Author: Eeva Nyyssönen

​​The delegates representing all Baltic coastal states as well as the EU are expected to agree on HELCOM Recommendation on sustainable aquaculture in the Baltic Sea region in a starting today in Tallinn, Estonia. The two-day meeting is also anticipated to endorse a list of concrete actions to tackle marine ; almost twenty new HELCOM core indicators; as well as speedier international permits for research vessels. Photo: Flickr/​Bayfield Library “The new HELCOM Recommendation on sustainable aquaculture will greatly assist the Baltic Sea region in developing this sector in healthy balance between economical profit and environmental protection. The Recommendation gives guidance for the best practices for minimizing and preventing negative environmental impact of aquaculture on Baltic marine ecosystems. Moreover, the jointly agreed document encourages the industry, predicted to grow in the region, to realize its great potential to develop and apply environmentally friendly technologies and production methods, both in marine and fresh water,” says HELCOM Chair, Harry Liiv. The Meeting is also awaited to give final approval for over thirty regional actions to mitigate littering of the Baltic Sea. The proposed actions are part of HELCOM Recommendation () which was already adopted in March. The lengthy list of actions with set deadlines focuses on reduction of littering of marine environment from the land-based sources which entail improvement of waste management and sewage water systems, remediation and removal of dumpsites and tackling top items such as microparticles, polystyrene foam, plastic bags, sanitary litter in sewage, and bottles and containers. The actions also cover sea-based sources, including developing best practices for handling waste from fisheries and ships, but also collection of abandoned fishing gears such as ghost nets. As according to research most of marine litter derives from households and consumer practices, a set of actions addressing education and outreach on marine litter is also included in the document. The comprehensive preparations for the core set of HELCOM indicators will likely be rewarded on Thursday, as the common definition of good environmental status of close to twenty of these fundamental tools await adoption by the HELCOM Heads of Delegation. Core indicators represent different biological and chemical features of the marine ecosystem and are an essential component of the HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Strategy, and as regularly updated, also providing the basis for HELCOM thematic and holistic assessments. Good environmental status is agreed for each indicator, thereby forming the basis to evaluate the status of the Baltic Sea and the achievement of HELCOM work to improve the environmental condition.  Less unnecessary delays for granting of permits for monitoring by scientific research vessels is among the Meeting topics, as a renewed HELCOM Recommendation is in the pipeline for adoption. The main aim of the Recommendation is to ensure granting permits in the territorial waters, Exclusive Economic Zone, fishing zones or continental shelves in neighboring countries related to the Baltic Monitoring Programme without delay. It also calls the countries to grant no shorter than 1-year permits. As a related positive outcome from a recently completed BALSAM project, a shared for information and coordination of offshore monitoring cruises has been established by HELCOM.Other meeting topics include HELCOM/OSPAR Joint Harmonized Procedure for ballast water exemptions, as proposed revisions are expecting endorsement; launching the work on underwater noise with the aim of a knowledge base on this growing concern; as well as a smoother online follow-up system for the country-wise nutrient reduction targets. . All document will be public after the meeting.  * * * Note for editorsThe Heads of Delegation () 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

The delegates representing all Baltic coastal states as well as EU are expected to adopt the Recommendation on aquaculture, actions on marine litter as well as core indicators.

