Maritime potential of the Russian sector of the south-eastern Baltic Sea and its spatial usage

Abstract

Five major uses of sea space in the Russian sector of the southeastern Baltic Sea (SEBS) are navigation, fishery, mining, recreation, and military uses. A brief description of each existing and future marine space user as well as conflicts between them are presented in this study. The total area of each use was calculated. The most extensive zones are occupied by commercial fishery and military uses, which cover almost the entire exclusive economical zone. Special attention was made for potential marine protected areas (especially in offshore areas of the Curonian Spit, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List), which are not under legislation of the Kaliningrad Oblast’ but require a particular defence. The area offshore of the western coast has the greatest economic activity and is the most vulnerable part of the open sea. Future intensification of the marine space use will result in increased negative load to the marine environment. Sustainable development concept and maritime spatial planning are declarative at the state level for many years, there is still no implementation mechanism.