The project's idea of Nordic Blue Parks is a new concept that combines underwater nature trails, including cultural trails (on shipwreck and at other anthropogenic sites and constructions under water). Led by the Natural Heritage Services of Metsähallitus, a state enterprise of Finland, administering state-owned land and water, this one year pilot project aims to formulate criteria and guidelines for sustainable blue trails and to set up trails to test this outreach concept. This innovating project combines - for the first time - natural and cultural heritage and recreation - underwater

Although Finish underwater cultural heritage has been exceptionally well preserved throughout the centuries, these underwater secrets have been revealed and accessible to only a small group of sports divers with archaeological knowledge. A similar situation holds true for the underwater nature of the Nordic countries, where habitats and key species are still relatively unknown to the public at large.

What are the tasks of the Nordic Blue Parks project?

Because of the short duration of the pilot project in 2009, the immediate task of this endeavour is to use the existing underwater nature and cultural trails as examples.

In Finland, these include the Stora Hästö underwater nature trail (Korppoo, Archipelago Sea), as well as the underwater trail of the shipwreck Kronprins Gustav Adolf, situated near the island of Harmaja, south of Helsinki.

Similar projects are also ongoing in the other participating countries - Sweden, Norway and Denmark. From such information, the project goal is to publish Blue Parks and Blue Trails as concepts and represent underwater nature and cultural values to the general public.

Nature and cultural heritage as a resource for sustainable development and growth

How can natural and cultural values be a resource for sustainable development in the Nordic countries?

That is the question this project tries to answer, by providing case-studies of regional or local success stories. The possible synergy effect of working cross-sectoral with both natural and cultural heritage will be assessed. The project will therefore highlight examples where a combination of natural and cultural heritage has been the foundation of social, economic and environmentally sound development.

The project will concentrate on three themes:

• Nature and cultural heritage tourism
• Business development
• Good living environment.

Nordic Blue Parks projects in Finland

To-date there are 3 underwater trails in Finland:

• Kronprins Gustav Adolf Underwater Park (cultural trail)
• Stora Hästö Underwater Nature Trail
• Perämeri Underwater Nature Trail

 Cultural trail: The Kronprins Gustav Adolf Underwater Park

The first maritime historical underwater park in Finland is situated at the wreck site of the Kronprins Gustav Adolf. This Swedish ship sunk off Helsinki in 1788. The wreck was found in 1995. Underwater investigations were carried out 1997-1999 and the park was opened in the year 2000.

Diving among the cannons is quite an experience! Depth at the site is 19-21 metres, visibility is between one and ten metres. No special permission is needed for diving at the park during daytime in the summer.

There is a diver´s plastic sitemap and on-site equipment such as two special structured mooring buoys and two minor divers buoys with guiding lines down to the wreck. From the guiding lines starts the rope trail which is fitted to the bottom of the sea with over 30 special weights. Arrows show the direction .

The 13 information signs are made of concrete, with removable plastic information plates and there is an underwater guestbook.

The Stora Hästö Underwater Nature Trail

After a meeting with the marine archaeologists involved in the underwater park and shipwreck trail of the Kronprins Gustav Adolf, the Natural Heritage Services of Metsähallitus were so impressed that the idea of a underwater nature trail was born as a "sister" to the shipwreck-trail. Testing the underwater nature trail began in 2005 on the island of Stora Hästö, situated approximately 5 km southwest of the Korpoström Archipelago Research Centre, in the Archipelago National Park. The underwater nature of this area is both diverse and interesting and the aim of the nature trail is to continue to arouse interest in this marvellous natural resource for all visitors to the island.

Along the trail you can experience the rocky shores which support seaweed communities, as well as the sandy seabed, where seagrass meadows grow. You can see small fish, mussels, and many small invertebrates, such as snails and isopods. There is also a traditional terrestrial nature path on Stora Hästö, including a spot for camping, a fireplace, toilets and information boards.

The trail consists of two routes, a shallower one for snorkellers lined with orange rope, and a longer, deeper trail for divers, marked with blue rope. The whole route is approximately 200 metres in length. Both routes have information plates placed strategically along their path and marked with buoys, imparting information in Finnish and Swedish on the flora and fauna to be found there, as well as some information on the unique ecology of the Archipelago Sea.

The routes are easy to follow using the marked ropes, starting from a large white buoy, situated close to the entry point. The information plates lie in depths of 0.5 to 5.0 metres. On the snorkel trail most can be read while floating on the surface. The deeper plates are intended for divers. 

