A meeting was held between LIFE REEF experts and the manager of the Salacgriva port of the Limbazu region municipality to discuss the impact of the port's operation on the environment and to promote the development of a nature protection plan.

The port of Salacgriva is a historically significant place that has served as a sea gate to Northern Vidzeme for centuries. Today, the port is not only an important economic center, but also a part of the fragile coastal ecosystem of the Baltic Sea. Compared to other small ports in Latvia, the port of Salacgriva has shown stable cargo turnover. Last year, compared to 2022, the volume of cargo in the port increased by 23.7%.

During the meeting, the need to find a balance between port development and nature protection was emphasized. The conservation plan will serve as a guide to achieve this balance, ensuring a favorable conservation status for specially protected marine species and habitats, while promoting the sustainable development of the port.

During the development of the plan, scientific information about the port's surroundings will be gathered, potential threats will be identified and measures will be developed to mitigate them. The plan will also include functional zoning, which will determine what activities are allowed in each zone.

The European Union's transport policy aims to promote sustainable mobility while reducing the negative impact on the environment.

The future challenges for both involved parties are to maintain and develop the port's economic potential while protecting the coastal ecosystem of the Baltic Sea. Developing a conservation plan is an important step in achieving this balance.