Sweden

Basic facts on Marine Waters

Territorial sea (12 nm zone): approx. 70,000 km2
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): approx.i 60,000 km2
The EEZ is limited to the central line between adjacent states because the width of the sea between them is shorter than 400 nautical miles.
In Öresund and the Åland Sea, the territorial seas meet at the central line by a special agreement with Denmark and Finland respectively, and at the Norwegian border in the Skagerrak and the Finnish border in Bothnian Bay.
Swedish territorial waters are divided into two zones: public and private waters.

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Relevant links for Sweden

View practical information for Sweden

Go to Baltic Sea basin page

Relevant practices for Sweden

Current Status 2014: National planning in Sweden’s territorial waters and EEZ

Swedish Maritime Strategy

Swedish MSP Roadmap

Stakeholders in Swedish Marine Planning

Transnational Cooperation and Dialogue in the Pomeranian Bight/Arkona Basin

Handbook on multi-level consultations in MSP

Maritime Strategy for Västra Götaland

Maritime Clusters in Västra Götaland

Transboundary MSP pilot in the Bothnian Sea

Pilot MSP for the Middle Bank

Assessment of how climate change will influence the ecosystem in the Baltic Sea and its uses

Coherent Cross-border Maritime Spatial Planning for the Southwest Baltic Sea

Towards Coherent Cross-Border Maritime Spatial Planning in the Central Baltic Sea

Relevant projects for Sweden

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Disclaimer: The illustrative map shown on this page should not be interpreted as a legal representation of jurisdictional boundaries.

Which maritime spatial plans exist?

Three national plans covering the territorial sea and the EEZ have been prepared: Skagerrak/Kattegat, Baltic Sea and Gulf of Bothnia. The draft Swedish MSPs specify thirteen uses: electricity transmission; energy extraction; investigation of an area for energy extraction; defence; general use; culture; nature; recreation; sand extraction; investigation of an area for sand extraction; maritime shipping; investigation of an area for maritime shipping; commercial fishing. The MSPs also specify areas where particular consideration should be given to high nature values, to high culture values, or to the interests of Sweden’s total defence.

The MSP plan was adopted by the Government of Sweden on 10 February, 2022.

National MSP data is available on the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management website at: www.havochvatten.se

MSP legislation

The Swedish Environmental Code (EC, 1998:808) and the Plan and Building Act (2010:900) constitute the legal basis for MSP in Sweden. According to the Environmental Code there shall be three marine spatial plans: Bothnian Bay, Baltic Sea, Western Waters (Skagerrak/Kattegatt) covering the area one nautical mile from the baseline seawards (incl. the EEZ). The plans, which shall be adopted by the Government, shall guide and contribute to sustainable development. The Government may, according to the legislation, adopt regulations prohibiting or limiting activities in the destined geographical areas. The MSP process is regulated by the Marine Spatial Planning Ordinance (2015:400), which contains provisions on geographical boundaries, the content of the marine spatial plans, the responsibility for preparation, consultation and cooperation in the proposal process, and monitoring and review. In parallel, the Plan and Building Act (PBL Act, 2010:900) regulates the responsibilities and mandate for the municipalities to plan land and water including the territorial sea.