Author: Eeva Nyyssönen

​​​​More push for the actions against marine litter in the Baltic Sea is a key purpose of the HELCOM Marine Litter Stakeholder , held today in Helsinki, Finland . As litter is a complex issue and ranges from micro particles from cosmetics to ships’ waste management and fisheries practices, reducing it requires work from a wide range of stakeholders. For collecting many viewpoints, HELCOM will host today a mix of selected representatives of governance, industry, research and civil society, to find new ways for more effective leadership in the battle on litter in the Baltic. ​ In June 2015, thirty concrete tasks to combat litter in the Baltic Sea were agreed on by all the Baltic coastal states as well as the EU, and listed in the HELCOM Regional on Marine Litter. The present status of implementing the actions of the Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter is the underpinning of the Conference – over half are having leads and/or co-leads by the coastal states, while many remain without a guiding force. Fight against marine litter is not a solitary affair. The involvement of G7, United Nations, European Union and HELCOM sister entities such as OSPAR and Mediterranean Action Plan, among others, are indispensable for the success in reducing marine litter. Marine litter is a global and local problem with far-reaching implications also in the Baltic Sea. Marine litter impairs marine organisms, threatens human health and safety, and has socio-economic costs. There are many land- and sea-based sources of marine debris but the problem can be largely traced to general production and consumption habits. Among other factors, household disposal of waste material, management of waste water as well as shipping discharges play a significant role in the well-being of marine ecosystems around the world. The Conference will be between 10:00 -16:30 (CET+2hrs). The audiences are encouraged to participate through Twitter, #litterconf. Afterwards all materials, including video clips, will be available at the . The summary conclusions of the Conference will be presented tomorrow on 10 March to the 37th HELCOM Annual Meeting. * * * Note for editors The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organization 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 more information, please contact:Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988Skype: helcom70E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi

More push for the actions against marine litter in the Baltic Sea is a key purpose of the HELCOM Marine Litter Stakeholder Conference, held today in Helsinki, Finland.

​​​Consultations across country borders in maritime spatial will become easier as the Baltic-wide guidelines has been agreed on this week for final adoption. The Guidelines for transboundary consultation, public participation and cooperation is one recent achievement of the joint HELCOM-VASAB Maritime Spatial Planning​ , unique in all of Europe as it is the only inter-governmental entity covering the whole sea basin in spatial planning.  The Working Group meets this week in Gdansk, Poland. Strategic spatial planning across international borders requires skillful cooperation. Photo: Samuli Korpinen.The maritime spatial planning (MSP) workshop of held yesterday exchanged ideas, discussed the work done so far and also, importantly, envisioned for future scenarios. HELCOM, in its Annual Meeting next month and beyond, will start the discussion about a new agenda for maritime spatial planning. More interaction and closer cooperation is to be discussed between HELCOM and VASAB also in the higher levels of regional decision-making. In general, the MSP group works to implement the HELCOM-VASAB Regional Baltic maritime spatial planning , as well as the EU Regional Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region through its role as the steering body for the Horizontal Action Spatial Planning Strategy.  Projects and data related to MSP in the Baltic Sea region has also been discussed by the Meeting, as well as the plans for promoting MSP in the Exhibition of the European Maritime in May 2016 in Turku, Finland. The joint HELCOM and VASAB set up of the joint Working Group has combined the legal framework, institutional capacities and knowledge of marine ecosystems and environmental and sectorial policies by HELCOM with the tradition and experience of strategic spatial planning at land and large cooperation projects by VASAB.  The 12th Meeting of the HELCOM-VASAB Maritime Spatial Planning Working Group was held on 24-25 February 2016 and co-chaired by Ms. Anita Mäkinen, Finland, and Mr. Andrzej Cieślak, Poland.  . All documents will be public after the meeting.  * * *Note for editorsOperational since 2010, the HELCOM-VASAB Maritime Spatial Planning has established its place to ensure the regional coherence of any activities related to maritime spatial planning. The group is in charge of the Horizontal Action Spatial Planning within the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. HELCOM Ministerial Meeting adopted in 2013 the Regional Baltic maritime spatial planning roadmap 2013–2020. The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organization 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 contactDmitry Frank-KamenetskyProfessional SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 630 9933Skype: helcom68E-mail: dmitry.frank-kamenetsky(at)helcom.fi Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988Skype: helcom70E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi

The Baltic region’s unique Working Group on maritime spatial planning has this week finalized the Guidelines for transboundary consultation, public participation and cooperation.

