Country information
Basic facts on marine waters
- Territorial sea (12 NM) in km²: 55 000 km²
- Exclusive Economic Zone in km²: 70 000 km²
Relevant MSP projects
- eMSP North and Baltic Sea Regions (2021-2024)
- Capacity4MSP (2019-2022)
- SEAPLANSPACE (2018-2021)
- Pan Baltic Scope (2018-2019)
- Baltic SCOPE (2015-2017)
- NorthSEE – A North Sea Perspective on Shipping, Energy and Environmental Aspects in Maritime Spatial Planning (2016-2021)
- Baltic LINes – Coherent Linear Infrastructures in Baltic Maritime Spatial Plans (2016-2019)
- Northern European Sea Basins project, NESBp (2024-2027)
- Cooperation Governance for Next-Level Maritime Spatial Planning in the North Sea, NORSAIC (2023-2026)
Current status of MSP
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At local level (municipalities):
Municipalities have planned the territorial waters: one example (among others) is the joint plan by four municipalities by the West coast of Sweden (Strömstad, Tanum, Sotenäs, Lysekil), 2018
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At national level:
Name of the plan |
Marine spatial Plans for the Gulf of Bothnia, the Baltic Sea and the Skagerrak/ Kattegat |
|---|---|
Year of approval
|
2022 |
Size of planning area in km2
|
Total: 122 756 km² (Bothnian Bay: 38 324 km² + BalticSea Proper: 74 846 km² + Skagerrak/Kattegatt: 9 568 km² |
Authority leading the MSP process
|
Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management |
Current status |
|
|---|---|
Pre-planning
|
Completed |
Assessments for planning
|
Completed |
Plan development
|
Completed |
Plan completion
|
Completed |
Plan approval
|
Completed |
Plan implementation
|
Completed |
Plan review
|
Underway |
MSP Typology |
|
|---|---|
Scale (1 = Local / 2 = Sub-national / 3 = National)
|
National |
Scope (1 = Coastal Zone / 2 = Coastal and Marine / 3 = Marine)
|
Coastal and Marine |
Purpose (1 = Strategic / 2 = Zoning / 3 = Comprehensive)
|
Zoning |
Political commitment (1 = Informal / 2 = Executive decision / 3= Legal statute)
|
Executive decision |
Implementation framework (1 = Guiding / 2 = Legally binding)
|
Guiding |
Main objectives (1 = Biodiversity conservation / 2 = Economic development / 3 = Multiple objectives)
|
Multiple objectives |
Spatial allocation (1 = Limited / 2 = Partial allocation / 3 =Detailed allocation)
|
Detailed allocation |
Stakeholders involved (1 = Limited / 2 = Key sectors / 3 =Sectors & Public)
|
Sectors & Public |
Participatory process (1 = Informative / 2 = Consultative / 3 =Collaborative)
|
Consultative |
Funding (1= Government / 2 = Public-Private / 3 = Grants)
|
Government |
National authority in charge of MSP |
Marine and Water Management |
Governmental funding |
Government budget |
External funding |
N/A |
Public-Private funding |
N/A |
Total size of planning area |
122 756 km² (Bothnian Bay: 38 324 km² + Baltic Sea Proper: 74 846 km² + Skagerrak/Kattegatt: 9 568 km²) |
Time required to complete the planning document |
Formal process 5 years (2015-19), New proposal 2,5 years (2022-25) |
Main issues that led to the adoption of MSP (drivers) |
Need for: more integration between environmental andsector policies in marine management and a moreholistic perspective more integration for source to sea(or land-sea) improved environmental status as well asto secure and enhance ecosystem services (thereb ysupporting the development of maritime activities) increasing renewable energy production enhancedmarine and maritime knowledge. |
Stakeholder engagement activities |
Dialogue process and consultations round at different steps: current status report; roadmap for MSP (incl.planning objectives and process); (early dialogue proposals – informal); proposals for marine spatial plans; review of proposals for marine spatial plans; transboundary consultation, (incl. Espoo consultationon potential transboundary environmental impacts) Extensive participation: neighboring countries; nationalagencies; county administrative boards (government regional organization); regional councils (political); municipalities (political); trade associations and interest groups; research and science institutions; general public (low participation) |
Sectors included in planning |
Uses: electricity transmission; cultural environment and heritage; defense; energy extraction; commercial fisheries; nature; sand extraction; recreation (incl.recreational fisheries); shipping Not uses, but considered: aquaculture and carbon capture storage, but currently there are no destined geographical are asassigned (uses) for these activities in the marine spatial plan proposals |
Articulation between MSP and Integrated Coastal Zone Management (IZCM) |
The national marine spatial plans cover the area one nautical mile from the baseline seawards (incl. the exclusive economic zone). The municipality plans cover the entire national territory (land and sea). Therefore there is an 11 nautical overlap with municipality comprehensive planning. The national MSP is guiding the municipality planning. In addition to coastal planning, there is a number of legal frameworks governing the coastal management such as the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the Water Framework Directive. |
Articulation between MSP and marine conservation (including the Kunming- Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework) |
Existing and planned marine protected areas are assigned as “Nature” in the plan proposals. In addition,a large number of areas with high (significant) nature values have been identified. In (municipality) planning, licensing and marine management, particular consideration shall be taken to the nature values in these areas. NB: The KMGBF was adopted after the plan approval. |
Articulation between MSP and sustainable blue economy |
The national planning process in itself is supporting linking offshore planning, coastal area management and sustainable blue economy. The marine spatial plans provide conditions for economic development and improved environmental status, and guides the municipality comprehensive planning. |
Articulation between MSP and climate change (including the Paris Agreement) |
Plans include areas for offshore wind and areas where to take particular consideration to high nature values including specific areas identified as climate refugia. |
Plan approval process |
Marine spatial plans are approved by the Government |
Legal status of the plan (guiding or legally binding) |
Guiding (Plans are guiding for planning and licensing. The government may adopt legislation with bindingrules if deemed necessary in order to fulfill the objectives of the plan. Such legislation is only possiblewhen there is no other existing legislation that may be applied with the same purpose. Currently no such additional legislation has been proposed) |
Plan review process |
A revision process is on-going. The Swedish Agency forMarine and Water Management submitted proposals for revised plans to the Government on 21 January 2025. |
Performance monitoring and evaluation |
A follow-up was carried out within the revies process (2022-24). A specific framework for follow-up and monitoring is underway. |
Interactions with neighbouring countries in the context of MSP attending transboundary coherence approaches |
Formal meetings within the regional sea basin cooperation as well as bi-lateral meetings. Formal consultations within the framework of the ESPOO-convention on environmental impact assessment in a transboundary context. Collaboration through a regional Planners’ Forum. Regional cooperation through EU-funded cross-border projects. |
Legal framework
The Swedish Environmental Code (1998:808) and the Plan and Building Act (2010:900) constitute the legal base for MSP in Sweden.
