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LIFE07 NAT/FIN/000151
Inventories and Planning for
the Marine Natura 2000 Network in Finland
FINMARINET
After Life Conservation Plan
2013
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1. An overview of the project history and an assessment of the situation at the
end of the project
Background
Inventories and Planning for the Marine Natura 2000 Network in Finland (FINMARINET) -LIFE07
NAT/FIN/000151 was implemented over a 4.5 year period running from 2009 to 2013. During the project,
data was collected from more than 22 000 sampling points in six study areas along the Finnish coastline. In
addition, geological data was acquired from nearly 800 km2 of the seabed. The large amount of field data
produced in the project made it possible to develop reliable spatial distribution models. These models have
now been constructed for a broader range of marine benthic species than ever before in Finland. From
models based on the natural diversity data, maps of valuable habitats and organisms have been prepared, to
be freely available in an internet-based map service: http://paikkatieto.ymparisto.fi/velmu/map.htm (in
Finnish). The FINMARINET project has also reached literally thousands of people by sharing information
about underwater wildlife and biodiversity in a variety of public events and media.
Based on extensive inventories and modelling, FINMARINET has provided new information about marine
habitats, bottom-dwelling plant and animal species, as well as their constituent communities in the Finnish
sea areas. The overall picture of the distribution of underwater Natura 2000 habitats along the Finnish
coastline has been significantly improved by the project. The project focused on the location and extent of
important habitats such as reefs, sand banks, under-water parts of esker islands and boreal Baltic islands and
islets, lagoons, large shallow inlets and bays as well as estuaries. In particular, we now know much more
about the distribution of reefs and sandbanks in the study areas. Substantial new information about the
offshore areas has been produced, as well. The general framework for continuous marine information
production has now been created, and the forthcoming investments on particularly modelling, will be an
asset when developing further the Finnish Natura 2000 network. The new information and knowledge
acquired in the project has been extensively discussed among the project experts, and recommendations have
been drawn up from this. The information produced by the project is provided to the authorities to assess the
adequacy of networks of protected areas and to guide possible further actions. Several propositions to
improve the coverage of the national marine network of Natura 2000 areas are brought up. These are
presented in further detail in Part 2. The new information will greatly enhance the quality of the management
of existing Natura sites, which are under the management of one of the project beneficiaries, Metsähallitus
NHS.
SWOT analysis of the institutional framework
The SWOT analysis of the institutional framework with regard to the future of the Finnish Natura 2000
network in the light of the FINMARINET results can be presented as follows:
Strengths:
 Firm information base to work on issues regarding marine underwater nature
 Strong network of marine nature experts comprising researchers as well as administrators,
particularly in field inventories and modelling
 Improved capacity to assess the environmental changes affecting underwater biota including
reporting of major EU directives (WFD, MSFD, forthcoming MSPD)
 Improved capacity to carry out maritime spatial planning
 Improved capacity to plan for management of conservation areas and to assess the coherence of the
conservation areas network
 Improved capacity to implement the Baltic Sea Action Plan together with other HELCOM
counterparts
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Weaknesses:
 Although the new habitat maps present modelling results based on the best information available, the
modelling procedure contains many uncertainties and generalisations that must be kept in mind when
using the maps. Therefore, ground-truthing is required prior to any decisions to be made based on
the new information.
 Large proportions of the Finnish marine areas are still poorly invented. Therefore, conclusions at
national level always remain uncertain to some degree.
Opportunities:
 Increased demand for information on marine nature and valuable sites by planning processes
involving marine areas (project results used in habitats directive reporting as well as maritime spatial
planning already during the course of the project)
 Increased awareness of marine biodiversity has been created through extensive dissemination
actions. This will promote public acceptance for conservation efforts.
Threats:
 Strict national legislation and the policy of the defence forces in releasing bathymetric data and
bottom type data compiled by FINMARINET
 Limited financial resources for acquisition of land and sea areas for conservation
 Fragmented private ownership of in particular inshore water areas makes management of marine
Natura 2000 sites difficult. Furthermore, many private owners of marine areas are reluctant to sell
their waters in the first place. This may hamper the extension of the conservation network
 Fragmented shoreline as a complicating factor in field work and modelling
 Increment of environmental pressures affecting the Baltic Sea ecosystems
 Reduction of the overall national financing base of the research and monitoring of Finnish marine
areas
2. After-LIFE objectives and methodology
Objectives
 To contribute to the improvement of the Finnish Natura 2000 network in its coverage of key marine
habitats, particularly reefs and sandbanks; percentage of the marine habitats under Natura 2000
network and other conservation statuses.
 To contribute to the improved management of the Natura 2000 sites in the project target areas based
on better informed management planning; the number of management plans of marine Natura 2000
areas using FINMARINET data and information.
Main recommendations for future actions
The main conclusions and recommendations of FINMARINET in the target areas are as follows:
1. Updating of the Standard Data Forms of all sites of the study area is recommended based on the new
data
2. In respect of identifying sites of particular biological value, and reaching sufficient geographical
coverage of the Natura 2000 network, following sites are recommended to be focused on in further
detail:
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Bothnian Bay (FI1300301 Perämeren kansallispuisto, FI1300302 Perämeren saaret)
Potential sandbanks are a core issue. Substantial occurrences of sand exist in the area, but information about
the adjoining ecosystems is lacking. Ecological ground-truthing especially outside Natura 2000 areas needs
to be made, since the concept of sandbanks implies information about the ecosystems. According to tentative
information, most of the underwater sand areas in the Bothnian Bay are more or less void of sessile biota.
Regarding potential new Natura 2000 areas, the key point is the possible added value that the new areas
would bring into the national Natura 2000 network. Assessment of this can only be done after more detailed
ground-truthing of the models produced in FINMARINET.
The species level information indicates that distribution of some formerly poorly known species, some of
which are threatened, is wider than previously thought. Fourleaf mare's-tail (Hippuris tetraphylla), (Alisma
wahlenbergii) and Fontinalis mosses (Fontinalis sp.) are such species. Furthermore, two regionally new
macroalgal species (Batrachospermum sp. and Hildenbrandia rubra) were discovered from the Bothnian
Bay area in 2009. Thus, it can be concluded that the studied area has much higher biodiversity than what was
originally expected.
Figure 1. Habitats in the Bay of Bothnia target area
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Quark Archipelago (FI0800130 Merenkurkun saaristo)
The modelling work gave a better understanding of the huge proportions of the reef areas in the northern and
western parts of the research area. Also some underwater parts of boreal Baltic islets and small islands
(1620) were now modelled for the first time in the area. Updating the Standard Data Form of the site is
recommended.
Figure 2. Habitats in the Quark target area
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Bothnian Sea(FI0200073 Rauman saaristo)
According to the modelling results, rich assemblages of reefs exist offshore west from the existing Natura
2000 sites. The reefs in question are located within the Bothnian Sea National Park. However, it should be
considered whether the existing Natura 2000 sites should be expanded to cover the major reef areas. The
reefs in this area are particularly important from the point of view of occurrence of Fucus radicans.
Extending the Natura 2000 site to cover the areas of occurrence of this species would be important to protect
the genetic diversity of the species.
Figure 3. Habitats in the Bothnian Sea target area. Recommendations refer to the area marked with
red.
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Archipelago Sea (FI0200090 and FI0200164 Saaristomeri)
The reefs and sandbanks of the southern rim of the research area need special attention. Since the area is
important also from the point of view of avifauna conservation, establishing a SPA/SCI area should be
considered.
Possibilities to include wider parts of the underwater esker zone (Salpausselkä 3 stretching through the study
area from southwest to northeast) into the Natura 2000 network should be considered. See areas marked in
the map in Figure 4.
Figure 4. Habitats in the Archipelago Sea target area. Recommendations refer to the areas marked
with red.
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Western Gulf of Finland (FI0100005 Tammisaaren ja Hangon saariston ja Pohjanpitäjänlahden
merensuojelualue, FI0100107 Hangon itäinen selkä, FI0100006 Tulliniemen
linnustonsuojelualue)
The project produced a separate modelling view of a part of the EEZ-zone located south from the modeling
area. Underwater reefs with a typical ecosystem of Mytilus and Cordylophora were found with no particular
conservation values. However, the unstudied area remaining between the study area and the EEZ should be
taken into more detailed scrutiny in the future. The area is known to have underwater canyons with high
depth differences. A representative offshore-inshore ecosystem gradient could possibly be found.
According to the modelling results, the sea area northwest from the Hanko peninsula is highly interesting and
could have high nature values. The possibility to data corrections and extensions of the existing Natura 2000
(SPA/SCI) site there should be considered.
Figure 5. Habitats in the Western Gulf of Finland target area. Recommendations refer to the areas
marked with red.
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Eastern Gulf of Finland (FI0408001 Itäisen Suomenlahden saaristo ja vedet)
The area is fairly well covered by the national park and the Natura 2000 network, although the water areas
are excluded from the National Park. This hampers the management of the marine areas of the National Park,
as well as the Natura 2000 site. To ensure conservation of the valuable habitats in the water areas in question,
their procurement to the ownership of the national park should be actively promoted.
The needs for updating the Standard Data Forms for all sites in the areas should be considered on the basis of
the new data.
Figure 6. Habitats in the Eastern Gulf of Finland target area
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Methodology
A vital interest in developing the implementation of the Habitats Directive in Finnish marine areas is to
continue developing the information production network strengthened by FINMARINET. The main focus in
this matter is put on the Finnish Inventory Programme for the Underwater Marine Environment (VELMU).
The FINMARINET/VELMU data will be useful for the management of marine Natura 2000 sites and has
already proven useful for the periodical reporting for the Habitats Directive. These methods and the data
compiled will also be useful when developing the national environmental monitoring framework for the
Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
Furthermore, following methodological issues should be kept in mind when developing the marine
inventories in the future:
 The modeling expertise, both regarding technical and human resources, must be strengthened
 Ground-truthing is a prerequisite for all spatial modeling
 The spatial coverage of the FINARINET/VELMU inventories still needs to be improved and
additional field data should be obtained in all coastal areas, especially in the Åland Islands and parts
of the Gulf of Bothnia.
3. Funding needs and the sources of funds
Funding needs are evident especially in three sectors:



Implementation of conservation measures as such (land and sea area purchase, maintenance of the
conservation areas)
Maintenance and development of the national VELMU programme (field work and modelling)
General research and development to strengthen the scientific background of marine diversity
monitoring
Conservation measures
Funding needs will depend on the results of eventual ground-truthing and conservation decisions. Depending
on area, price may vary significantly, and it is not meaningful to give any estimates at this point. Potential
funding sources are budgetary and EU LIFE+ Nature resources.
Maintenance and development of VELMU
Funding need approx. 1 million € annually from public sources mainly for operational purposes, such as field
work and modelling.
Research and development
Funding need approx. 350 000€ annually from national and international sources. Especially crucial would
be EU-related sources, such as FP7 and its followers, as well as LIFE+ programme.
LIFE07 NAT/FIN/000151
After LIFE Conservation Plan