Estonian Marine Institute of University of Tartu, Baltic Environmental Forum Estonia
Pärnu Bay
Responsible
Why maritime spatial plan (MSP) for Pärnu Bay?
Pärnu Bay area in Estonia is both environmentally sensitive and under growing human use pressure. Therefore, the first BaltSeaPlan Estonian pilot MSP plan will be prepared here.It is expected that the Pärnu Bay pilot project will contribute to development of the practical MSP implementation skills in Estonia.
Planning area: main issues and potential conflicts
Pärnu Bay pilot sea area is seen as a unique combination of the natural values and the existing and planned human uses. Tourism, fisheries and maritime transport are the human uses with long term traditions while the planned wind farms just need to create their track record in the future. The marine space allocation should be refined also there are no remarkable interest conflicts revealed at that time.
Main stakeholders:
Main stakeholders:
- Tourism industry
- Maritime transport
- Fisheries
- Wind parks
- Local governments
Modelling
In the Pärnu Bay we currently have reasonable access to data on different human uses. However, the nature values practically remain unknown, except for some recent mapping exercises in the Natura 2000
areas. Therefore, the aim of the modeling is to provide up-to-date information on the valuable habitats in sensu the EU Habitat Directive.
This spatial modeling activity is divided into several subtasks:
In addition, the modeling in the Pärnu Bay pilot area includes temporal aspect. The aim of this modeling is to assess the separate and interactive effects of eutrophication and climate variables on the spatial patterns of the valuable habitats. The issue is exemplified by scenario based probabilistic modeling of distribution of habitats, assessing how the
choice of different load and climate change scenarios cascades up to the appearance/disappearance of valuable habitats of the sea area.
areas. Therefore, the aim of the modeling is to provide up-to-date information on the valuable habitats in sensu the EU Habitat Directive.
This spatial modeling activity is divided into several subtasks:
- Gathering contextual data on valuable habitats and potential prediction layers (salinity, bathymetry, wind and wave condition, etc.).
- Modeling of sediment types using remote sensing data.
- Spatial modeling of the keystone species associated to the valuable habitats.
- Spatial modeling of the valuable habitats.
In addition, the modeling in the Pärnu Bay pilot area includes temporal aspect. The aim of this modeling is to assess the separate and interactive effects of eutrophication and climate variables on the spatial patterns of the valuable habitats. The issue is exemplified by scenario based probabilistic modeling of distribution of habitats, assessing how the
choice of different load and climate change scenarios cascades up to the appearance/disappearance of valuable habitats of the sea area.
Approach / activities
The maritime spatial plan, including such uses as recreation, fisheries, offshore wind energy, marine aggregates mining and sea transport will be prepared by experts from the Marine Institute of University of Tartu.
Stakeholder participation is be carried out by Baltic Environmental Forum (BEF) Estonia.
The first stakeholder meeting, with the goal of involving the key stakeholders into the planning process was held on 27th November 2010 in Tallinn, back to back with the 3rd BaltSeaPlan conference. Read more here
The next stakeholder meeting will be held at the Ministry of the Environment in Tallinn on 30th of April 2010. Registered participants represent the ministries, county governments, tourism industry, maritime transport, fisheries, wind park developers and scientists.
Stakeholder participation is be carried out by Baltic Environmental Forum (BEF) Estonia.
The first stakeholder meeting, with the goal of involving the key stakeholders into the planning process was held on 27th November 2010 in Tallinn, back to back with the 3rd BaltSeaPlan conference. Read more here
The next stakeholder meeting will be held at the Ministry of the Environment in Tallinn on 30th of April 2010. Registered participants represent the ministries, county governments, tourism industry, maritime transport, fisheries, wind park developers and scientists.
