Country information
Basic facts on marine waters
- Territorial Sea (12 NM): in the North Sea, approximately 12 100 km²; in the Baltic Sea, approximately 9 300 km²
- Exclusive Economic Zone: in the North Sea, approximately 28 500 km²; in the Baltic Sea, approximately 4 500 km²
Strategic documents related to MSP
Technical resources related to MSP
Relevant MSP projects
Overview of MSP related maritime uses
Current main uses:
| Mining | Fisheries |
| Aquaculture | Coastal protection |
| Shipping | Underwater cultural heritage |
| Scientific research | Cables and pipelines |
| Military | Nature conservation |
| Offshore renewable energy | Oil and Gas |
| Tourism and Leisure | Ports |
Which marine spatial plans exist?
Name of the plan (year) |
Maritime Spatial Plan 2021 |
|---|---|
Scale of the plan |
National |
Pre-planning |
Status: Complete |
Assessments for planning |
Status: Complete |
Plan development |
Status: Complete |
Plan completion |
Status: Complete |
Plan approval |
Status: Complete |
Plan implementation |
Status: Complete |
Plan review |
Status: N/A |
Name of the plan (year) |
Raumordnungsplan für die deutsche ausschließliche Wirtschaftszone in der Nordsee (MSP for the German EEZ in the North Sea) |
|---|---|
Scale of the plan |
National |
Pre-planning |
Status: Complete |
Assessments for planning |
Status: Complete |
Plan development |
Status: Complete |
Plan completion |
Status: Complete |
Plan approval |
Status: Complete |
Plan implementation |
Status: Complete |
Plan review |
Status: Underway |
Name of the plan (year) |
Raumordnungs plan für die deutsche ausschließliche Wirtschafts zone in der Ostsee (MSP for the German EEZ in the Baltic Sea) |
|---|---|
Scale of the plan |
National |
Pre-planning |
Status: Complete |
Assessments for planning |
Status: Complete |
Plan development |
Status: Complete |
Plan completion |
Status: Complete |
Plan approval |
Status: Complete |
Plan implementation |
Status: Complete |
Plan review |
Status: Underway |
-
Federal Marine Spatial Plan (see below)
National authority in charge of MSP |
Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Building |
Governmental funding |
The preparation of the MSP for the EEZ is funded by the Federal Government. |
External funding |
N/A |
Public-private funding |
N/A |
Size of planning area |
The MSP for the Exclusive Economic Zone: in the North Sea, approximately 28 500 km²; in the Baltic Sea, approximately 4 500 km². |
Time required to complete the planning document |
2019 – 2021 |
Main issued that led to the adoption of MSP (drivers) |
Renewable energy, shipping, blue economy, nature protection. |
Stakeholder engagement activities |
Public consultation (written comments, hearings) with public authorities, economic sectors, NGOs, general public as well as specific sectoral thematic workshops. |
Sectors included in planning |
Offshore renewables, shipping, nature conservation(and climate change mitigation), fisheries, resource extraction, cables and pipelines, blue economy, defense, tourism, cultural heritage. |
Articulation between MSP and coastal zone management |
MSP is aligned with spatial plans of coastal federal states with the mandate for coastal zone management. Coastal stakeholders are involved during the consultation phase of the MSP preparation. |
Articulation between MSP and marine protected areas |
MSP include the MPAs of the sectoral nature conservation planning. Further sensitive areas for nature protection are secured in the MSP. Regulation in the MSP included measures for nature protection. |
Articulation between MSP and sustainable blue economy |
According to the Federal Spatial Planning Act the preparation of the MSP is accompanied by a strategic environmental assessment to ensure the sustainability of human activities at sea. |
Plan approval process |
The plan enters into force as an ordinance of the ministry responsible for spatial planning. The Federal Cabinet adopts the ordinance. |
Legal status of the plan (guiding or legally binding) |
Legally binding. |
Plan review process |
N/A |
Performance monitoring and evaluation |
According to the Federal Spatial Planning Act the MSP has to be reviewed at least every ten years. According to the Maritime Spatial Planning Ordinance 2021, the plan is to be evaluated every 5 years. The MSP 2021 requires continuous monitoring of the development of the maritime sectors in order to be able to revise the plan if necessary. |
Legal framework
- Ordinance on Spatial Planning in the German EEZ in the North Sea, 2009
- Ordinance on Spatial Planning in the German EEZ in the Baltic Sea, 2009
Revision of the maritime spatial plans:
The revision of the current maritime spatial plans was initiated in June 2019. According to § 8 of the Federal Regional Planning Act (ROG), a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the maritime spatial plan is required. This involves preparing an environmental report that describes and assesses the likely significant impacts of implementing the maritime spatial plan on the marine environment. At the beginning of the SEA process, the content, scope and level of detail of the environmental report are defined within the scope of the assessment. In addition, a status report on spatial planning has been drawn up.
The relevant legislation for MSP for the EEZ is the Federal Spatial Planning Act; amended in 2017 to include MSP.
Contact
Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency
Mr. Kai Trümpler – Head of Unit Maritime Spatial Planning