A new task force on migratory fish species, established under the HELCOM Fisheries and Environment , held its first meeting yesterday in Berlin, Germany. The new group consists of regional experts and stakeholders and answers the urgent need to improve the status of Baltic Sea migratory fish species including salmon, sea trout, eel and sturgeon. The recently released categorised salmon and sea trout as Vulnerable (VU), eel as Critically Endangered (CR) and sturgeon as Regionally Extinct (RE). Therefore, the main objective of the new task force is to improve the situation of these species by addressing actions concerning migratory fish in the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan and HELCOM 2013 Ministerial Declaration. The work of the task force will primarily focus on nature conservation and habitat restoration measures and actions in rivers of the Baltic Sea Area. This will be enabled through regular exchange of information and best practices related to restoration activities for Baltic migratory fish species between experts as well as other stakeholders in the Baltic Sea. * * *Note for editors:The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as the , 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 E-mail: mikhail.durkin@helcom.fiTel. +358 46 850 9195 Skype: helcom04
The task force answers the urgent need to improve the status of Baltic Sea migratory fish species.
