Danish Maritime Authority to be responsible for Denmark's first maritime spatial plan

Denmark is to have an overall, holistic maritime spatial plan for the Danish sea areas. That was decided today when the Danish Parliament passed the bill on maritime spatial planning, the DMA said in a press-release.

The Danish Maritime Authority is tasked with implementing the new act on maritime spatial planning and will, in the years to come, be working closely together with other ministries, Government agencies, coastal municipalities and relevant business and interest organisations to establish the framework for Denmark's first maritime spatial plan. The final maritime spatial plan is to be issued by 31 March 2021, at the latest.

Maritime spatial plan to help promote economic growth through sustainable use of sea areas
The purpose of drafting a maritime spatial plan is to promote economic growth by means of coordinated development and use of the sea areas.

The purpose of maritime spatial planning is to promote the co-existence of fishing, raw material extraction, nature, shipping, offshore wind farms, recreational activities, tourism, the environment, etc., thereby contributing to improved framework conditions for the maritime industries. Maritime spatial planning covers the energy sector, maritime transport, fishing and aquaculture, the extraction of raw materials from the sea as well as protection of the environment.

Director General of the Danish Maritime Authority Andreas Nordseth says:

"We, in the Danish Maritime Authority, are pleased to be at the head of the drafting of Denmark's first maritime spatial plan. Maritime spatial planning will be an important step when it comes to creating new growth potential across all maritime sectors. Coordination of the various activities on the seas enables us to give both investors and the industry more predictable access to maritime resources, while at the same time taking account of the environment."

The act on maritime spatial planning formally implements EU directive 2014/89/EU establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning.