Country information
Basic facts on marine waters
- Territorial sea (12 nm zone): 40,817 km²
- Exclusive Economic Zone: 29,078 km²
National practices
National projects
Overview of MSP related maritime uses
Current main uses:
| Offshore renewable energy | Shipping |
| Ports | Nature conservation |
| Fisheries | Aquaculture |
| Military | Scientific research |
| Ammunation storage sites | Radars |
| Cables and pipelines | Tourism and leisure |
| Underwater cultural heritage |
Which marine spatial plans exist?
The regional land use plans of eight Regional Councils cover both land and coastal maritime waters – there are several ratified land use plan:
Name of the plan |
Finnish Maritime Spatial Plan |
|---|---|
Scale of the plan |
National |
Pre-planning |
Status: Complete |
Analysis for planning |
Status: Complete |
Development of the management plan |
Status: Underway |
Completion of the management plan |
Status: N/A |
Approval of the management plan |
Status: N/A |
Implementation of the management plan |
Status: N/A |
Revision of the management plan |
Status: N/A |
National authority in charge of MSP |
Ministry of the Environment and eight coastal Regional Councils |
Financing |
European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and national financing |
Time required to complete the plans |
Nine months |
Drivers of MSP |
Legislation |
Stakeholder participation |
All interested stakeholders and people are welcome to participate. During the planning process, several stakeholder workshops are arranged |
Sectors included in planning |
Energy; shipping; fishing and aquaculture; environment and nature protection;cultural heritage; recreation and tourism; blue bioeconomy; mineral exploitation; maritime industry; defense |
Relation to coastal management |
Land-Sea Interaction is studied and taken into account |
Relation to marine protected area management |
Protected areas are taken into account in planning process |
Plan approval |
By the coastal Regional Councils by the end of 2020 |
Legal status of the plan |
Non-binding plan |
Plan revision |
At least every ten years |
Performance monitoring and evaluation |
According to the monitoring program (under development) |
Legal framework
The European Union’s Maritime Spatial Planning Directive was transposed into Finnish law in 2016. MSP regulations are given as a part of the Land Use and Building Act, which is the most important act to steer land use, spatial planning and construction. Nonetheless, MSP is not part of the land use planning system of Finland. Maritime spatial plans are general, non-binding plans drafted and approved by the Regional Councils.
A national maritime spatial planning coordination group has been established to develop maritime spatial plans and the planning process. Group members are representatives of coastal Regional Councils, Åland Island and the Ministry of the Environment. The aim of the group is to facilitate coherence of the Finnish maritime spatial plans and to take care of participation and cooperation needed in drafting the plans.
Contact
Ms. Tiina Tihlman – Ministerial Advisor
PO Box 35, FI-00023 Government, Finland