Seeking for coordination with relevant regional stakeholders and planning the future work based on HELCOM 2013 Ministerial commitments were main topics of the tenth meeting of the Fisheries and Environment Forum () held yesterday in Riga, Latvia. Experts representing national fisheries and environmental authorities from the HELCOM Contracting Parties as well as several observers participated to follow up on the fisheries related actions stemming from the HELCOM 2013 Ministerial Declaration. The stakeholders taking part in the Meeting included the Baltic Sea Fisheries Forum (BALTFISH), a regional body since 2009 having its base in the regionalisation of the EU Common Fisheries Policy. The Meeting aimed to bring HELCOM and the Baltic Sea Fisheries Forum (BALTFISH) communities together to discuss future plans in order to come up with a mutually supportive agenda. All the countries on the shores of the Baltic Sea have the same objective of reaching a good environmental status through ecosystem-based approach to fisheries. Key activities for stakeholder cooperation on Baltic Sea fisheries, thus major topics in the Meeting agenda, covered migratory fish species; fisheries management within marine protected areas; need for better data for fisheries for the purpose of integrated assessment of human impacts on marine environment, especially with regards to coastal and recreational fisheries; as well as development of recommendations for sustainable aquaculture in the Baltic Sea Region. More effectiveness will be achieved by mapping activities that are covered – or planned to be covered – in these areas to avoid any possible duplication. Instead the HELCOM’s joint work with fisheries sector enables to join the efforts for reaching of common goals, based on solid scientific knowledge and practical experience. * * *Note for editors:The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organisation of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region. Since 1974, HELCOM has been the governing body of the ‘Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area’, more commonly known as the Helsinki Convention. * * *For further information, please contact:Mikhail Durkin Professional Secretary – LAND Group, AGRI/ENV FORUM, FISH/ENV FORUM Tel. +358 46 850 9195 Skype: helcom04E-mail: mikhail.durkin@helcom.fi Johanna Laurila Information Secretary Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail: johanna.laurila@helcom.fi
Seeking for coordination with relevant regional stakeholders and planning the future work based on HELCOM 2013 Ministerial commitments were main topics in yesterday’s meeting.