​​​​​How big impact do the different pressures have on the Baltic marine environment is one key task for the regions’ top experts, continuing their​ today in Helsinki, Finland. The assessment of human activities and pressures, including their cumulative effect, is an important part of the forthcoming Second Holistic Assessment of the Ecosystem Health of the Baltic Sea (), released by HELCOM in its initial form in mid-2017. The work to develop the pressure and impact assessment is coordinated by the new, EU co-funded HELCOM .The previous Pressure and Impact Indices were launched in 2010. Construction, noise, nutrients, bottom trawling and litter are only a handful of different factors affecting the sea and the wellbeing of its species and habitats. That is why it is important to bring together all the dozens of available spatial data sets relevant to human uses and pressures acting on the Baltic Sea ecosystem, in order to rate the cumulative impact on the marine environment. As part of this process, the experts will assess the spatial distribution of the pressures, and link to biodiversity among different part of the Baltic Sea. Since the previous Holistic Assessment of the Ecosystem Health of the Baltic Sea (, 2010), there is considerably more data sets available as well as advanced methodology. The Second Holistic Assessment of the Ecosystem Health of the Baltic Sea (HOLAS II) will give a comprehensive update on the overall environmental status of the Baltic Sea and its pressures, and evaluate progress in relation to the goals of the Baltic Sea Action Plan. It will be developed so that the results will support reporting under the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) by those HELCOM members also being EU member states. While interlinking the ongoing work on HELCOM indicators and assessments, e.g. on biodiversity, hazardous substances, eutrophication and climate change, the Holistic Assessment will also incorporate economic and social analyses to assess the effects of environmental degradation as well as actions to improve ecosystem health. The Workshop will be chaired by Mr. Samuli Korpinen, Finland, under the HELCOM TAPAS project. . All document will be public after the Meeting. * * * Note for editorsThe Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organization 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 more information, please contact​Lena BergströmProject Coordinator (HOLAS II)HELCOMTel: +358 400 803 428Skype: helcom71E-mail: lena.bergstrom(at)helcom.fi Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988Skype: helcom70​​E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi

How big impact do the different pressures have on the Baltic marine environment is one key task for the regions’ top experts, continuing their workshop today in Helsinki, Finland.

​​​An efficient and more transparent is now set up by the coastal countries for producing assessments online on Baltic-wide eutrophication, a major environmental threat to the sea. The new automatized process, exceptional in
environmental assessments, combines and calculates monitoring data such as on
nutrients, into resulting indicators and assessments.​ Moreover, the system incorporates an online review by nominated experts for improved quality check and transparency. The HELCOM assessment system, hosted by and developed together with the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (), will provide straight access to up-to-date maps and country-wise data, to be released as part of the HELCOM Second Holistic Assessment of the Baltic Sea in 2017. Screenshot from the new Dataview. ​The new, more detailed information on the level of eutrophication in different basins of the Baltic Sea will enable much faster overall assessment of the status of the sea and the distance to Good Environmental Status, helping to make accurate management decisions for the benefit of the marine environment. The system pilots similar automated procedures foreseen by HELCOM for assessments of hazardous substances and biodiversity planned.  The online , established for testing the new assessment process, is published for demonstration purposes and may be of interest by experts and managers in other sea areas affected by eutrophication in Europe and beyond. The site includes a of the data submissions, data stations and test indicator products, providing for documentation of the review. The dataview also shows details on country-specific submissions of data on eutrophication-related parameters – phosphorus, nitrogen, chlorophyll-a and Secchi depth – as well as assessment products. The automated assessment workflow is the main deliverable of the finalized 2-year HELCOM . Other outcomes include a concise assessment explaining all the protocols of the assessment, to be used by experts involved in the assessments as well as any party interested in learning details about the assessment methodology. The project has also developed forthcoming HELCOM on eutrophication and improved updating the existing ones; proposed how to combine assessment of coastal and open waters stemming from different legislative frameworks; proposed for improved usage of satellite data along with the in-situ samples collected from monitoring points; and suggested a method on harmonizing coastal and open-sea assessments, among others.Links​ * * *Note for editorsThe Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organization 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 more information, please contact:Vivi Fleming-LehtinenProject Manager, EUTRO-OPER (until end of 2015)Finnish Environment Institute – SYKETel: +358 50 5984238E-mail: vivi.fleming-lehtinen(at)environment.fi Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi​

An efficient and more transparent work flow is now set up by the coastal countries for producing assessments online on Baltic-wide eutrophication.

