SEAPLANSPACE

SEAPLANSPACE is a project supported by the EU's Interreg South Baltic Programme 2014-2020. The project partners are the University of Gdansk (lead partner), EUCC Baltic Office (Klaipeda), EUCC Germany (Rostock), World Maritime University (Malmö), Aalborg University (Copenhagen), the County Administrative Board of Kalmar, the Maritime Institute in Gdansk, and the Centre for Regional and Tourism Research (CRT). CRT's role in the project is carried out in close collaboration with Aalborg University, Department of Planning, which is already conducting research into Maritime Spatial Planning in cooperation with the Danish Maritime Authority, the authority responsible for implementing MSP in Denmark. CRT's work in the project is therefore primarily as a local anchor point on Bornholm and in Guldborgsund Municipality, where training in MSP will also be offered. The project runs from January 2018 through December 2020, while the training will take place in the winter of 2019/spring of 2020 on Bornholm and in Køge.

Denmark to have a maritime spatial plan

In the spring of 2021, Denmark's first maritime spatial plan will come into effect. The purpose of the plan is to coordinate the growing use of Denmark's sea areas to support sustainable growth and development in, on, and around the seas. The maritime spatial plan will, among other things, determine which sea areas can be used for offshore energy extraction, shipping, fishing, aquaculture, marine mining, tourism, and environmental protection leading up to 2030. The plan is intended to create greater predictability regarding the use of the sea for maritime businesses and greater clarity regarding the impact on marine ecosystems. The maritime spatial planning process is taking place in all EU countries. The Danish process is led by the Danish Maritime Authority and will continue until March 2021, when the plan is to be adopted. A draft of Denmark's upcoming maritime spatial plan will be subject to public consultation during 2020.

New maritime spatial plan requires new skills

Many need to know how maritime spatial planning works – how do you gain knowledge about what others are planning at sea, and how do you influence the planning processes? Businesses and other stakeholders in the Blue Denmark need knowledge about influencing rights to the sea and its resources. Politicians and planners in coastal municipalities need knowledge regarding citizens, tourists, and the local business community. The fishing industry – coastal, recreational, and industrial – as well as aquaculture companies need knowledge about usage rights and good water quality. Across all groups, there is a need to ensure a sustainable aquatic environment with high biodiversity. The state of nature and the environment along the coast and in the sea thus also plays a major role in maritime spatial planning.

Training in maritime spatial planning with a focus on the Baltic Sea

Aalborg University, in collaboration with the Centre for Regional and Tourism Research, is offering a series of seminars. The purpose is to develop competencies in relation to the maritime spatial planning process.Download the program for BornholmDownload the program for KøgeThe target groups are:

• municipal politicians
• planners
• business leaders and developers within the Blue Denmark
• fisheries organizations
• environmental organizations and nature associations
• tourism planners
• planning students

Leading researchers and national maritime planners discuss the upcoming maritime spatial plan, stakeholder engagement, and planning processes. The course covers the Baltic Sea as a marine environment – its ecosystems, resources, business opportunities, regional political agreements, various types of stakeholders, and existing usage agreements and collaborative frameworks. Throughout the seminar series, we will also work with case studies focusing specifically on the Blue Denmark in the Baltic Sea, fisheries and aquaculture, as well as tourism and cultural heritage on and along the Baltic Sea. This is a unique opportunity to hear about what is happening in and around the Baltic Sea – its potential and challenges, and how the upcoming maritime plan will and can influence its development.

Practical information

• The seminar series runs from December 2019 to May 2020 – a total of 8 sessions
• The course is free of charge
• Classes are held one afternoon every three weeks, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
• Classes will primarily take place at CRT in Nexø, but a group will also be established at Campus Køge
• In addition, there will be one session at Aalborg University Copenhagen and one session at the World Maritime University (WMU) in Malmö
• No formal professional qualifications are required for admission
• The teaching is primarily conducted in Danish
• If you would like additional materials, you can sign up for a newsletter at seaplanspace.eu/countries/denmark/.

The speakers are primarily external experts – researchers and others working with maritime spatial planning at a national and international level. A moderator and facilitator from AAU or CRT will also always be present.