2 research outputs found
Designation of the Marine Nature National Park in Øresund: Dynamic Zoning and Ecosystem-Based Maritime Spatial Planning of a Shared Resource Area
No full textThis project examines prerequisites for establishing Denmark’s first marine national park in the Øresund in light of Denmark’s Marine Spatial Plan, Marine Strategy II, and the EU’s requirement to protect 30 % of marine areas—10 % strictly. The Øresund contains hotspots like eelgrass meadows, rocky reefs, and unique trophic networks but faces pressures from shipping and resource extraction. Using an interdisciplinary framework based on Commons theory, Pescoecology, and three science-theoretical approaches, the project shows how static, two-dimensional zoning models fail to capture the ocean’s four-dimensional character, including vertical habitat layers and migration patterns. Methodologically, a systematic literature review, GIS mapping in QGIS, and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders (the Danish Environmental Protection Agency, the Marine Think Tank, and The Blue Planet) were combined. Coding identified five themes: dynamic ecological processes versus static zoning; institutional responsibility; GIS’s performative role in decisionmaking; conflicts between biodiversity and commercial interests; and the need for a relational spatial conception encompassing time and depth. Triangulating qualitative and quantitative data reveals that existing planned zones fragment habitats without sufficient buffer areas to protect core habitats from cumulative impacts. Based on GIS visualizations and interview insights, three areas in northern Øresund—The Funnel, the eastern shore near Tårbæk Reef, and around Saltholm—are recommended for a marine national park. The project emphasizes the need for adaptive buffer zones, continuous data updates, and common-pool resource management principles to ensure local stakeholders and authorities participate in an advisory governance process. It recommends developing a post-zoning paradigm that integrates four-dimensional considerations (space, time, depth), adheres to the precautionary principle, and establishes clear responsibilities among governing authorities. In doing so, it contributes to operationalizing ecosystem-based marine management and supports Denmark’s achievement of national and European biodiversity targets
