The activities and initiatives carried out within the framework of the Bothnian Bay Coastal Inter-Municial Cooperation are jointly financed by the five municipalities. For certain specific development initiatives, additional funds are sought for external project financing.
Project with co-financing
Discover sport fishing in the Gulf of Bothnia coast and archipelago
The coast and archipelago of the Gulf of Bothnia offer great opportunities for a rich outdoor life and exciting sport fishing, whether you choose spinning and fly fishing or pimping and angling. Near the coast you can find fish species such as perch, roach and pike, and further out in the archipelago, grayling and whitefish are common catches. However, knowledge of these fishing opportunities is not widespread, even for keen anglers, this coastal fishing can be unknown territory. By disseminating information about the fishing that is available and teaching how to fish, the project highlights this opportunity. The project is three years long, starting in the spring of 2023 and ending in the autumn of 2026. The project is financed with the help of government grants for local nature conservation projects (LONA) and has been carried out in collaboration with local village associations, boat clubs, fisheries conservation areas and fishing guide companies as well as Sportfiskarna, the Sea Rescue Society, Visit Skellefteå and the county administrative boards in Norrbotten and Västerbotten. Read more in the project description about what needs to be done.
In one of the sub-projects we have written a Handbook for a successful fishing courseThe handbook contains tips and checklists of things to consider when organizing a course on fishing. We hope that the handbook will be useful to as many people as possible.
In another sub-project, we have produced a sport fishing guide – Discover sport fishing in the Gulf of Bothnia. / Discover sport fishing in the Bothnian Bay. The sport fishing guide is available in Swedish and English. Here the reader can find information about which fish species may be caught in the Gulf of Bothnia, how to fish and fishing rules, but also information about seamanship, icemanship and public right of way. The guide also presents the five municipalities' archipelagos and links to more information about fishing in each coastal area. The fishing guide will also be available in printed form, including at the municipalities' tourist centers.
The project has created a website about coastal sport fishing. Here you will find essentially the same information as in the sport fishing guide. The page has been published on the Skellefteå municipality website – Interested in taking up fishing? Naturkarta, the Outdoor Map, also contains a compilation of fishing spots and accessible boat ramps along the Skellefteå coast.
Accessible and sustainable outdoor life in the Bothnian coast and archipelago
The project is for three years and started on 1 April 2022. The purpose of the project is to inform about the natural and cultural values of the archipelago, develop and test new technology for a more environmentally friendly and sustainable toilet handling in a sensitive archipelago environment, create improved opportunities for outdoor life for people with mobility impairments, offer close to urban areas nature experiences archipelago environment and create improved opportunities for recreation and outdoor life Bothnian coast and archipelago. Measures that will be implemented at a number of different visitor destinations are, for example, the construction of barbecue areas, fencing, accessibility adaptation or various information initiatives and signage. Government grants for local nature conservation projects (LONA) are co-financiers for the project's implementation. Read more in the project description about what has been done..
In one of the sub-projects, an inspiring walking map has been produced - Din guide till vandringsleder i Bottenvikens skärgård. It is also available in English – Your guide to walking trails in the Bothnian Bay.
Preliminary study for future development of the coast and archipelago of the Bothnian Bay
The project was carried out during 2021-2022 due to the fact that the Bothnian Archipelago municipal cooperation plans to implement major investments in infrastructure and other capacity-raising measures in the area. The project aimed to produce documentation for future requests, project applications and permit processes in connection with future implementation projects where the goal is sustainable development towards an accessible and attractive coast and archipelago in the Bothnian Bay. The project was carried out with financial support from Region Norrbotten and Region Västerbotten. A final report with a description of the project's implementation and results has been produced after the project has ended.
Destination development in the Bothnian Bay archipelago
The project was implemented during 2018 to 2020. The purpose of the project was to create increased accessibility to a number of places to visit in the Bothnian Bay for both locals and visitors through investments in expanded services. Service functions in the form of, for example, guest jetties, dry toilets, barbecue areas and footbridges enable more people to visit the archipelago in a sustainable way, ie without damaging the sensitive archipelago environment. The project was financed with the support of the Norrbotten Region, Västerbotten Region. A final report with a description of the project's implementation and results has been produced after the project has ended.
Information signs in the Bothnian Bay archipelago
The project was carried out between 2017 and 2020. The purpose of the project was to spread information about and welcome about different places in the archipelago. The project produced 54 site-specific signs that were set up in the coastal and archipelago area from Kataja in the Haparanda archipelago down to Lövsele-Noret in Skellefteå. The signs contain information about the destination and some general information about the area as a whole. The project was funded with support from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, Swedish Lapland Visitors Board, Heart of Lapland, Visit Luleå, Visit Piteå and Visit Skellefteå. A final report with a description of the project's implementation and results has been produced after the project has ended.
Development measures in the Bothnian Bay archipelago
The project was carried out between 2011 and 2014. The project's purpose was to increase the archipelago's attractiveness and accessibility so that municipal citizens and visitors have the opportunity to discover and use the archipelago with regard to and preservation of natural and cultural values, environment and landscape. A large number of initiatives were carried out in several places in the archipelago. Among other things, harbor improvements were carried out on Haparanda Sandskär, rental cottage on Renskär, dredging of Trollerisundet and Pite-Rönnskär and Bondökanalen in Piteå. In total, the project comprised just over SEK 65 million, of which approximately SEK 34 million was financed with support from the Regional Fund, the County Administrative Board of Norrbotten, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and others. A description of the project is included in a report on the collaboration between 2006-2019.
Collaboration and product development in the Bothnian Bay coast and archipelago
The project was implemented between 2012 and 2013. The project's goal and purpose was to stimulate companies to collaborate to develop new products that enrich the experience of the destination and increase profitability. The participants in the project were a network of 20 companies in tourism and handicrafts / arts and crafts. The project was co-financed with the support of Leader Mare Boreale. A description of the project is included in a report on the collaboration between 2006-2019.
Boundless Bothnian Bay
The project was carried out between 2011 and 2014. The project was a collaborative project between Sweden and Finland with the aim of strengthening and developing the Bothnian Bay area and its islands as important tourist destinations and as a resource for the business community. Partners were Metsähallitus (Metsähallitus), the cities of Kalajoki and Kokkola, Oulu, Iilaakso Oy, Kemi-Tornio Regional Development Acency, the municipalities of Skellefteå, Luleå, Piteå, Kalix and Haparanda, Bothnian Arc. The project was financed with the support of Interreg IV A Nord. A description of the project is included in a report on the collaboration between 2006-2019.
