Progress of the measures

Implemented

THE STATE OF IMPLEMENTION OF THE MEASURE

Finland’s maritime spatial plans were completed in 2020. The conservation objectives for marine protected areas were taken into account in the plans. In addition, information on ecologically significant marine underwater areas in Finland (EMMA) was produced and compiled under the VELMU programme for the needs of marine spatial planning and other experts in the field.

DESCRIPTION

The national implementation of the Directive of maritime spatial plan acknowledges the objectives of environmental protection in the marine areas.

The objectives of establishing protected areas must also be considered during the use and operation of marine areas outside the protected area, so that the operations outside the protected areas do not have an adverse effect on the protected area and its conservation objectives.

The measure:
– The VELMU programme will be continued after 2015 to provide a basis for maritime spatial planning with more precise and comprehensive information about underwater diversity.
– The conservation objectives of protected areas, species and habitats as well as their occurrence are acknowledged when drawing up plans for marine environment.

SCHEDULE

2016–2018

MAIN IMPLEMENTING PARTY

Ministry of the Environment

Projects to be carried out under the measure

Regional interactive forums for change to promote sustainable blue growth (Planning-3)

DESCRIPTION OF ACTION

The forums for change support maritime spatial planning and provide an interactive platform for the implementation of objectives relating to good environmental status in the marine environment and sustainable blue growth. Maritime spatial planning is a key tool in steering blue growth under the EU’s Integrated Maritime Policy to a sustainable basis and in coordinating maritime activities to achieve good environmental status in the marine environment. In cooperation with maritime operators, the interactive forums for change have sought means to coordinate maritime activities.

SCHEDULE

8/2019–12/2021

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT AND FUNDING

European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)

EUR 140 000 (EMFF EUR 126 000)

MAIN IMPLEMENTING PARTY AND CONTACT

Regional Council of Southwest Finland

Mari Pohja-Mykrä/Regional Council of Southwest Finland

https://www.merialuesuunnittelu.fi/en/

Improving and considering the conservation of marine areas in maritime spatial planning (Status2)

DESCRIPTION OF ACTION

The project assesses the state of conservation in the network of marine protected areas and determines the locations of valuable natural features within the network. In addition, the project charts potential pressures on protected areas and develops guidelines on how protected areas should be taken into account in maritime spatial planning.

The guidelines were published as a PDF publication at the end of 2019 (in Finnish). Arnkil, A., Hoikkala, J ja Sahla M. (toim.) 2019: Suojelualueet merialuesuunnittelussa – suositus suojelualueiden huomioimiseksi. Metsähallituksen luonnonsuojelujulkaisuja. Sarja A231.

SCHEDULE

1/4/2018–31/12/2020

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT AND FUNDING

European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)

EUR 416,000 (Finland’s contribution: EUR 16,000)

MAIN IMPLEMENTING PARTY AND CONTACT

Metsähallitus, Parks & Wildlife Finland

Metsähallitus/Anu Riihimäki
http://www.metsa.fi/fi/web/guest/merisuojelu

Link to the publication (in Finnish): https://julkaisut.metsa.fi/julkaisut/show/2396

Source data and coordination project for maritime spatial planning (Planning-1)

DESCRIPTION OF ACTION

The project aims to create conditions for participatory cooperation based on a uniform knowledge base in maritime spatial planning. The purpose is to encourage comprehensive and extensive maritime spatial planning that supports good environmental status in the marine environment and promotes sustainable development. The project promotes the reasonable coordination and resource efficiency of both plans and planning processes. The project will ensure the availability and usability of source data required for maritime spatial planning.

SCHEDULE

1/2017–12/2021

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT AND FUNDING

European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)

EUR 940,000 (EMFF EUR 850,000)

MAIN IMPLEMENTING PARTY AND CONTACT

Regional Council of Southwest Finland

Mari Pohja-Mykrä/Regional Council of Southwest Finland
https://www.merialuesuunnittelu.fi/en/

VELMU 2 – the Finnish Inventory Programme for the Underwater Marine Environment

DESCRIPTION OF ACTION

VELMU 2 continues the inventory of abiotic (geological, physical and chemical) and biotic (species and habitats) characteristics of the marine environment. The aim of the inventories is to identify hot-spots of functional and species diversity, and sites where species requiring particular protection occur. The material collected by the project is used in the assessment of threatened habitat types (completed in 2018), in the report on the status of Finland’s marine environment (published in 2018) and in the assessment of threatened species (completed in 2019). The assessments also assess the impact of human activities on threatened species.

SCHEDULE

2017–2025

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT AND FUNDING

Budget funding from the State budget

Annual average budget of EUR 1.3 million (a total of EUR 11.1 million in 2011–2018)

MAIN IMPLEMENTING PARTY AND CONTACT

Ministry of the Environment and Finnish Environment Institute

Penina Blankett/Ministry of the Environment
https://www.ymparisto.fi/en-US/VELMU/The_Finnish_Inventory_Programme_for_the_(16393)

Preparing future scenarios for Finnish marine waters for the purposes of maritime spatial planning (Planning-2)

DESCRIPTION OF ACTION

The project will investigate the future development of Finnish marine waters and assess future challenges and opportunities from the perspective of economic competitiveness, the tolerance of the marine environment and ecosystems, and climate change. The project will also seek to take international aspects into account, such as maritime spatial planning carried out by Finland’s neighbouring countries and other countries in the Baltic Sea region as well as their measures and objectives relating to marine waters. The project will provide a basis for the sustainable development of marine waters with the help of maritime spatial plans.

SCHEDULE

2017–2018

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT AND FUNDING

European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)

EUR 150,000

MAIN IMPLEMENTING PARTY AND CONTACT

Ministry of the Environment

Tiina Tihlman/Ministry of the Environment
https://www.merialuesuunnittelu.fi/en/

As part of Helsinki and Turku’s third Baltic Sea Action Plan 2019–2023, the cities will supplement information on underwater habitats and the indicator biota for the state of the marine ecosystem, produce new spatial information on them (action 72) and extend nature protection sites to ecologically valuable areas in the archipelago and at sea (action 75) (Baltic Sea Challenge).

DESCRIPTION OF ACTION

Under goal 4 “Systematic water area management” actions 72 and 75 relate to nature assessment and the status of nature. The actions under goal 4 seek to supplement information on the underwater environment in the marine areas of the cities and to implement principles of multifunctional use.

SCHEDULE

2019–2023

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT AND FUNDING

City of Helsinki and City of Turku

Budget and project funding

MAIN IMPLEMENTING PARTY AND CONTACT

City of Helsinki and City of Turku

Mari Joensuu/City of Helsinki
Tove Holm/City of Turku

http://www.itamerihaaste.net/en