Description of the area
ENERGY
Positive political guidance (e.g., subsidies grid connections, favourable taxation) allow the rapid development of wind power. Wind power is integrated with other energy production in the area to support the electrification of maritime transport. In addition to the western Gulf of Finland, offshore wind power is also constructed in front of Porvoo. With the development of energy storage technology, wind power farms are also used for the storage of energy (so-called modern grain silos). The increased electrical sea transport creates a need for maritime charging points alongside the fairways. Multi-use wind parks are an attraction symbolising the blue technology leap. Small nuclear power plants become more popular and the decentralized energy production creates new types of accident risks in the area.
MARITIME TRANSPORT
The increase of small transport causes logistical challenges in the densely populated Gulf of Finland area. Air transport creates new kinds of issues related to safety and control. The development of circular economy reduces vessel transport volumes, but does not replace maritime transport. New boating routes are created in the eastern parts of the Gulf of Finland.
STATE OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT
Natural fish populations are doing well and the harmful spreading of alien species has been prevented. Nutrient load from the ground has been reduced successfully, eutrophication is under control and algae is only observed moderately in the summer. New circular economy systems are created in the Gulf of Finland area supported by the good infrastructure in the area.
FISHING AND AQUACULTURE
Fish populations are doing well as a result of the improved state of the marine environment. The fragmentation of private water bodies, on the other hand, makes the situation more difficult for fishing enterprises. Recreational fishing gains popularity as people become interested in the archipelago, and the demolition of water power stations in the rivers further promotes fishing tourism. The Porkkalanniemi and Hanko territorial waters attract fishers. The stricter environmental regulation hinders aquaculture, but the stopping of the eutrophication development may enable aquaculture, but within the carrying capacity of the environment. The supply of fish farmed domestically still does not match the demand and lots of fish is imported from other countries. The cultivation of blue mussels is focused on western Gulf of Finland, in the front of Hanko in particular, whereas conditions are favourable for algae farming throughout the Gulf of Finland.
TOURISM AND RECREATIONAL USE
The archipelago of the Gulf of Finland is still quiet and, on the other hand, urbane conditions combine with the archipelago in Kotka, Hanko and Helsinki which together form an even tourism and recreational zone on the entire shore of the Gulf of Finland. Digital platforms and shared use allow the growth of tourism and recreation in the Gulf of Finland in particular due to the adequate residential base (such as skipper.com, doerz.com, bout.com). New forms of tourism, such as submarine nature trails, are introduced. Living in two places (and dual municipal residency) is emphasized especially in the Gulf of Finland. Digitalisation and the transition of working life promote the popularity of remote work, and the improved infrastructure allows commuting from the archipelago (cf. Stockholm).
CULTURAL HERITAGE
A new rise of archipelago culture: Interest towards traditional fishing, hunting and handicrafts methods increases, and these skills are kept alive and developed more and more. This helps the preservation of built heritage through use (sustainable use and repair). The value of cultural heritage sites and locally produced food, for example, increases. As a counterforce to urbanization, trends steer people back to the nature, increasing the understanding of natural values.
Risks and opportunities
the Gulf of Finland
ECOLOGICAL STATE OF THE SEA
- Risks include sea transport accidents, impacts of infrastructure allowing round-the-year habitation in the archipelago, increased local traffic to the archipelago, emissions from the storage of energy
- Opportunities include technological development (hydrogen from water, new aquaculture methods), reduced noise from maritime transport, improved state of the water
- To be considered in particular in the planning of the maritime area: need of coordination in terms of, for example, fishing (professional/recreational fishing) and wind power (effects on birds, noise, the scenery), balancing use and consumption
SUSTAINABLE GROWTH OF BLUE ECONOMY
- Risks include the fragmented ownership of water bodies, logistical challenges, reduced financial efficiency
- Opportunities include new forms of sea traffic (such as small autonomous vessels), increased professional fishing and utilisation of its side streams, extensive production of clean energy, development of tourism hotspots especially around Hanko, Helsinki and Kotka
- To be considered in particular in the planning of the maritime area: coordination of ship traffic and recreational use (fairways for cargo and small vessel traffic), dialogue between the ground and the sea in the area (industry on the shore and by the rivers, overall streams of goods)
PEOPLE’S WELL-BEING AND PARTICIPATION
- Risks include the risk of accident of nuclear powered vessels, reduction of privacy and peace
- Opportunities include the development of energy technology (education and work), multisectoral entrepreneurship in the archipelago, residential village areas in shared use, increased appreciation of locality and the nature
- To be considered in particular in the planning of the maritime area: the need to designate a network of recreational areas and tourism destinations, increased habitation of the archipelago (waste management, rescue services) and different needs and forms of moving around
