There need to be more offshore marine protected areas (MPAs) in the South Baltic Area to achieve the goal that at least 30% of the Baltic Sea is protected, and the existing fragmented MPAs form a coherent network. Therefore, 4 partners from 3 South Baltic countries – Lithuania, Poland and Sweden – are participating in the small-scale South Baltic project BLUE CRESCENT – “Promoting the blue economy by establishing a protected area across the maritime border of Poland, Sweden and Lithuania”, No. STHB.02.02-IP.01-0001/24. The common challenge addressed in the BLUE CRESCENT project is the need to concentrate efforts to ensure sustainable management of the South Baltic offshore as a clean water area integrated across borders and robust in ecological, biological and economic terms. Also, in the project area, there is a cross-border problem of dumped chemical munitions threatening the prospective offshore wind farms, underwater cables and pipelines, fishing and shipping.
The project approach relies on ecosystem-based MSP across the maritime borders, gathering data and conducting studies to understand the area’s ecological and biological significance that will serve as the foundation for involving stakeholders from all participating countries, including government agencies, local communities, NGOs, and industries; collaborating with HELCOM/VASAB; drafting necessary cross-border legal agreements and frameworks.
Project partners:
Lead partner – Administration of Lithuania Minor Protected Areas (Lithuania);
– Partner No. 1 – EUCC Baltic Office (Lithuania);
– Partner No. 2 – University of Gdansk (Poland);
– Partner No. 3 – World Maritime University (Sweden);
 
The project is funded by the Interreg South Baltic Programme 2021 – 2027

Priority: Sustainable South Baltic – promoting sustainable development and blue and green economy; Measure: Promoting sustainable use of water
Total project budget: 199 379,60 euro

Project start date: 2024-09-01                       
Project end date: 2026-02-28
 
This article has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The content of this article is the sole responsibility of the Administration of Lithuania Minor Protected Areas. It can under no circumstances be taken to reflect the opinion of the European Union.