Enhancing the marine and coastal biodiversity of the Baltic Sea in Finland and promoting the sustainable use of marine resources

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

The Baltic Sea is one of the largest brackish water areas in the world. It is surrounded by highly industrialised countries, with a draining area inhabited by around 90 million people. It is a shallow sea, resulting in a small total water volume in comparison to the surface area. Consequently, the marine environment of the Baltic Sea is under increasing anthropogenic pressure from activities taking place both on land and at sea. Finland has a long complex coastline in relation to its area, characterised by thousands of islands, skerries, straits, coves, and lagoons. Changes in and development of maritime activities, and agricultural and forestry practices on land, affect the environmental conditions in the sea and the ecological effectiveness of the marine protected areas. In addition, climate change is projected to influence the magnitude of many anthropogenic pressures in the future and influence the fundamental properties of the Baltic Sea. Today the most severe pressure on the Baltic Sea is eutrophication; however, there are many strategies and plans in place, focusing on actions targeting eutrophication so this issue will mostly be covered by complementary projects. This project focuses on mitigating the negative effects of other anthropogenic activities on land and sea that are especially threatening to the integrity and conservation status of coastal biodiversity.

OBJECTIVES

The main objective of LIFE-IP BIODIVERSEA is to improve the implementation of the marine and coastal parts of the Finnish Prioritised Action Framework (PAF) for Natura 2000 (2021-2027) and support the implementation, and interlinkages with, other EU directives. The project’s actions focus on mitigating the negative effects of anthropogenic activities, originating on land and at sea, that are threatening the integrity and conservation status of coastal biodiversity, in practice species and habitats, particularly in protected marine areas.

The project will:

• Map species and habitats, especially focusing on the Åland Islands;
• Assign optimal marine protected areas using mapping tools based on remote sensing data and underwater species data;
• Protect maritime archaeological heritage;
• Monitor marine Natura 2000 sites, focusing on species diversity of birds, algae, vascular plants and invertebrates;
• Improve the management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs);
• Improve the conservation of ecosystem functionality;
• Identify anthropogenic pressures affecting the marine environment, and obtain the necessary information for effective mitigation measures;
• Detect, identify and limit anthropogenic underwater noise;
• Reduce marine litter;
• Raise awareness of the Nature 2000 network;
• Fill knowledge gaps concerning the status of marine habitats, to identify the habitats and species most urgently in need of conservation actions;
• Establish an efficient MPA network;
• Balance marine protection and sustainable use of the marine natural resources;
• Integrate and mainstream the protection of marine biodiversity in other sectors and financing programmes.

The project contributes to the implementation of the EU Habitats Directive, Birds Directive, EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Water Framework Directive, the Directive establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning, and the Common Fisheries Policy.

Ιn addition to the IP budget itself, the project will facilitate the coordinated use of €243 099 525 of complementary funding from EAFRD, ERDF, national and private funds, as applicable.

RESULTS

Expected results:

Marine Protected Area (MPA) network developed:

• Data from approximately 1 000 m² of seafloor and geological survey data from 200 – 500 km² around the Åland Islands, resulting in improved science-based information on benthic habitats and species, and bio-and geo-diversity, to improve the coherence of the Natura 2000 network and other MPAs;
• Maps of areas with valuable marine nature in the Åland offshore areas; 
• An evaluation of the ecological and management effectiveness of the current MPAs, and proposals for new MPA candidates and conservation measures, including a roadmap, which promotes and guides the expansion of the MPA network. The Åland archipelago MPA network expanded by at least 850 km².

Pressures identified and mitigated:

• Calculations on the quantitative and causal relationships between stoppable/partly stoppable pressures and their impact on marine biodiversity;
• Areas identified within and outside MPAs that are currently degraded or under pressure or are foreseen to be degraded/under pressure in the future;
• A map on the distribution and intensity of underwater noise;
• Identification of areas affected by marine litter, removal of litter by volunteers from at least 140 ha (habitats 1620 and 1610), and report on plastic litter in seabirds’ nests;
• Pilot eradications of invasive alien species in the marine area (Harris mud crab, mink and racoon dog).

Habitat restoration: 

• Habitat restoration, involving at least 30 habitats and 20 species;
• Preparation and testing of national restoration plan. Habitat restoration plans prepared for 30 Natura 2000 sites, and for key species in 20 sites;
• Bladderwrack restoration in 20 sites and stonewort restorations in 10,  and restoration of essential fish habitats in 20. Up-to-date information on sea-spawning whitefish stocks, and a strengthened sea-spawning grayling stock in the Quark-Bothnian Bay area.

Monitoring of marine biodiversity improved:

• Preparation and implementation of a monitoring programme for biodiversity;
• Data collection on marine birds (at least 80% of shallow Finnish offshore areas) and development of non-intrusive, cost-effective monitoring methods to assess changes in bird populations;
• Development of 7-9 indicators to support marine-related EU directives.  

Roles, management, and mainstreaming improved:

• An assessment of the efficiency of the current marine conservation process;
• Recommendations on improving supervision and compliance of regulations, including new restrictions in different MPAs;
• Definition of roles of relevant marine actors, and completion of a model for operative management planning of marine areas; 
• List of well-defined conservation measures;
• Site related maintenance and restoration measures for marine and coastal areas for the following PAF for Natura 2000 (2028–2034).

Outreach:

• Increased public awareness regarding marine issues, through national and local media, website, social media, networking with other projects, and mobilisation of relevant EU and national funding.