​​​​​​​​​​For the first time, an effort is being made by seven Baltic coastal countries to coordinate the counting of all the waterbirds wintering in the Baltic Sea, a long-term challenge as monitoring of the highly mobile animals requires scheduled cooperation between the states. The shallow waters of the Baltic Sea are important for wintering waterbirds such as diving ducks, divers and alcids.Long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis) migrates from the Arctic to the Baltic Sea winter. Photo: Bettina Mendel. Monitoring of birds requires international coordination in order to procure reliable estimates of the number of birds wintering in the Baltic Sea. If countries were to conduct surveys in different months, the same individual might be counted in several countries which would impair the abundance estimation.​Describing the Baltic-wide bird distributions and abundances will be attempted jointly for the first time during January and February 2016 by Estonia (University of Life Sciences), Denmark (Aarhus University), Finland (SYKE), Germany (Kiel University), Latvia (Latvian Ornithological society), Poland (various institutes) and Sweden (Lund University). The coordinated survey is conducted from aircrafts or ships, covering a pre-defined network of monitoring transect lines. Successful monitoring requires good weather conditions with low winds and good visibility.Reliable information on the number of waterbirds wintering in the Baltic Sea, as well as the distribution of the birds at sea are important for conservation efforts and for assessing the status of the marine environment. The Baltic Sea is an important wintering ground for species that breed in the region as well as for species breeding in the high Arctic.The long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis) is one species for which the Baltic Sea is a critically important wintering ground, and it is listed as threatened under the International and the HELCOM Red List (). The long-tailed duck migrates from the Arctic breeding grounds to the Baltic Sea where it congregates in flocks in the open sea. Monitoring these dense aggregations of birds provides the best information about the population abundance, which has seen alarming decrease in recent years.The need for a coordinated survey effort as well as coordinated handling of data on seabirds has been identified as an important area of cooperation in HELCOM, which has recently adopted joint monitoring guidelines.The planning of the coordinated survey on wintering seabirds among the above partners started over a year ago. The aim is to continue the collaboration in the future, regardless of different monitoring schemes in the countries involved.During January and February 2016 the collaborating partners will report about progress with the survey across the Baltic. Frequent updates of the map, indicating which areas have been surveyed will be made available.Figure. 1: Planned monitoring transects to be covered during the seabird survey in winter 2015/2016, mostly referring to aerial surveys (ship-based surveys in Poland). * * * Note for editorsThe Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organization 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 more information, please contact:Lena Avellan Project Manager HELCOM Tel: +358 40 162 2054 E-mail: lena.avellan(at)helcom.fi Ib Krag PetersenSurvey CoordinatorDepartment of BioscienceAarhus University, DenmarkTel: +45 242 11614E-mail: ikp(at)bios.au.dk

Seven Baltic coastal countries have just started scheduled and coordinated counting of all the waterbirds wintering in the Baltic Sea.

​​​​​​​Six waste water treatment plants were approved for deletion from the HELCOM list by the high-level Baltic coastal country representatives, ending their meeting last Friday in Helsinki, Finland. The six Hot Spots, listed as significant pollution sites in the Baltic Sea catchment area, are all located in the Polish terrain: three in Warsaw area and the rest in Krakow, Lublib and Poznan. The Heads of Delegation also pushed forward a large amount activities pursued within the HELCOM regional framework, covering the key segments of the Baltic Sea Action Plan: eutrophication, biodiversity, hazardous substances and maritime activities.Baltic Sea gets cleaner with the improvements made in waste water treatment. Photo: Metsähallitus NHS/Janos Honkonen  The HELCOM list of Hot Spots, with 162 sites identified as very major pollution sources originating from municipal and industrial waste water treatment, agriculture, as well as industrial sites, has only one quarter of Hot Spots left. The list was originally established as a part of the Baltic Sea Joint Comprehensive Environmental Action Programme (JCP, 1992–2013). The six cleaned up pollution sites are all large urban waste water treatments plants, leaving only four HELCOM listed waste water treatment plants left in Poland.  Improving municipal waste water treatment is a highly cost-efficient measure to reduce phosphorus loads, a major cause of pollution in the Baltic Sea. This sector still has potential for achieving reductions in the overall inputs to the sea. Many cities in the Baltic Sea region have improved their treatment standards in recent years, and are meeting the requirements set by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. HELCOM has recommended even stricter standards to save the sensitive marine environment of the Baltic Sea which needs to be fulfilled in order for a municipal Hot Spot to be mitigated. As there are also hazardous substances in municipal and industrial waste water, concern has increased for minimizing the impact of substances such as pharmaceuticals and microplastics. All documents can be accessed shortly after the meeting. * * * Note for editorsThe Heads of Delegation (HOD) of HELCOM usually meet few times a year. While the Annual Meeting of HELCOM remains the Commission’s highest decision-making body, the Heads of Delegation have a relatively high authority over most major issues.  The working structure of HELCOM, supported and administered by the Secretariat, comprises of the Helsinki Commission, the Heads of Delegation, and eight main working groups, together with tens of expert groups, correspondence groups and projects. The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organization 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 more information, please contact:Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988Skype: helcom70E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi​​

