The guiding principle of spatial development of the sea areas (in acc with helcom-vasab) ecosystem approach!

• The guiding principle of spatial development of the sea areas (in acc. with HELCOM-VASAB) - ecosystem approach!

• Reconciliation of economic, social and environmental interests.

• Maritime spatial planning is promoted and recommended by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

• The Marine Directive imposes on the Member States the obligation to achieve a good environmental status (GES) of EU marine waters by 2020.

• The ecosystem approach in marine spatial planning ensures that pressure exerted by human activity does not prevent the achievement of GES.

• From that point of view, maritime spatial planning is perceived as a useful tool for achieving good environmental status.

• So, friends or foes?

• Friends!

• Valorisation of Polish marine areas was based on:

• habitats,

• macrophytes (marine benthic plants),

• macrozoobenthos (marine benthic animals),

• ichtyofauna,

• avifauna,

• marine mammals.

• Baseline for marine spatial plan:

• Study of Conditions of Spatial Development of Polish Sea Areas (2015).

• The valorisation included both quantitative and qualitative criteria/data.

• [Derous et al. 2007, Natural conditions of spatial plans… 2008, Węsławski et al. 2009]

• The quantitative criteria:

• the number of species (biodiversity),

• the abundance and biomass of species.

• The qualitative criteria:

• the rarity of a species/habitat (uniqueness),

• naturalness (degree to which a species complex/habitat is conserved in unchanged form),

• presence of protected species/habitats,

• relevance of species/habitats for ecosystems functioning.

• Data used in valorization based on biota came from:

• the State Environmental Monitoring (macrophytes, macrozoobenthos, ichtyofauna and avifauna);

• inventory research for the needs of developing the protection plans for Natura 2000 areas in Polish marine areas (macrophytes, macrozoobenthos, ichtyofauna, avifauna and marine mammals);

• international project BRISK (avifauna);

• international project SAMBAH (marine mammals);

• online database of The Hel Marine Station of the UG Institute of Oceanography (marine mammals);

• online database of project “Protection of habitats of marine mammals and birds” realised by WWF Poland (marine mammals),

• MIG research projects (macrophytes, macrozoobenthos, ichtyofauna),

• literature (macrophytes, macrozoobenthos, ichtyofauna, avifauna and marine mammals).

Habitats calssification in Polish marine areas was based on EUNIS habitat classification.

• Habitats calssification in Polish marine areas was based on EUNIS habitat classification.

• At the third level of the EUNIS habitat classification system, based only on sediment characteristics, 5 habitats are distinguished in the Polish sea areas:

• coarse-grained deposits (A5.1),

• sands (A5.2),

• muds – fine sediments (below 0.63 mm) (A5.3),

• mixites (A5.4) — mixed sediments (sand, mud, gravel),

• mosaic substratum (X32)

• occurrence of plant communities,

• occurrence of rare and protected species,

• dominance of eutrophication indicator species in the biomass.

• Threats for macrophytes in the Puck Bay, on stones and boulders on the Slupsk Bank and near Rowy

• disturbing the seabed (habitat) (i.e. extraction of natural aggregates, marine wind farms construction and linear investments),

• water and sediment,

• discharges of biogenic compounds from point and non-point sources (The Puck Bay specific).

• Threats for macrozoobenthos in the Puck Bay, on stones and boulders on the Slupsk Bank and in Slupsk Furrow

• disturbing the seabed (habitat) (i.e. extraction of natural aggregates, marine wind farms construction and linear investments),

• water and sediment pollution,

• invasive species,

• Increased concentration of organic matter in the deposits could cause a change of the present qualitative and quantitative structure of macrozoobenthos.

• Qualitative criteria which take into account the role fulfilled by areas important for development of the ichthyofauna:

• feeding,

• breeding,

• migratory.

The natural value of the identified areas changes seasonally depending on the number of criteria/functions fulfilled by the area. Their seasonal significance was taken into account.

• The natural value of the identified areas changes seasonally depending on the number of criteria/functions fulfilled by the area. Their seasonal significance was taken into account.

