SEAPLANSPACE - Marine spatial planning instruments for sustainable marine governance (Seed Money)

Project descriptions

Maritime spatial planning is an important instrument of both creating business opportunities and protecting the natural, cultural and historical heritage of the region. Implementation and enforcement of Marine Spatial Planning Directive obliges countries in Baltic Sea region to create marine spatial plans. In most cases this is a new instrument with interdisciplinary character, preparation, administration and use of which needs knowledge development and transfer. This is also an instrument of practical implementation of modern approaches to marine environment regulation like ecosystem approach, ecosystem services preservation or adaptive management of marine environment. The need to adapt those not fully identified concepts may result both in improper implementation (regulatory chill) of marine spatial plans, and may result in investment chill due to the fact that investors will have to face totally different and not fully cleared conditions of performing business undertakings in marine areas of the Baltic Sea . Additionally lack of professional knowledge may affect negatively the investment rate in the areas covered by the marine spatial plans in consequence influencing the employment rate and real incomes of local societies. The lack of unified knowledge based standards in dealing with marine investments in new legal environment rises the level of investment risks. Additionally lack of professional knowledge may affect negatively the investment rate in the areas covered by the marine spatial plans in consequence influencing the employment rate and real incomes of local societies. The lack of unified knowledge based standards in dealing with marine investments in new legal environment rises the level of investment risks.