Essi Kärpijoki
Coordinator of Finnish Maritime Spatial Planning Cooperation
Maritime Spatial Planning
The objective of Finland’s maritime spatial plan is to promote the sustainable development and growth of various uses of the maritime area, the sustainable use of maritime natural resources, and the achievement of good environmental status of the marine environment.
Maritime Spatial Planning in Finland
Finland’s first maritime spatial plan covering territorial waters and the exclusive economic zone under the Land Use and Building Act, Finland’s Maritime Spatial Plan 2030, was completed at the end of 2020, when it was also approved by the assemblies of the coastal regional councils. The regional councils have initiated the update of Finland’s Maritime Spatial Plan 2030. The plan will be updated during 2024–2027.
The maritime spatial plan has been prepared by the coastal regional councils in extensive and constructive cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment, Åland, and maritime experts, authorities, and stakeholders. The plan has been prepared in three parts, taking into account regional characteristics. The three maritime spatial plans prepared form one entity, Finland’s Maritime Spatial Plan 2023.
Planning areas and responsible regional councils
- Gulf of Finland: Regional Councils of Kymenlaakso and Uusimaa
- Archipelago Sea and southern Bothnian Sea: Regional Council of Southwest Finland and Regional Council of Satakunta
- Northern Bothnian Sea, Quark, and Bothnian Bay: Regional Councils of Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, Northern Ostrobothnia, and Lapland
The Sea is for Everyone – Havet är för alla
The core message of maritime spatial planning is “Maritime spatial planning creates a shared vision among maritime stakeholders for the sustainable use of the maritime area. The objective of maritime spatial planning is a thriving, productive, and safe sea. Planning together, recognizing the future!”
Maritime spatial planning supports the sustainable development and growth of various uses of the maritime area, the sustainable use of maritime natural resources, and the achievement of good environmental status of the marine environment.
National projects
Maritime spatial planning supporting the green transition and security of supply
The MSP–EGD project develops maritime spatial planning to meet the objectives of the European Green Deal and support society’s green transition. The project strengthens the knowledge base, cooperation, and operational models of maritime spatial planning to enable sustainable and long-term guidance of maritime area use.
The project is funded by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) national maritime policy action line and is implemented from 6/2023 to 12/2025. Eight coastal regional councils are involved, and the project funds national cooperation for the second planning round of maritime spatial planning.
The MSP–EGD project ensures that maritime spatial planning and maritime spatial plans support the objectives of the European Green Deal. At the same time, it strengthens the role of maritime spatial planning in promoting strategic maritime security and national security of supply, particularly from the perspectives of maritime energy production, food production, and maritime transport. The project develops the knowledge base and expertise especially in the themes of marine nature protection and restoration, and climate change. In addition, the monitoring and evaluation work of the current Finland’s Maritime Spatial Plan 2030 is carried out, and the establishment of adaptive governance as part of maritime spatial planning is supported.
The project name MSP–EGD comes from the English terms Maritime Spatial Planning and European Green Deal. The name describes the core of the project: developing maritime spatial planning to support the objectives of the green transition and consider the sustainable use of maritime areas as a whole.
International EU projects
International cooperation in maritime spatial planning is carried out in several EU projects. The projects support knowledge exchange among experts and the development of good common practices. Identified good practices and operational models are applied as part of Finland’s maritime spatial planning process.
SEABAS Project Platform 2025-2027
The SEABAS Project Platform project (2025–2027) creates recommendations and a common framework for the Baltic Sea region for assessing the impacts of maritime spatial plans. Key components of the framework include cumulative impact assessment, transboundary impacts, and consultation processes. The recommendations created in the project will be tested in Finland in a national-level maritime spatial planning pilot. The project is funded by Interreg Baltic Sea Region.
Oceanids
The OCEANIDS project creates user-oriented tools and applications for climate-informed maritime spatial planning and integrated seascape management. The objective is to collect, harmonize, and compile climate data for European maritime areas to make them accessible and usable for climate change adaptation. The goal is also to promote sustainable blue economy in coastal areas.
