The Finnish Ministry of Environment has announced plans to expand the Eastern Gulf of Finland National Park into marine areas, which currently do not include any water area, encompassing approximately 63,000 hectares. This proposed expansion is intended to enhance the park, which presently covers only about 936 hectares, insufficient under the natural conservation law's minimum size requirement for national parks, which is 1,000 hectares. The regional marine areas that will be linked to the national park are under state management and include locations within Virolahti, Hamina, Kotka, Pyhtää, and Loviisa.

In addition to the expansion, the Ministry will prepare legislation aimed at reviewing the conservation regulations pertaining to fishing and hunting within the park. The marine areas involved in the expansion fall under the Natura 2000 network, which aims to conserve the most seriously threatened habitats and species across the European Union. By integrating these marine environments into the national park, the initiative pursues greater ecological integrity and supports biodiversity conservation in the region.

The Eastern Gulf of Finland National Park was first established in 1982 and has since become a significant area for wildlife and habitat protection. This expansion is seen as an important step toward enhancing environmental protection efforts and potentially boosting eco-tourism in Finland, promoting public awareness of environmental issues. The Ministry plans to hold public discussions on the topic in the upcoming spring, allowing citizens to engage in the decision-making process about the future of this vital ecological zone.