​​​​​National marine pollution response authorities from the Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union wrapped up yesterday the annual of the HELCOM on preparedness and response (HELCOM Response).The Meeting was hosted by EU Directorate General ECHO in Brussels, Belgium, and chaired by Ms. Heli Haapasaari, Finland, Chair of HELCOM Response.”It is important that the Response group reviews the performance requirements based on the changing maritime traffic amount and ship sizes. It is also delightful to hear that many Contracting Parties are in the process to acquire new vessels and other response equipment to enhance the regional response capacity”, says the Chair of Response, Heli Haapasaari.HELCOM is actively promoting that its Member States establish bi- or multilateral agreements with their neighbours in order to provide stronger cooperation between the neighbouring countries. At the moment​, nine such local response agreements have been signed and ratified in the Baltic Sea area.The meeting divided the Baltic Sea into sub-regions for the purposes of response to pollution incidents. Such sub-divisions of the Baltic Sea will be used when defining marine pollution risks and for developing corresponding joint response capacity in areas with high risks of spills. The draft map of four Baltic response sub-regions will be further defined by the end of June and be the basis for definitions of minimum sub-regional response capacity during the coming year.The current Baltic set-up, based on HELCOM Recommendation (), builds on recommendations of a minimum national response capacity in each Baltic Sea coastal state taken alone. Currently the capacity is considered adequate if the capacity of responding to spills of 1,000-5,000 tons is in place within three days from the accident (Rec. ).The need to raise these target spill sizes has emerged with the increase in size of ships.Other topics on the agenda included exchange of Marine Pollution Report (POLREP) messages; revision of all three HELCOM Response manuals; drafting of response related indicators and well as follow up of Ministerial Meeting decisions. All the documents will be public after the 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. works to ensure swift national and international response to maritime pollution incidents and that in case of an accident the right equipment is available and routines are in place to respond immediately in cooperation with neighbouring states. The Group also coordinates the aerial surveillance of maritime shipping routes to provide a complete picture of sea-based pollution around the Baltic, and to help identify suspected polluters. The meetings of the HELCOM Response​ Group have been held regularly among all Baltic Sea countries and EU for over thirty years.The European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO), formerly known as the European Community Humanitarian Aid Office, is the ‘s department for overseas and for . * * * For more information, please contact:Heli Haapasaari Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) Chair of HELCOM Response Group Tel: +358 40 1793050 E-mail: heli.haapasaari(at)environment.fiHermanni Backer Professional Secretary for Maritime, Response and Maritime Spatial Planning HELCOM Tel:  +358 46 8509199 E-mail: hermanni.backer(at)helcom.fi

Sub-divisions of the Baltic Sea will be used when defining marine pollution risks and for developing corresponding joint response capacity in high-risk areas for spills.

​​​​​​​​​​Photo: Helena RosenlewAdvancing nutrient management to the routine practices of agricultural production, including in manure fertilization, is a leading topic in the meeting of the HELCOM on Sustainable Agricultural Practices, continuing today in Braunschweig, Germany.  The overarching theme of nutrient recycling the Group is dealing with integrates the upgrading of national standards for nutrient content in manure and the promotion of nutrient accounting at farm level. Nitrogen and phosphorus are essential chemical elements required for agricultural crop production. However, oversupply of nutrients to the soil leads to losses to the aquatic environment and contributes to the eutrophication of the Baltic Sea, with all its negative effects on the marine biodiversity, economic prosperity and human well-being. On the other hand, nutrients are valuable resource in agriculture and improved farm nutrient management can lead to economic efficiency for farmers.  In the 2-day Meeting, the coastal countries will present their national systems of standards for nutrient content in manure and will consider jointly how those standards could be best modernized, particularly so that they are based on more accurate data. Currently, the values of nutrient content for different types of manure are often set based on old data or insufficient studies. However, some good practices exist in few Baltic Sea countries which could give a start to common methodologies to be recommended for setting norms for manure in the Baltic Sea region.  Thorough analysis of nutrients content in manure is a substantial part of nutrient accounting or, in other words, nutrient bookkeeping system. As a concept, nutrient bookkeeping consists of annual fertilization plans and calculation of nutrient balances. It is a tool for documenting the nutrient flows at the farms, in order to minimize the excessive use of nutrients and avoid financial losses for farmers while protecting the environment.  As concluded in the HELCOM nutrient bookkeeping in April, one of the most significant obstacles in applying nutrient accounting has been the absence of common system and insufficient skills. Therefore, introducing the nutrient bookkeeping to farmers is a relevant issue and a specific session on this topic will be conducted during the Meeting. The Meeting is held on 28-29 May 2015 and is hosted by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety of Germany.  Mr. Dietrich Schulz from the German Federal Environment Agency will chair the meeting.  All documents will be public after the Meeting. * * *Note for editors:The 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:Dmitry Frank-Kamenetsky Professional Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 630 9933 Skype: helcom68 E-mail: dmitry.frank-kamenetsky(at)helcom.fi Johanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi ​​

Advancing nutrient management to the routine practices of agricultural production, including in manure fertilization, is a leading topic in the meeting of the HELCOM Group on Sustainable Agricultural Practices.

