Guidelines on transboundary MSP output data structure in the Baltic Sea.

Abstract

The goal of these Guidelines on transboundary maritime spatial planning (MSP) output data structure (Guidelines) is to facilitate data availability and coherence of MSP, as well as transboundary cooperation under national/regional MSP consultations. Specifically, the Guidelines set out technical requirements (data specification) for the interoperability and harmonization of spatial data sets corresponding to the transboundary/cross-border maritime spatial planning output data (MSP output data). Directive 2014/89/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 establishing a framework for MSP introduced an obligation to develop maritime spatial plans which are coherent and coordinated across the marine region concerned. In this regard Member States shall organize the use of the best available data, and decide how to organize the sharing of information, necessary for maritime spatial plans. The Regional Baltic MSP Roadmap 2013-2020 indicates the necessary steps to fulfill the goal of drawing up and applying maritime spatial plans throughout the Baltic Sea region by 2020 which are coherent across borders and apply the ecosystem approach. Additionally, it requires the promotion of the creation and sharing of MSP relevant Baltic Sea regional data sets. In order to facilitate coherent MSP process, the Guidelines on transboundary consultations, public participation and co-operation (elaborated by the joint HELCOM-VASAB MSP Working Group (HELCOM-VASAB MSP WG)) emphasizes the need for transboundary consultations at the early stage to avoid costly misalignments and negative environmental impacts, as well as promoting efficiency gains and synergies. MSP Data could be grouped into two categories: • Input data - data, information or evidence that is used for preparation a maritime spatial plan, such as environmental data, information about existing sea uses, social economic data, as well as other maritime spatial plans. • Output data - outcome of maritime spatial plan (alignments and preconditions for possible sea-use in the future). Planned sea uses are regulated by spatial planning documents elaborated at various levels of administration, defined by responsible authorities. Sea use regulation over a geographical area could be, for example, composed of the following elements: • An overall strategic orientation that describes the development will of the competent administrative authority which is a textual document, • A textual regulation that determines the planned sea use, • A cartographic representation composed of elements regulated by spatial planning documents. These Guidelines focus on standards for spatial data sets used for cartographic representation of future sea use for two types of the MSP Output data: 1) Maritime spatial plan area and 2) Planned sea uses.