Six large urban wastewater treatments plants have been upgraded to meet HELCOM standards and deleted last week from the so-called Hot Spot list.

Starting tomorrow, the country delegates of HELCOM will gather to decide upon a great amount of issues concerning the Baltic Sea and the protection of its marine environment. Heads of Delegation of HELCOM possess a high degree of power over the proposed topics, among the top ones approving the Roadmap on underwater noise and the Recommendation on sustainable aquaculture, and follow-up on the protection of threatened and endangered species.

Starting tomorrow, the country delegates of HELCOM will gather to decide upon a great amount of issues concerning the Baltic Sea and the protection of its marine environment.

​​​Progress of the Baltic Sea countries in conserving seals is being discussed by the  of HELCOM Seal expert group continuing today in Berlin, Germany. The group, consisting of experts, administrators and interest groups, will also discuss the new HELCOM core indicators for assessing the status of mammals in the Baltic Sea. Other major meeting items are the updating of national seal management plans, as well as following up on the effectiveness of the HELCOM Recommendation on conservation of seals (). Photo: ShutterstockMarine mammals of the Baltic – grey seal, ringed seal, harbour seal and harbour porpoise – are reflecting well the health status of marine ecosystem. They are on top of the food web and indicate the state of the environment. They also accumulate many poisonous substances and are affected by human disturbance such as incidental catch.  Whether the countries are conserving seals effectively and meeting the standards agreed in the HELCOM Recommendation (27/28-2) are also addressed by the meeting. Such assessment is to be done every five years and the next round is in 2016.   Linked to the Recommendation follow-up, new assessment tools – HELCOM core indicators on mammals – are soon to be launched.  The core indicators must be regularly updated and this will be provided for by improved data and data flow on Baltic seals, another item of the meeting. Moreover, the mammal indicators have been designed so that they feed into the next HELCOM Holistic Assessment of the Ecosystem Health of the Baltic Sea.   Furthermore, national management plans for seals will be reviewed by the meeting. Such plans are needed as part of the measures taken to safeguard the long-term viability of the Baltic seal populations, as agreed in the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan.  . All documents will be public after the meeting. * * * Notes for editorsHELCOM Ad Hoc Seal Expert has met annually since 2006 and consists of researchers, administrators and interest group representatives from the entire Baltic Sea region. The Seal Group has established a common scientific basis on what is a healthy status of the Baltic seals populations, and it regularly follows up on the management plans and other actions as required by the HELCOM requirements. The work is carried out in three teams: population size, distribution, and health teams. The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organization 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 more information, please contact:Petra KääriäAssistant Professional SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 630 9933Skype: helcom68E-mail: petra.kaaria(at)helcom.fi Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988Skype: helcom70E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi

Progress of the Baltic Sea countries in conserving seals is being discussed by the meeting of HELCOM Seal expert group continuing today in Berlin, Germany.