​​​​Despite a general decreasing trend of concentrations of radionuc​lides, the Baltic Sea still is one of the most polluted sea areas as regards radioactive contamination. Radioactive substances in the Baltic Sea have been systematically monitored since the year 1984, and the credit mainly goes to the HELCOM MORS Expert finishing its 30th today in Oulu, Finland.>> >The several annual samples on radioactivity are a responsibility of all the coastal countries, analysed and reported to the Expert Group through three decades. Up to this date, the openly accessible environmental contains over 3,600 biota samples, over 8,000 seawater samples and 11,000 sediment samples analysed for various radionuclides. The reports on aquatic and airborne discharges of radionuclides from nuclear power plants and reprocessing plants cover discharge data starting from the year 1952, also online.In the Meeting, the Expert Group on Monitoring of Radioactive Substances in the Baltic Sea (MORS EG) discussed the next thematic assessment of long-term changes in Baltic Sea radioactivity 2011–2015, with delivery now scheduled at the end of 2016 as this will match the purposes of the holistic Baltic-wide assessment in 2018.  Further, the meeting made final check-ups for the HELCOM core indicator “Radioactive substances: Caesium-137 in fish and surface waters”, before final adoption in June. Moreover, the group reviewed the latest scientific reports provided by the HELCOM member states and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as well as updated as necessary the shared Guidelines for monitoring of radioactive substances [link]. Radioactive substances occur naturally in the environment, but also due to nuclear weapon tests in 1950–80, Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident in 1986, as well as routine operations of nuclear power plants and research reactors. The latest HELCOM thematic of long-term changes in radioactivity in the Baltic Sea was released in 2013. The region’s first joint efforts concerning radioactivity started in early 1980s by a project under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), while MORS Expert Group had its first meeting just before the Chernobyl accident – in 1986. . All documents will be public soon 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:Tarja K. IkäheimonenChair of HELCOM MORS Expert GroupEnvironmental Radiation Surveillance and Emergency PreparednessSTUK – Radiation and Nuclear Safety AuthorityTel. +358 400 811 254E-mail: Tarja.Ikaheimonen(at)stuk.fi Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi​

Despite a general decreasing trend of concentrations of radionuclides, the Baltic Sea still is one of the most polluted sea areas as regards radioactive contamination.

​​​​​​​​​​​Experts on the maritime Automatic Identification System () technology from Baltic coastal countries and Norway met today and yesterday to consider the mutual exchange and deliveries of AIS signals and resulting data. The 26th meeting of the group was chaired by Omar Eriksson from Denmark and hosted by the Maritime Office in Gdynia, Poland. The HELCOM AIS system provides almost real time information on the position and characteristics of all the larger ships in the entire Baltic Sea area which is freely shared among all coastal countries and Norway. The data exchange celebrates its ten-year anniversary this year as the system has been on-line since the summer of 2005. The statistics are available at HELCOM . The historic data is stored and available for further study by national authorities, researchers and other interested users. AIS enables for example monitoring of the environmental risks of maritime traffic, including historic trends of shipping. The decision to create a regional AIS network was taken at the HELCOM Meeting of Ministers of Transport of the Baltic Sea region in September 2001. The underlying reasons were the IMO decision to make the technology mandatory, as well as early work on ship reporting in the region during 1970s and 1980s. Access to the regional HELCOM AIS data generated by the system is currently available to a wide range of actors either automatically, or, in some cases, after an explicit consultation. The recent surge of maritime developments in the form of wind-power farms, pipelines and cables have increased the interest in this information. AIS information has during the last ten years highlighted the need for new high priority areas for bathymetric re-surveys, new charts – especially Electronic Navigational Charts – as well as other safety of navigation measures such as IMO routeing.  AIS technology as a whole continues to develop and the information is the backbone of many modern navigation applications.* * *To access data products about shipping traffic in the Baltic Sea, please enter HELCOM thematic Maritime & Response , under Maritime & Response -> Maritime traffic statistics. The folder includes e.g. Baltic-wide HELCOM AIS average shipping density raster map and AIS passage line crossing statistics from 2006 onwards​. >> All documents will be public soon.* * *Note for editors – Since 2005, the Baltic region has had a system in place for gathering signals from all the Automatic Identification System (AIS) devices on ships – the HELCOM AIS network. This network provides real-time surveillance and statistics of the movement of ships, and is administered by the HELCOM AIS Working Group, meeting annually since 2002. E-navigation uses such information to create a second generation of electronic services for enhanced safety and environmental performance. 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 BackerProfessional Secretary for Maritime, Response and Maritime Spatial Planning​HELCOMTel:  +358 46 8509199Skype: helcom02E-mail: hermanni.backer(at)helcom.fi Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988Skype: helcom70E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi

