Maritime spatial planning identifies areas with significant underwater natural values.

Significant natural values are also located outside the indicated areas. Maritime spatial planning does not indicate existing areas of the Natura 2000 network, national parks or other nature reserves whose protection and implementation is guided by other legislation.

The marking indicates significant valuable underwater nature areas, which are potential production areas of ecosystem services.

The marking does not consider administrative border or protection areas, and the indicated areas are not proposals for protection areas.

The northern Bothnian Sea, Quark and Bothnian Bay:

Underwater natural values in the area are, for example, spawning areas of fish, underwater biotopes and flora as well as geologic formations. Natural values are concentrated in the shallow coastal waters and surroundings of islands. There are significant areas in the Quark, on the coast of Central Ostrobothnia and North Ostrobothnia as well as at the bottom of the Bothnian Bay. Due to isostatic uplift, habitats are constantly changing. There are unique species in the Bothnian Bay area.

The Archipelago Sea and southern Bothnian Sea:

Eutrophic bays and estuaries in the area create surroundings for many water and shore birds and nursery areas of fishes. It founds vast and fairy coherent reef area in the Gulf of Bothnia, where the underwater natural values of hard seabeds are high. The Bothnian Sea is located in the ecotone of the southern and northern biomes.

The Gulf of Finland:

Characteristic to the area are estuaries, sheltered inner bays, lagoons, spawning areas of fish, islets and reefs of the outer archipelago as well as valuable geologic formations, such as underwater sandbanks, ridges and basins.

The marine environment is impacted by several actions on land, such as nutrient run-offs and waste ending up in the sea.

Migratory fish waters, fish routes and spawning areas are crucial for fish reproduction.

Starting points and surveys

The Finnish ecologically significant marine underwater areas (EMMA) (the Finnish Environment Institute 2020). The valuable areas are significant especially in terms of the biodiversity, vulnerability and uniqueness of biotopes. Geologically diverse and natural state areas are also included. The survey is based on extensive materials, literature and marine nature knowledge of more than 50 professionals. The area definitions rely mainly on the data collected during the VELMU programme: The Finnish Inventory Programme for the Underwater Marine Environment.

The material has been generalised to suit the maritime spatial planning scale.

Marine area survey, Kymenlaakso Regional plan on trade and sea area (the Regional Council of Kymenlaakso 2013).

The background material for the plan map shows the Natura 2000 areas, private and State conservation areas, national parks and internationally important bird areas (IBAs), as well as Finnish Important Bird Areas (FINIBAs).