• Values of classification criteria:

• 3 – very high: when all the criteria are fulfilled;

• 2 – high: when two out of three criteria are fulfilled;

• 1 – average: when one out of three criteria is fulfilled;

• 0 – low value: when none of the criteria is fulfilled.

Threats for ichtyofauna:

• Threats for ichtyofauna:

• water pollution,

• disturbing the seabed (habitat) (i.e. extraction of natural aggregates, marine wind farms construction and linear investments),

• intensive fishing,

• blocking of migration routes of bi-environmental fish.

The valorisation of Polish marine areas based on the avifauna included the data characterizing:

• The valorisation of Polish marine areas based on the avifauna included the data characterizing:

• wintering locations;

• resting areas of migratory birds;

• nesting areas.

In the designation of areas important for avifauna, the following criteria were taken into account:

• In the designation of areas important for avifauna, the following criteria were taken into account:

• occurrence of rare or/and in danger of extinction species,

• occurrence of protected species (including species listed in the Appendix I of the Birds Directive),

• high number of birds.

by-catch in fishing nets,

• by-catch in fishing nets,

• growing tourism activity (growing number of fast moving vessels, development of infrastructure e.g. marinas, havens, etc.), (the Puck Bay specific),

• growing tourism activity and human penetration of the sandbanks with breeding colonies of birds (sandbanks in the the Vistua River mouth),

• water pollution and potential oil spills,

• periodically conducted flood protection and icebreaking works in the river mouth (sandbanks in the the Vistua River mouth specific),

• construction of wind farms on bird migration routes (the Slupsk Bank and the Pomeranian Bay specific),

• high density vessel traffic (the Puck Bay and the Pomeranian Bay specific).

• all the species of marine mammals occurring in Polish sea areas belong to the Baltic populations, which migrate over almost the whole Baltic Sea;

• during the last centuries populations of Baltic marine mammals have decreased and at present they are on the brink of extinction (harbour porpoise) or revival (grey seal, harbour seal, ringed seal).

• the MSP should take into account the existence and state of secluded beaches and sandbanks, which are not part of Polish sea areas but are a refuge for seals during the resting, molting and breeding periods.

Threats in Polish marine areas (as whole):

• Threats in Polish marine areas (as whole):

• Seals

• disruption of peace and safety in land and sea habitats,

• by-catch in fishing nets,

• water pollution.

• Porpoise

• by-catch in fishing nets,

• underwater noise,

• disruption of peace and safety in sea habitats,

• water porllution.

The most valuable areas in Polish marine areas (in relation to the biological elements):

• The most valuable areas in Polish marine areas (in relation to the biological elements):

• the Puck Bay,

• the Slupsk Bank,

• the Pomeranian Bay,

• the Vistula River Estuary,

• coastal zone (to the depth of 10 m);

In Polish sea areas there are basins of significant importance for the good state of macrophytes, macrozoobenthos, ichthyofauna, avifauna and sea mammals. Most valuable regions coincide with areas protected by the Nature Conservation Act, and these areas must be taken into consideration by the marine spatial plan of Polish sea areas.

• In Polish sea areas there are basins of significant importance for the good state of macrophytes, macrozoobenthos, ichthyofauna, avifauna and sea mammals. Most valuable regions coincide with areas protected by the Nature Conservation Act, and these areas must be taken into consideration by the marine spatial plan of Polish sea areas.

• Protected areas in Polish EEZ:

• 6 Special Areas of Conservation (Natura 2000 area),

• 4 Special Protection Areas (Natura 2000 area),

• 2 national parks,

• 1 lanscape park.

• The MSP should take into account the importance for protection of the Slupsk Furrow (area valuable for macrozoobenthos) and East Border Waters (important area for wintering birds). Activities which could result in deterioration of the ecological state of these waters should be prevented.

• It should be bear in mind that the time factor is equally important as space factor in nature protection.

• The MSP should take into account the existence and state of secluded beaches and sandbanks, which are not part of Polish sea areas but are a refuge for seals during the resting, molting and breeding periods and also nesting areas of birds.

Thank you for your attention

• Thank you for your attention