The HELCOM AIS system, online since 2005, provides almost real time information on the position and characteristics of all the larger ships in the entire Baltic Sea.

​​​​​​The summary on key results of a large project on coordinated environmental monitoring in the Baltic Sea has recently been released, available both in print and online. Baltic Sea pilot project , running from October 2013 until May 2015, has focused on improving the coordination of environmental monitoring in several areas. Many of its results have already been immersed with the long-lasting regular monitoring activities of HELCOM. Environmental monitoring has a
major scientific role by revealing long-term
trends that can lead to new knowledge and
understanding​. Photo: Metsähallitus NHS.The BALSAM project, co-funded by EU, collected information on the current monitoring programmes and activities in the Baltic, which were included into the extensive HELCOM Monitoring , published in October 2014. With its 18 from eight coastal countries surrounding the Baltic Sea, the project also studied and made guidelines on how coordinated monitoring could be enhanced for , and non-indigenous in the future. The project also investigated how could be used in a more harmonized and cost-effective way, e.g. through online information exchange on such vessels and their planned cruises. Moreover, BALSAM activities were tightly linked to the work of HELCOM and its working groups, in order to ensure that the results are policy-relevant and in line with the needs identified by HELCOM countries. This has been seen as one of the strengths of the project.The rest of the project results, including guidelines for seabird and benthic habitat monitoring in the Baltic, databases for seals and seabirds, and a work plan to improve data management and infrastructure, will be available by the end of May 2015.* * * Note for editors: The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as HELCOM, 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.HELCOM (2013-2015) is an EU co-financed Baltic Sea pilot project: “Testing new concepts for integrated environmental monitoring of the Baltic Sea” with a budget of 0.46 M€. The project aim was to enhance the capacity of the Baltic Sea Member States to develop their marine monitoring programmes.  * * * For more information, please contact: Johanna Karhu Project Coordinator, BALSAM HELCOM Tel: +358 40 661 9040 Skype: helcom63 E-mail: johanna.karhu@helcom.fiJohanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi​

Key results of a large project on coordinated environmental monitoring are available, covering seals, non-indigenous species, research vessels, among others.

