Baltic SCOPE workshop discussion on ENVIRONMENT at Baltic SCOPE Central Baltic case (involving Latvia, Estonia and Sweden) stakeholder conference on 31 May - 1 June 2016 in Jurmala, LATVIA Read more on: www.balticscope.eu * The information presented is the working exercise on the cross-border maritime spatial planning discussions and can not be treated as the official opinion of the European Commission and the Member States involved in the consortium of the Baltic SCOPE project.

1. Workshop on Sector conflicts and synergies:
Environment vs. Other sectors
Anda Ruskule
Jūrmala, 1 June, 2016

2. Environment vs. Shipping:
The most significant conflict of transboundary and MSP relevance:
• Intensively used shipping routes - possible negative impacts on areas of high ecological
values, e.g. disturbance to species, risks of oil spills, damage to benthic habitats in
shallow areas etc.
– Agreements among planners and experts needed on thresholds/criteria when MSP
solutions on rerouting of shipping zones have to be taken (e.g. important sites for red
listed birds)
– Proposals for rerouting can be integrated in MSP solutions, but agreements with
stakeholders at international level needed for enforcement of these solutions in
practice
Other conflicts to be managed with other policy/legal instruments or at national/local level:
• Pollution, sewage discharge
• Level of noise – disturbance to species
• Distribution of invasive species
Conflicts:

3. Environment vs. Energy:
The most significant conflict of transboundary and MSP relevance:
• Windfarms in environmentally sensitive areas
– Cumulative impacts of wind farms on bird migration patterns and bats
– Noise from construction, pile driving impact to mammals (e.g. Harbour porpoise)
– Impact on benthic habitats from construction of windfarms and cables
• Windfarms creating favourable conditions for spreading of invasive species and
replacement of native populations
Conflicts to be managed at national/local level:
• Impact on landscape
Conflicts:

4. Environment vs. Fisheries:
The most significant conflicts of transboundary and MSP relevance:
• Negative impacts to benthic habitats caused by demersal trawling
• By catch of marine mammals and birds
 Temporal restrictions or restriction of certain gears in certain areas (e.g.
spawning and nursery areas of fish, bird concentration areas)
• Damage to fishing gears caused by seals
Conflicts:

5. Environment vs. Shipping:
• Shipping safety as common interest of both sectors.
Environment vs. Energy:
• Increasing share in use of renewable energy sources
 Suitable places shall be indicated outside of environmentally sensitive
areas
• Positive impact of offshore windfarms on marine biodiversity - creating
sanctuaries for fish and artificial reefs as habitats for benthic communities
 Side effect to be taken into account, but can be considered as measure for
increasing biodiversity
Environment vs. Fisheries:
• Maintaining of benthic habitats important for marine biodiversity as well as for
viable fish stocks
• Sustainable use of fish stocks
• Directing fisheries activity for catch of invasive species
Synergies:

6. Thank you!