Interview 
HN 105 — 11/2016 
7 
territory, which is prone to high user pressure with 
very differing national interests at the same time. 
Three years ago, all neighbouring states started 
a common project, the Baltic Sea Bathymetry 
Database (BSBD). A website offers the link to a 
bathymetric database that is maintained by Swe 
den. The result shows what is possible, when all 
Baltic Sea states cooperate by supplying data and 
ifone party on be half of all others puts together all 
data of the Baltic Sea. At the same time, we learned 
the difficulties of such a project not only from a 
technical point of view, but also from the adminis 
trative one. However, I am very optimistic. 
HN: Do you coordinate with the neighbouring 
countries the usage of the different Baltic Sea ar 
eas? 
Jonas: Spatial planning in the Baltic Sea plays an 
important role. The process of authorising wind 
energy plants, cable routes and pipelines gives us 
a clear idea of our neighbour's interests. Together 
we discuss which sea area is suitable for which us 
age. This allocation of usage and protection areas 
doesn't belong to the still prevailing concept of 
hydrography, but it is based on it. It is very nice 
to see how similarities and mutual trust become 
stronger through cooperation. 
HN: Since January 2014 you are Vice President of 
the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency. 
What has changed within the agency since you 
have started? 
Jonas: I am very much interested in topics that are 
not related directly to nautical hydrography. When 
represent the agency I must have knowledge of 
the entire range of topics, whether it is about flag 
states administration, maritime spatial planning or 
oceanography. All this has influence on my view of 
hydrography because I need to reflect on the rela 
tionship of these topics and hydrography. I have al 
ready given up the idea that 
hydrography is all about sea 
charts. My American col 
leagues say that it should 
not be »chart-driven« any 
more, but »data-centred« 
and I cannot agree more. 
The Federal Maritime and 
Hydrographic Agency has 
broadened its hydrographic 
spectrum from the mere 
producing point of view to 
the entire ocean knowledge. 
We administer the available 
data and information in such a flexible way so we 
can satisfy all reguests and user interests without 
restrictions. The concept of hydrography is in a de 
veloping process. Apart from ground topography 
and geology, data of water column, salinity and 
dynamics belong to it because all of them are in 
terdependent. Some time ago a TV reporter asked 
me for a briefest description how the state of the 
Baltic Sea is. My answer was only three sentences 
long. However, at the same time I thought that the 
guestion deserved more profundity, the presenta 
tion and relation of each individual aspect. 
HN: You talk about nautical hydrography, and your 
department in the Federal Maritime and Hydro- 
»The concept of hydrography 
is in a developing process. 
Apart from ground topog 
raphy and geology, data of 
water column, salinity and 
dynamics belong to It 
because all of them are 
Interdependent« 
Mathias Jonas