How the countries are doing in reaching
their HELCOM nutrient reduction targets was a priority topic of the HELCOM
Pressure group
ending last Friday, as a comprehensive follow-up system for the regional nutrient
reduction scheme is getting ready, based on the most recent data on polluting
nutrient inputs. The assessment of progress in cutting nutrient inputs, and all
related issues, is a key task of the Pressure group. ​​​​The latest data for individual sub-basins of the Baltic Sea is revealed by the recent on the assessment of nitrogen and phosphorus input to the Baltic Sea in 2012. The statistical trend of the overall burden of nitrogen and phosphorus to the Baltic Sea as a whole, indicates decrease with 18% and 23%, respectively, in the past 15 years. However, the situation differs between the sub-basins.  According to the HELCOM nutrient reduction scheme, reductions in inputs of nitrogen were needed to three sub-basins where Maximum Allowable Inputs were exceeded: Baltic Proper, Gulf of Finland and Kattegat. Out of these, only to Kattegat has the nitrogen input been cut sufficiently. However, statistically significant reduction has also been achieved for the Baltic Proper, by almost 55,000 tonnes (average annual input during 2010–2012 compared to the reference period of 1997–2003). No statistically significant reduction, compared to the reference period, can be confirmed for the Gulf of Finland. Reduction requirements were not set for nitrogen inputs to other basins, assuming that inputs were within acceptable maximum allowable input levels. Since adoption of the scheme, inputs of nitrogen have increased to Gulf of Riga and inputs to this basin now exceed maximum allowable levels. For the three sub-basins to which there was a need for reduce phosphorus inputs – Baltic Proper, Gulf of Finland and Gulf of Riga – inputs to none of them have yet measured below the maximum allowable level. The reduction of 20% (3,700 tonnes) and nearly 14% (1,000 tonnes) have been recorded since the reference period in inputs to the first two basins, while there have been no reductions in inputs to the third one.    The Maximum Allowable Input (MAI), a key component of HELCOM nutrient reduction scheme, is the estimated highest amount of nutrient input per year to a given sub-basin, which would still allow for reaching Good Environmental Status in terms of eutrophication.   The assessment results for sub-basins (MAI) have been and work is on-going to finalize an assessment of the progress of individual countries in reaching the country-wise reduction targets (CART). First results indicate that only Denmark has reached their reduction targets for nitrogen to all applicable sub-basin, and no countries have reached their reduction targets for phosphorous to all relevant basins. The assessment towards country-wise reduction targets is far more complex and requires substantial effort to be scientifically evident, as transboundary riverine inputs and retention have to be taken into account.  The draft assessment about the countries’ progress in reducing nutrient inputs, discussed at length by the Meeting, is expected to be published next month. The web presentation of the assessments will continue to be improved thereafter, as part of the overall effort in HELCOM to produce more user-friendly and easier to update reports.  The Pressure group meeting, also addressed another regionally significant matter – underwater noise. As impacts of underwater noise are a new concern, a road map for activities to improve the knowledge base on noise pollution and its consequences on marine life is under preparation.   The meeting also discussed other matters such as the upcoming implementation of the recent HELCOM Recommendation, Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter (36/1), and the urgent need for promoting regionally the sustainable and environmentally friendly practices for handling of sludge, a by-product of waste water treatment processes.  The Pressure group meeting launched a process of data collection in order to compile a regional status report on medical substances in the environment, their sources and pathways. There is no such overview yet for the Baltic Sea region. The compiled information will be the basis for regional discussion on needed measures to prevent or mitigate possible environmental consequences of growing drug consumption in the region. The report is planned to be issued by mid-2016.  The Pressure group meeting was held in Tallinn, Estonia on 6-8 May 2015 and chaired by Lars Sonesten, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences .  All documents are available in the site. * * * Note for editors: The Baltic Sea coastal countries have each committed to annual targets for reducing the polluting nutrients, phosphorus and nitrogen, ending up in the sea. The HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan nutrient reduction scheme, originally from 2007, was reviewed and revised in 2013. The calculations of nutrient inputs to all sub-basins of the Baltic Sea were updated, including the transboundary air and waterborne inputs, allowing for more precise targets per each country. – working group on reduction of pressures from the Baltic Sea catchment area focuses on nutrient and hazardous substance inputs from diffuse sources and point sources on land, including the follow-up of the implementation of the HELCOM nutrient reduction scheme. The group ensures the necessary technical underpinning as well as develops solutions to the policy-relevant questions and needs. Marine litter and underwater noise are also coordinated by this group.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:Dmitry Frank-Kamenetsky Professional Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 630 9933 Skype: helcom68 E-mail: dmitry.frank-kamenetsky(at)helcom.fiJohanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi

The overall burden of nitrogen and phosphorus to the Baltic Sea as a whole have decreased with 18% and 23%, respectively, in the past 15 years. However, the situation differs between the sub-basins.

