Handbook on multi-level consultations in MSP (2014)

The sea is a complex and fragile ecosystem providing goods and services that are used by many actors: sectors (e.g. energy, fishery, shipping, tourism) and nations (e.g. 9 countries around the Baltic). Multiple interventions of these actors, often not taking account of actions undertaken by others, cause cumulative processes in the ecosystem leading to often irreversible changes in the marine resources. Even within the same sector interests may differ depending on the “level”, i.e. micro-economic and macro-economic interests / perspectives. Sometimes strong regional interests can prevail over national ones and vice versa. Through complex pathways this may again affect the ecosystem services provided by the sea.