This week, the Crown Princess Victoria visited The Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management, SwAM, the Lead partner of Pan Baltic Scope collaboration. Her agenda included information about SwAM’s work on maritime spatial planning, efforts to save the Baltic Sea, environmentally hydropower and fisheries control in marine protected areas.

The Crown Princess is very familiar and interested in issues related to marine environment. We are very pleased that she visits us. Her interest also makes the public aware of the challenges that exist, says Jakob Granit, Director General SwAm.

The Crown Princess was very interested to learn more about maritime spatial planning and Pan Baltic Scope collaboration. During the visit, the Crown Princess met Thomas Johansson and Joacim Johannesson, both in maritime spatial planning at SwAM.

We talked about how the sea is associated with land and how we handle it in maritime spatial planning. We also talked about which social services we have and can develop in the sea, such as energy production, transport, recreation and food through fishing. We gave examples of how the authority handles various interests that collide and how we try to find consensus, says Thomas Johansson, head of the Marine Spatial Planning at SwAM and the Lead partner of Pan Baltic Scope.

Thomas Johansson showed examples of the maps we have developed together to illustrate the need for cooperation in Pan Baltic Scope. Photo credit: Natalie Greppi.

We also talked about how Sweden´s maritime spatial planning is related to neighbouring countries. Ships, lines, ecosystems and fisheries bind us together. It is necessary and important to collaborate, not least in the Baltic Sea.

Thomas Johansson giving the Princess a gift – a white pebble from Denmark. The white pebbles are the symbol of the project and representing the cooperation in Pan Baltic Scope. Photo credit: Natalie Greppi.