​​Final touches for the key set of region-wide indicators is a prominent point in this week’s of the HELCOM Working on the State of the Environment and Nature Conservation. Environmental managers and experts from all the riparian states are gathered to discuss and agree on new or improved procedures, guidelines and recommendations for regional monitoring and assessment of Baltic marine environment. Two of the suggested HELCOM core indicators are related to marine mammals: their reproductive status and nutritional status.  Photo: Anders Galatius. ​HELCOM core set of indicators, currently 25, are shared tools which help to better measure the status of the entire sea. Many of the HELCOM core indicators are about the status of different species, ranging from seals and seabirds to coastal fish and zooplankton. Other indicators concern hazardous substances, and pressures on the environment such as introduction of alien species and inputs of nutrients. The core indicators will now be given a final technical review before the HELCOM Heads of Delegation are expected to decide on them in June.  The agreed core indicators will be used as a basis for future HELCOM assessments. Furthermore, each fully developed indicator has a boundary value for Good Environmental Status (GES) defined which reflects the acceptable level of contamination. All in all, the operational indicators thus assist in constantly evaluating progress towards the agreed objectives of the Baltic Sea Action Plan and other relevant policies aiming at reaching a healthy sea by 2021.  In addition to the first batch of proposed HELCOM core set indicators, over 20 more are considered for further development to join the core set later. The State and Conservation Group meeting will also review the progress in renewal of the regional database for the coastal and marine Baltic Sea protected areas and agree on a method for the next HELCOM assessment of ecological coherence of protected areas to be carried out during this year. Moreover, clarifications are expected on the HELCOM Recommendation on conservation of Baltic Sea species categorized as threatened, whether the Contracting Parties are ready to proceed on adoption. New plans to upgrade the HELCOM work on monitoring and assessment of benthic habitats and birds are also on the agenda.  Other items in the 5-day meeting include two HELCOM Recommendations, on new procedures for notifying neighbouring countries about the use of autonomous monitoring devices in the Baltic Sea, and about the revised procedures for granting monitoring permits. Both of the recommendations, proposed for agreement, are important to facilitate monitoring and research in the Baltic Sea. These proposed procedures are part of the many results of the recently completed BALSAM Project on improving monitoring in the region, presented to the Meeting and summarized in a . The second meeting of the Working Group on the State of the Environment and Nature Conservation 11-15 May 2015 will be co-chaired by Urmas Lips, Marine Systems Institute at Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia and Penina Blankett, Ministry of the Environment of Finland. . All documents will be public after the meeting. * * * Note for editors:HELCOM Working Group on the State of the Environment and Nature Conservation () covers monitoring and assessment functions as well as issues related to nature conservation and biodiversity protection in HELCOM. The group works across the monitoring-indicators-assessment chain for the coordinated development of HELCOM thematic assessment tools, as well as coherent holistic assessment of the ecosystems health. 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:Ulla Li ZweifelProfessional SecretaryHELCOMTel. +358 46 850 9198Skype: helcom64E-mail: ullali.zweifel(at)helcom.fi Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988Skype: helcom70E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi

Final touches for the key set of region-wide indicators is a prominent point in this week’s meeting of HELCOM State & Conservation group.

