General definition

Maritime spatial planning identifies important functional archipelago entities of marine areas, which combine the local archipelago culture, year-round settlement and recreational settlement, several marine industries, biodiversity and cultural environment.

Marking description

The marking indicates important functional archipelago entities, which have been limited taking into account variables affecting the creation of a vital archipelago, such as housing, livelihood, services, accessibility, good infrastructure connections, recreational opportunities and cultural environments.

Planning principle

The preconditions for permanent residents should be promoted, and the vital archipelago culture, diverse business life and year-round accessibility of the areas should be considered when developing the areas. The infrastructure in the area should be developed to support the vitality and characteristics of the area. 

Special characteristics and priorities of the planning areas

The northern Bothnian Sea, Quark and Bothnian Bay:

The archipelago of the Quark is the most significant archipelago in the Gulf of Bothnia, including several viable archipelago villages. The Luoto Archipelago between Pietarsaari and Kokkola is also a vital archipelago entity. Hailuoto is the only populated island in the northern part of the Bothnian Bay.

The Archipelago Sea and southern Bothnian Sea:

On the scale of the Baltic Sea and also internationally significant area which is formed of its nature, cultural heritage, year-round settlement and recreational settlement and also tourism and other services. Includes among other things the Archipelagos biosphere reserve.

The Gulf of Finland:

The indicated core areas of the archipelago are vital island entities of Bromarv, Tammisaar-Inkoo, Sipoo-Porvoo and Loviisa-Pyhtää-Kotka.

Land-sea interactions

Traffic and telecommunication connections are essential for the area, since there are permanent settlements and tourism and recreational use in the archipelago.

Starting points and surveys

Regional land use plans and related reports

Archipelago organisations