Reconfiguring maritime spatial planning in Estonia: local perspectives

Maritime spatial planning (MSP) in the Baltic Sea Region seeks to balance marine ecosystems, the blue economy, and social equity. However, recent geopolitical tensions and hybrid warfare have introduced a security turn, challenging civilian priorities and reshaping governance dynamics. This paper presents a systematic survey of MSP implementation in Estonia, drawing on responses from 21 coastal municipalities. Findings reveal strong local interest in planning roles and activities, particularly in tourism, coastal management, and renewable energy, yet legal and resource asymmetries constrain local impact and procedural justice. Respondents associated over-centralization and fragmented regulation with tensions among conservation, energy, and defense priorities, while also indicating broadly shared governance expectations and some variation in sectoral emphasis across municipalities. Comparative insights from the Baltic Sea Region highlight advanced governance models that embed local engagement in multi-sector and multi-tier planning. This paper suggests that stronger legal mandates, capacity-building, and transparent multi-level governance may help enhance perceived legitimacy, support blue justice objectives, and facilitate sustainability goals under increasing security pressures.