​​​​​​​​​National maritime traffic authorities from the Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union will meet at the annual of the HELCOM working group on maritime issues starting today.Emissions from ships is one workimng area of HELCOM Maritime group. Photo: Metsähallitus Natural Heritage Services/Jan Ekebom​One of the more recent issues on the agenda is to consider the drafting of a comprehensive HELCOM assessment of maritime activities in the Baltic Sea area by 2016, as producing such an assessment was agreed by the coastal countries and EU during the 2013 HELCOM Ministerial .Based on national submissions, HELCOM updates annually a number of datasets on maritime activities in the Baltic Sea area covering issues such as spills observed via aerial surveillance, shipping intensity () and accidents, response operations, fisheries activities and dredging. The HELCOM Maritime Assessment, anticipated to be approved for release in December 2016, will synthesize this kind of information and utilize other sources to get a comprehensive overview of maritime activities as well their environmental effects. The publication will particularly focus on developments during the last ten years, from 2005 until 2015.Besides the regular data collection, the Maritime Assessment will also use results of other ongoing assessment activities such as the initiative to draft an HELCOM assessment on hazardous objects dumped or lost in the Baltic Sea by 2016. Moreover, the Maritime Assessment will support other activities within the HELCOM framework and eventually be an opportunity to consider the long term effects of shipping regulations in the region.The Meeting will also cover several other issues of more operational nature such as regional implementation of the Ballast Water Convention, implementation of the Baltic Sulphide Oxide Emission Control Area (SECA), Baltic Sea as a MARPOL Annex IV Sewage Special Area, as well as revised recommendations for harmonized fines.The Meeting will be hosted by the Lithuanian Maritime Authority in Klaipeda, Lithuania, and chaired by Ms. Anna Petersson, Sweden, Chair of HELCOM Maritime. . All documents will be public after the meeting. * * * Note for editorsThe , originally established in 1975, identifies and promotes actions to limit sea-based pollution and ways for safer navigation. It also works to ensure enforcement and harmonized implementation of IMOs international shipping regulations in accordance to the 1992 Helsinki Convention. Sub-groups include the HELCOM-OSPAR Task on Ballast Water Management (regional dimensions of implementing the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention), Expert on Safety of Navigation, Expert Working for Mutual Exchange and Deliveries of Automatic Identification System (AIS) Data, and HELCOM Cooperation on Port Reception Facilities (PRF).​The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organization 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 more information, please contact:Hermanni Backer Professional Secretary for Maritime, Response and Fish groups HELCOM Tel:  +358 46 8509199 Skype: helcom02 E-mail: hermanni.backer(at)helcom.fi Johanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi​

National maritime traffic authorities from the Baltic Sea coastal countries and EU will meet at the annual meeting of the HELCOM Maritime group starting today.

​​​Significant opportunities for nutrient recycling as well as decreasing nutrient losses to the Baltic Sea can be achieved through effective manure management, the topic of the 2-day starting today in Vantaa, Finland.National standards for manure would be the basis for smart nutrient management in agriculture and also for reducing nutrient losses in the region.​ Photo: Helena Rosenlew.The aim of the workshop, organized by HELCOM and the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), is to help further develop national standards for manure and also put them in practice. This is much needed as such national system for nutrient content in manure will be the basis for smart nutrient management in agriculture and also for reducing nutrient losses in the region. Developing national standards for manure, as well as recommendations on using such standard, were among the key targets set in the 2013 HELCOM Ministerial for regional work on agriculture.Creating a system of manure standards, as in evaluating the nutrient content values of different types of manure, is an opportunity to unify understanding on manure quality and thus build a joint basis for manure management and fertilizer use. Examples of national manure standards already exist in some Baltic Sea countries. The workshop participants – representatives of agricultural and environmental authorities and research organizations in the Baltic Sea countries; as well as HELCOM Observers – share their national experiences and work together to find the next steps towards developing guidelines for the use of national manure standards.  * * * Note for editorsThe HELCOM Group on Sustainable Agricultural Practices () deals with agriculture in relation to the implementation of the ecosystem-based approach and involves representatives from agriculture and environment authorities of the Baltic Sea countries, as well as EU, and HELCOM Observers. The group provides a platform for agri-environmental policy measures and instruments and joint discussion on the Baltic agriculture in the context of the protection of the marine environment, in order to address nutrient inputs and emissions from agriculture​.The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organization 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 more information, please contact:Susanna Kaasinen Agri-Environment Coordinator HELCOM Tel: +358 40 536 5819 Skype: helcom85 E-mail: susanna.kaasinen(at)helcom.fiJohanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi

National standards for manure are the focus of the 2-day workshop, as it is the basis for smart nutrient management in agriculture and also for reducing nutrient losses in the region.