The Perämeri Underwater Nature Trail

The newest underwater nature trail, created under the auspices Metsähallitus (Finnish Forest an Park Service), is located in the Bay of Bothnia, in the northwestern corner of the Selkä-Sarvi archipelago. While the trail has been primarily designed for SCUBA divers with an interest in the underwater nature, culture and the marine biological work carried out in the Bay of Bothnia, it also offers a change from more traditional diving activities.

The underwater trail area represents the typical sub-aquatic world of the Bay of Bothnia, with soft bottom mussel communities, vascular plant meadows and rocky shoals swathed in water mosses. Snails and polyps are also to be found among the vascular plant communities.

Maasarvi is situated just north of Selkä-Sarvi harbour (N 65°36,9' W 24°12,0'), at the northernmost tip of which is found a bird sanctuary area. During the nesting period, i.e. between 1.5. and 31.7, it is forbidden for boaters to either land in this area or approach it closer than 100 metres. 

To access the underwater trail, you must tie up your boat to the buoys provided on the western side of Maasarvi. Anchoring is strictly forbidden. The underwater trail lies only a short distance away and is clearly marked by a buoy "START". You must swim along the surface to the start buoy, from which you descend to a depth of approximately 6 metres. The diving route is marked with a single rope to prevent divers becoming lost in case of poor visibility.

Along the trail there are concrete plates from depths of 1 to 6 metres. Attached to these are information signs which present the endemic sub-aquatic flora and fauna, as well as some material about shipwrecks. In addition, divers can try out sampling gear used by scientific divers. The route is approximately 500 metres in length and returns to the start buoy, from which it is easy to ascend to the surface along the buoy rope provided.

Additional facilities at the Selkä-Sarvi harbour include:

• a camping area for tents
• two places for making camp fires
• a rental cottage
• a wilderness hut
• a fisherman's village

as well as other interesting local features such as a sun dial, a navigational tower or day beacon (pooki) and a fishing hut (Ailinpeitin kalamaja), which dates from the 1860's. From the harbour on the southern tip of the island, a wooden walkway stretches about 1 kilometre through the uneven landscape to a fishing village.

Nordic Blue Parks projects in Sweden

Dalarö Blue Park

The Dalarö archipelago southeast of Stockholm contains a great number of well-preserved shipwrecks from the 17th and 18th centuries. The waters off Dalarö are a traditional hot spot for scuba divers. Each year, 1500-2000 divers are estimated to visit the area. However, one negative aspect of the popularity is the many incidents of looting. There is also continuous low-intensive destruction through wear, and as a result, diving has been prohibited on some of the shipwrecks.

The Dalarö Model is a concept developed by the Swedish National Maritime Museums. The concept envisions a wreck-diving park which will enable controlled access to protected shipwrecks. The concept addresses divers as well as non-divers. Divers will get permission to dive on the wrecks when accompanied by a licensed guide, who shall have relevant competence and training to be able educate the divers on the cultural heritage of the area and the shipwrecks. This will increase professionalism as well as business opportunities among dive charter companies operating in the area.

Non-divers will be able to get access to the underwater cultural heritage onboard boats equipped with ROV:s for real-time experience. We also plan to make digitally enhanced movies and animated reconstructions of ships for display on widescreen television and on movie screens.

The local tourist office and the local historic community association are active in the creation of an exhibition in the 18th century customs building in the picturesque Dalarö village, and local and regional government are active in the process of developing the Dalarö Blue Park and the Dalarö Model.

Dalarö is close to Nåttarö and the Nåttarö underwater nature trail which opened the summer of 2009. Nåttarö snorkling trail is associated to the Blue Parks Project.

Axmar Iron Works Blue Park

The 17th century iron works at Axmar by the coast north of Gävle is part of the industrial heritage of Sweden. The waters outside the Axmar iron works are crowded with wrecks and constructions related to the local iron works industry and trade. Axmar is a nature preserve and a marine protection area. The Axmar iron works area will also become a culture preserve during 2010.
Due to the relatively rapid land uplift (70 centimeters/100 years) the sea level has dropped during the years, exposing shipwrecks just below the water surface, visible from boats and sometimes from land.

The Axmar iron works has ideal Blue Park potential. Apart from easily accessible underwater natural and cultural attractions, the old harbour warehouse houses a very popular restaurant attracting between 40,000 to 60,000 visitors every year (http://www.axmarbrygga.se/). The local and regional authorities, regional university college, local population, community association and business are informed, involved and very positive. During the summer of 2009 we explored the area in order to roughly sketch the first Blue Trail. The trail is planned to be opened to the public during 2010.

Source: http://www.nordicblueparks.com/