of MSP and public participation for MSP with transboundary dimension. The recommendations are based on the main findings of the activities, workshops and surveys carried out within the PartiSEApate project in 2013/2014. They build on the existing institutional and legal set up in the BSR and take into account the different dimensions and scales of MSP governance, encompassing the pan-Baltic and cross-border level as well as processes of formal consultation for a Maritime Spatial Plan and informal cooperation on Maritime Spatial Planning.

Reports from Stakeholder Workshops

Representatives from different sectors (aquaculture, shipping & ports, nature conservation & environment, fishery, offshore wind energy, underwater cultural heritage, climate change, research and data network building) were invited to discuss MSP-related issues relevant to their sector in the Baltic Sea. The workshops were carried through and evaluated with a harmonised methodology and findings were compiled in a synthesis report. In a subsequent step, cross-sectoral workshops were organised bringing together different stakeholders at one table to discuss potential conflicts and synergies between sea uses and possible spatial solutions.

Reports on Pilot Cases

In the course of the PartiSEApate project,  instruments for multi-level MSP were developed and tested in three pilot cases. The involvement of stakeholders, on different national levels as well as in a transbounday context, was a special focus. The reports below sum up the main findings of each of the cases. In addition, the report on lessons learnt from bilateral consultations draws conclusions on how to successfully conduct a transboundary MSP dialogue.

Country Fiches

In the course of the PartiSEApate project two kinds of country fiches have been prepared: The “first generation” County Fiches  provide a brief overview of the status of marine waters (as of September 2013) in each of the Baltic Sea Region’s countries as well as Norway. Additionally, a renewed structure for country reporting on MSP has been proposed to the HELCOM-VASAB Working Group on MSP (“second generation”). They will be updated regularly by members of the HELCOM/VASAB MSP WG and made publicly available on the VASAB homepage. As a project result, second generation country fiches are available for PartiSEApate project partner countries as well as Estonia.

Handbook on Transnational Consultation

The handbook is targeted towards those who initiate MSP consultations. It provides an insightful checklist of tasks that MSP organizers should perform at different stages of the process together with stakeholders at multiple levels. In addition, it highlights selected aspects of consultation processes, which have already taken place and provides the background on how consultation is understood in each of the Baltic Sea region countries.

Report on BSR MSP Data Group

The PartiSEApate Governance Framework recommends the establishment of an expert group on data as a sub-group to the HELCOM-VASAB Working group. In the scope of the PartiSEApate project recommendations for establishing a BSR MSP data group were developed and have been presented to the HELCOM-VASAB MSP Working Group. It takes stock of the prevailing MSP data situation in the BSR and defines necessary conditions and steps for establishing a maritime spatial data infrastructure as well as concretises the tasks, structure and function of the dedicated MSP Data Working Group.

Baltic MSP Forum

The Baltic MSP Forum was the final conference of the PartiSEApte project. It took place in Riga on 17-18 June 2014.There was a huge interest in the “hot topic” of MSP. About 200 participants from all over the Baltic Sea Region and beyond attended the meeting. At the conference, planners, decision-makers, representatives of sectors, researchers and other experts came together to discuss MSP developments from different perspectives. The Baltic MSP Forum was video recorded and documented in a report.

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