According to an additional section (from 1 September 2014) in Chapter 4 of the Environmental Code, there shall be shall be three marine spatial plans: Bothnian Bay, Baltic Sea, Western Waters (Skagerrak/Kattegat) covering the area one nautical mile from the baseline seawards (incl. the EEZ). The plans, which shall be adopted by the government, shall be guiding and contribute to sustainable development. The government may, according to the legislation, adopt regulations prohibiting or limiting activities in destined geographical areas.
The Marine Spatial Planning Ordinance (2015:400) regulates the process of the marine spatial planning. It contains provisions on geographical boundaries, the content of the marine spatial plans, the responsibility for preparation, consultation and cooperation in the proposal process, and monitoring and review. According to the Ordinance, SwAM is to develop proposals for marine spatial plans with the help of relevant county administrative boards and with support from national authorities, which will assist with supporting data for the planning. The municipalities, regional planning bodies, regional coordination bodies and county councils that may be affected shall be given the opportunity to participate in the proposal process so that consideration can be given to local and regional conditions and needs. SwAM shall promote cooperation with other countries and the coordination of the Swedish marine spatial plans with those of other countries.
The marine spatial plans shall provide guidance to public authorities and municipalities in the planning and review of claims for the use of the areas covered by the plans. The marine spatial plan shall reflect the state’s overall view of how the marine areas are to be managed, and the plans involve taking a position on how different public interests should be taken into account. The marine spatial plan shall specify areas of national interest in accordance with Chapter 3 of the Environmental Code, i.e., prioritized interests and other public interests of material significance. SwAM shall apply an ecosystem approach in its work. Also according to the Ordinance, industrial policy, social and environmental goals are to be integrated in the marine spatial plans. The main focus of the planning is that marine resources should be used in a way that allows maritime industries to develop and grow while preserving and restoring ecosystems. The marine spatial plans shall contribute to achieving and maintaining a good environmental status (GES) according to the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
In parallel, the Plan and Building Act (2010:900) regulates the responsibilities and mandate for the municipalities to plan land and water including the territorial sea, which means that there is a geographical overlap between the national marine spatial plans (the Environmental Code) and the municipal comprehensive plans (Plan and Building Act).
Chapter 1 and 2 of the Plan and Building Act includes basic principles and objectives guiding the spatial municipality planning of the territorial sea and coastal areas. These principles also refer to the application of the Environmental Code (Chapters 3 and 4 referring to basic and spatial provisions concerning land and water management and Chapter 5 concerning environmental quality standards and environmental quality administration).
The Plan and Building Act stipulates that the municipalities shall have a valid comprehensive plan, adopted by the municipality assembly. The plan should be revisited at least once during the terms of office (related to the election period, normally every four years). The plan is guiding, but not legally binding. It should indicate the municipalities’ intentions about the future development. It should also consider issues of national interests. The Plan and Building Act is a framework law emphasizing the need for stakeholder involvement, but is not stipulating what the plan should contain or how it should be developed.
The Plan and Building Act is closely linked to the Environmental Code, which regulates among other things the relation between planning and environment and the need for environment impact assessment (EIA) and strategic environment assessment (SEA).
Another part of the Swedish planning system are areas of national interest for a number of sectors identified by appointed national agencies or areas specifically listed in the Environmental Code. These areas have to be considered in planning and when authorities are granting permission for activities within different sectors. Cultural heritage and values, nature protection, outdoor recreation, shipping, energy production, commercial fisheries are examples of such areas of national interests. Areas of national interest can be pointed out on land as well as in the territorial waters and the EEZ.
The national planning process in itself supports linking offshore planning, coastal area management and sustainable blue economy. The marine spatial plans provide conditions for economic development and improved environmental status, and guides the municipality comprehensive planning. Municipalities have had the opportunity to receive funding for projects aiming at preparing and building capacity for MSP. Some projects included collaboration between several municipalities.