​​​​​​​​Nutrient bookeeping at farm level is explored in a HELCOM workshop finishing today in Oldenburg, Germany. Nutrient bookkeeping, a key HELCOM issue particularly after the 2013 Ministerial , stands for planning and accounting input and output of nutrients in agricultural production, thus, for instance, keeping track of effectiveness of fertilizer use. The status of introducing nutrient bookkeeping in all the Baltic Sea countries are presented in the workshop by scientists, environmental and agricultural administrations and interest organizations.Nutrient
bookkeeping has strong potential for minimal nutrient waste as well as reducing
the harm for the Baltic marine environment. Photo: Helena Rosenlew.The participants have been sharing the experiences so far from different Baltic Sea countries, which in turn will help to shape necessary future activities. This includes potential development of policy and possibly other instruments on nutrient bookkeeping.  The environmental condition of the Baltic Sea is widely affected by the over supply of nutrients causing eutrophication, algal blooms and changing conditions for the marine species. Agriculture is a major source of nutrient input to the sea and therefore sustainable practices are the key to minimizing nutrient losses. Nutrient bookkeeping has strong potential for minimal nutrient waste as well as reducing the harm for the Baltic marine environment.  he HELCOM workshop is organized by the Chamber of Agriculture Lower Saxony and the Federal Environmental Agency in Germany and will be chaired by Mr. Dietrich Schulz, Federal Environment Agency in Germany, and Ms. Anette Pedersen, Danish Ministry of Environment. The work will continue in 28-29 May, when the HELCOM Group on Sustainable Agricultural Practices (Agri group) next meets.​* * * Note for editors:The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as HE​LCOM, 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. The HELCOM Group on Sustainable Agricultural Practices (Agri) 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. * * *For more information, please contact:Dmitry 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​

Nutrient bookeeping at farm level is explored in a HELCOM workshop finishing today in Oldenburg, Germany, to support nutrient efficient farming and to minimize the environmental impact on the Baltic Sea.

​​​​​​​​​The HELCOM Recommendation on aquaculture is the lead topic in a Fish group continuing today in Warsaw, Poland, as most if not all pending issues on the Recommendation are expected to be solved. Aquaculture is a growing commercial sector still with a good chance for achieving a balance between economical profit and environmental protection.  The HELCOM Group on Ecosystem-based Sustainable Fisheries renewed its operations last year and involves a solid representation of administrative, scientific and civil society’s representatives from all the countries of the Baltic region.One key point of negotiating the aquaculture Recommendation is the risk of non-indigenous species. Photo: Sergey Titov&GosNIORKhThe aim of the draft Recommendation on aquaculture is to give guidance for the best practices for minimizing and preventing negative environmental impact of aquaculture on marine ecosystems of the Baltic Sea. The core issues still to be agreed on by the HELCOM members – nine riparian countries and the EU –​ relate to nutrients input to the Baltic Sea and establishment of aquaculture facilities in marine protected areas. Another vital part concerns the risk of non-indigenous species, as they are common in fish farming but if accidentally released, may have impact on wild populations of species. The Recommendation is to be finalized by June this year as decided earlier by HELCOM. The Group has yesterday discussed and concluded on how to take forward the work in HELCOM on conservation of migratory fish species, recreational fisheries and assessing its impact on fish mortality and coastal ecosystems as such. Also covered in the Meeting agenda is the work on data for core indicators to assess the progress towards Good Environmental Status of the Baltic Sea. Especially, it has been considered important to address by-catch and lack of monitoring data for the core indicator on drowned mammals and waterbirds in fishing gear, as accidental catch is a significant mortality factor for some species in the Baltic Sea. In general, HELCOM is soon to finalize close to thirty core indicators, which are crucial for improving the evaluation of progress in reaching the goal of the Baltic Sea in a healthy status.  The Meeting is chaired by Mr. Marcin Ruciński, Polish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Chair of the Fish Group. . All documents will be public after the meeting. * * *Note for editorsHELCOM Group on Ecosystem-based Sustainable Fisheries – – deals with fisheries in relation to the implementation of the ecosystem-based approach. Moreover, the group responds to the need to find solutions on how the sector could further contribute to reaching Good Environmental Status of the Baltic Sea by 2021. The Fish Group involves representatives from fisheries and environment authorities of the Baltic Sea countries, as well as EU, and HELCOM Observers and others as appropriate. 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:Dmitry 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

Aquaculture is a growing commercial sector, covering e.g. fish farming, still with a chance for a balance between economical profit and environmental protection.