The different maritime sectors, such as shipping, fishery, offshore wind energy or mineral extraction are more and more competing for the limited space of this fragile internal sea. A wise, pro-active Maritime Spatial Planning could not only help avoiding conflicts between the uses, but through creating synergies lay basis for a sustainable maritime economy.

The 3.7 m EUR project BaltSeaPlan is one the major EU initiatives in the field of maritime spatial planning in the coming years. With 14 partners from seven Baltic countries, the project will provide key input into the realization of the EU Maritime Policy, HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan and the VASAB Gdańsk Declaration.

With a learning-by-doing approach BaltSeaPlan will overcome the lack of relevant legislation in most Baltic SeaRegion countries. Seven important Baltic areas were chosen for pilot maritime spatial plans, among them the Pomeranian Bight, Gulf of Gdańsk or the Middle Bank area between Poland and Sweden.

A broad scale stocktake of maritime uses will be carried out in each pilot area. Additional information will be collected with application of newest tools and methods, such as sea-bed modelling and climate change scenarios. All data will be harmonised according to requirements of the EC INSPIRE directive and compiled in a joint data base.

Additionally, BaltSeaPlan will provide key input into National Maritime Strategies as required by the EU Blue Book on Future Maritime Policy. In 2011 a common spatial development vision for the Baltic Sea will be produced as a synergy of the national visions and plans of all Baltic Sea Region countries.