3.5 Sustainable development of coastal zones

This topic has been approached from two angles: integrated coastal zone development; and more specifically: promoting the use of development potentials in the field of tourism.

Coastal zones are the most obvious spatial elements binding the BSR together. Various, sometimes conflicting, activities are concentrated there: from wildlife protection through fishery to sea transport as well as smaller and major ports and cities, and to major tourist destinations. Coastal zones are also attractive living areas during summer season (and increasingly the whole year around).

3.5.1 Integrated coastal zone development

Integrated coastal zone development Conclusions:

The VASAB contribution is in line with key issues suggested by ESDP. It needs further broadening.

Concepts developed by the PROCOAST project will be valuable. It can draw from experience of similar projects in other regions (e.g. North Sea), and in other parts of Europe within the EU demonstration programme on ICZM.

More demonstration projects are required. They shall promote a broader sustainable development discussion to find ways to balance socio-economic development with nature protection. They shall consider all kinds of coastal land-use (incl. towns, cities, harbours) in a trans-boundary perspective, showing how to link coastal zone management with existing statutory planning.

Significant experience was gained in a similar InterregIIC project in the North Sea Region (Norcoast).

Planning to harmonise different demands requires specific solutions according to local circumstances. But some common principles can help local and regional planners.

VASAB action

VASAB has taken up this issue through two lines of action:

  • Preparation of "Common Recommendations for Spatial Planning of the Coastal Zone in the Baltic Sea Region", adopted at the Ministerial Conference on 22-Oct-199632.

    These recommendations focus on the immediate coastal strip. A further broadening is required in geographical terms -to comprise functional areas and - in perspective terms - towards sustainable environmental and social and economic development. This requires to consider all types of uses and activities in coastal zones, on land, and on sea side.

  • Supporting demonstration projects initiated by HELCOM to involve local and regional bodies and other actors, and to widen the perspective for integrated cross-sector development.

This will be discussed further below in the context of co-operation with other bodies (chapter II-4.3).

InterregIIC project concerning coastal zone management

  • InterregIIC project:
    PROCOAST

    PROCOAST deals with spatial planning conflict in coastal zones, where economic, tourist and settlement activities compete with protection needs.

    The project aims at translating environmental concerns into practical planning and management solutions.

    The focus is on the exchange of experience between stakeholders and experts from different countries/ regions from Germany, Denmark and Sweden.

    Main activities include:

    • Bringing together coastal authorities with planning responsibilities, experts from planning bureaux, scientists, NGOs etc. from different countries/regions.

    • Studies of best practice.

Results will be laid down in a manual on ICZM to implement HELCOM recommendations into coastal zone planning and management and their integration into national regulations.

3.5.2 Tourism development in coastal zones

Coastal tourism Conclusions

The VASAB project SuPortNet has contributed an approach which differed from other projects:

  • It covers all countries around the Baltic Sea.
  • It comprises a big number of small towns and cities.
  • It demonstrates immediate benefits to each partner.
  • It shows that by developing a network, further benefits can be achieved for all partners.
  • It prepares for investments (including private, but possibly also for Structure Fund) at partners' locations, which form part of a functional network.
  • It is a first step to form lasting cooperative action of small localities.

Such approach may be also useful in other fields of joint interest.

Other important issues of coastal tourism, e.g. bathing tourism, or summer cottages, are not in the focus of InterregIIC projects, though having substantial spatial implications (see ICZM below).

VASAB projects

  • VASAB project:
    Boat tourism development through a transnational network of boat harbours

    The BSR has considerable development potentials for tourism in many non-urban parts of the BSR. This is coupled with the desire to maintain the region's natural and cultural values.

    In accordance with local demands, the issue of coastal boat tourism was chosen, covering initially the coastal zones of BSR members Poland and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Germany). This market offers opportunities particularly for small coastal towns in transition from fishery to new activities.

    The basic idea was that (transnational) networking helps tourist destinations, particularly those outside major cities, to develop and to market their potentials.

    The project concentrates on improving the physical network of boat harbours in terms of harbour density and quality. Being a very undeveloped market in E-BSR countries, the transfer of experience from other partner countries (Nordic countries, Germany) was essential.

    This action has raised strong interest among local authorities. It has broken up frictions between those responsible for economic promotion and those taking care of nature protection.

    In the partner municipalities, it promoted the dialogue between spatial planners and those involved in tourism development. It helped to break through towards the mobilisation of private investors. It gave rise to a broader InterregIIC and Phare project SuPortNet involving more than 50 local partners from most BSR countries, and involving representatives from all BSR countries, from Norway to St. Petersburg.

    In continuation of the current InterregIIC/ Phare/ Tacis project, further joint actions are discussed for a new InterregIIIB phase to establish joint marketing and tourist information.

    The project has also resulted in a discussion to establish more permanent forms of co-operation, particularly among small harbour locations, some of which are in the process to change from fishery ports to tourist destinations.

Other InterregIIC projects concerning coastal tourism

  • InterregIIC project:
    Maritime Heritage

    Four coastal regions (Lower Elbe, Germany; Ostrobothnia, Finland; Härnösand, Sweden and Lake Peipsi, Estonia) work together to find ways how to benefit from their maritime heritage. Old harbour amenities and structures have been replaced. Further losses occur through demolition and decay. Evidence of the maritime history is in danger of getting lost.

    Activities include: inventory of mari-time heritage; preparation of devel-opment concepts for the "maritime regions"; derivation of an action pro-gram; public relations; establishment of an expert network and knowledge transfer.

    Other InterregIIC projects with a broad spectrum of themes, such as Baltic Palette (see below) or Via Bal-tica Spatial Development Zone have also touched the issue of coastal tour-ism.