Baltic Sea National Park: Final report on the consultation process published

As an impartial contractor, the consulting firm Eisenschmidt Consulting Crew organised and moderated eight specialist workshops with different interest groups and sectors as well as a final interlocking workshop. The Report summarises the course and results of all workshops and contains an overall view of the process by the moderator.

Eisenschmidt was commissioned by the Ministry for Energy Transition, Climate Protection, Environment and Nature of the State of Schleswig-Holstein (MEKUN). The Ministry emphasises that the report exclusively reflects the perspective of the independent moderator and not that of MEKUN.

Opportunities and risks discussed in workshops on the Baltic Sea National Park

At the workshops, stakeholders from the fields of fishing, agriculture, nature conservation, the regional economy, tourism and water sports had the opportunity to contribute to the discussion process at an early stage. In doing so, they were able to bring both opportunities and the risks and fears associated with the project into the discussion. They were also asked about their willingness to make their own conservation efforts and alternative proposals to a national park.

The documented contents of the workshops are now compiled in the report on around 90 pages and their results are categorised and interpreted by the consulting firm. These assessments should now help the ministry to proceed further:

The results of the consultations will be incorporated into a proposal for better protection of the Baltic Sea!"

Important building block for the next steps

"The report is an important building block in the decision-making process on how to proceed with the protection of our Baltic Sea," said Schleswig-Holstein's Environment Minister Tobias Goldschmidt, who is very concerned about the national park project. "Parallel to the consultation process, MEKUN received numerous comments, suggestions and proposals for measures to protect the Baltic Sea last year. My staff and I have held numerous discussions with authorities such as the German Armed Forces, the Waterways and Shipping Administration and the scientific community. All of this is currently being analysed as an overall package and will be incorporated into a proposal for better protection of the Baltic Sea," said Goldschmidt on the next steps.

Download the complete final report:

• Final report of the consultations on a Baltic Sea National Park (PDF)

More about the Baltic Sea National Park:

• Interlocking workshop: How the final meeting on the Baltic Sea National Park went
• Baltic Sea National Park: fears of closures through the back door
• Ministry wants protection zones: Baltic Sea to become a national park, recreational boaters face restrictions
• State party conference: Baltic Sea National Park on the brink of collapse - CDU to vote against Goldschmidt plans
• Baltic Sea National Park: Loud protest at the rally in Fehmarnsund
• Baltic Sea National Park: Clear words at the water sports workshop
• Potential backdrop: The plans for a Baltic Sea National Park