This document provides recommendations to structure information within datasets for Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) based on scientific literature, reports of associated MSP projects in the Baltic Sea region (BSR), documents issued by the HELCOM-VASAB Maritime Spatial Planning Working Group and expert knowledge within the BONUS BASMATI project.

The aim is to reach a better interoperability and harmonisation for the inclusion of ecosystem services in MSP processes as well as a joint data management within the case studies anchored in the BONUS BASMATI project. Further, the proposed requirements on data can improve transboundary communication and foster coherent marine spatial plans.

The requirements on data described in this document are reflected and discussed from different perspectives including the planner and stakeholder perspective, the case studies and a technical perspective (Baltic Explorer). Accessibility and understandability of data are central aspects for planners and stakeholders. Highly, harmonised quality standards allow data to be easily and flexibly applicable by the user for different planning purposes and phases in the MSP process. Depending on the perspective, information on spatial dimension, time frame, origin of data, potential conflicts and synergies as well as structuring data is likely to be weighted differently.

The report proposes data requirements to be met to facilitate the inclusion of ecosystem services in MSP processes. First, in order to create a useful structure and to allow an easy search, we suggest to include data categories for datasets corresponding to the ecosystem service framework. Second, we suggest to add a wide range of tags and keywords in datasets to highlight the relation between different categories such as ecosystem services with e.g. associated human activities. Third, we recommend to describe spatial dimension, time frame, origin of data and potential conflicts and synergies in more detail (predefined classes) within datasets. The introduced simple schematic way of structuring information in datasets allows a high flexibility and optional additions by other users, planners and stakeholders depending on the purpose within the MSP process. It fosters transparency about data origin and enhances metadata quality which is crucial for usability of data within MSP. A short and easy understandable general guideline (template) for minimum metadata is included to support the production of high-quality metadata with minimum effort.