Author: Eeva Nyyssönen

​​​​​Ships’ ballast water and related risk assessment procedure is the topic of a taking place today and tomorrow in Gdansk, Poland, of the dedicated formed by HELCOM and OSPAR. The cooperation between the Baltic Sea and North-East Atlantic areas on regional exemptions for ballast water is necessary because of the international character of shipping and delivers solutions that can also be applied in other regions.As ships’ ballast water may carry alien species which are harmful to the marine environment, the Regional Seas Conventions such as HELCOM and OSPAR have long worked on the issue for ensuring safer practices. The joint harmonized procedure on exemptions has globally been considered a good practice of regional cooperation on ballast water risk assessments, which other regions may use as an example. The method has raised also practical interest in the North American Great Lakes region, where port sampling according to the HELCOM-OSPAR approach has been carried out recently. Four ports in the eastern Great Lakes area – Buffalo, Oswego, Ashtabula and Toledo – have been sampled for alien species using the joint HELCOM-OSPAR method in 2014-2015 by Buffalo State University of New York. One of the issues under debate in the task group, between the participating countries, shipping industry and NGOs, is the revision of the criteria for target species, or species of special interest. Such target species are a key feature in the procedure which aims at assessing in a scientifically justifiable way the risk of deviations from the ballast water practices outlined in the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention. Moreover, with the help of the joint task group, the coastal countries and ship owners have in place since 2013 a common harmonised method and an online tool for identifying low risk routes which might be exempt. The meeting will be chaired by Mr. Henrik Ramstedt, Environmental Specialist at the Swedish Transport Agency.* * * Note for editors:The Maritime of HELCOM, 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 international shipping regulations. Its sub-groups include the HELCOM-OSPAR Task Group on Ballast Water Management (regional dimensions of implementing the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention), Expert group on safety of navigation, Working Group for mutual exchange and deliveries of Automatic Identification System (AIS) data, and HELCOM Cooperation Platform 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 BackerProfessional Secretary for Maritime, Response and Maritime Spatial PlanningHELCOMTel:  +358 46 8509199Skype: helcom02E-mail: hermanni.backer(at)helcom.fi Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988Skype: helcom70E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi

Ships’ ballast water and related risk assessment procedure is the topic of a meeting taking place today and tomorrow in Gdansk, Poland, of the dedicated task group.

​Marine and coastal protected areas in the Baltic Sea () and North-East Atlantic were addressed right at the start of the 4th International on Progress in Marine Conservation in Europe 2015, held on 14-18 September in Stralsund, Germany. The extensive agenda ranges from sustainable fisheries to underwater noise, harbour porpoise and management of protected areas. Photo: Metsähallitus NHS​/Pekka LehtonenOn Thursday 17 September, the outcome of the HELCOM Red Lists of and will be presented together with future plans for conservation measures. The latest HELCOM Red List assessments, published in 2013, showed that nearly 70 species are at risk of extinction and close to 20 biotopes at risk of collapse in the HELCOM area.  To mitigate the alarming situation, HELCOM is currently developing a Recommendations for conservation of species and biotopes. The presentation will be given jointly by the HELCOM Secretariat and German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, representing one of the Contracting Parties in HELCOM. The organizer of the conference, German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (Bundesamt für Naturschutz – ) is the German government’s scientific authority responsible for national and international nature conservation. BfN is one of the government’s departmental research agencies. The Agency provides the German Environment Ministry with professional and scientific assistance in all nature conservation and landscape management issues and in international cooperation activities. BfN furthers its objectives by carrying out related scientific research and is also in charge of a number of funding programmes.  * * *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 contactUlla 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

International Conference on Progress in Marine Conservation in Europe 2015 takes place all this week in Stralsund, Germany.

​​​ Crew of Kapitan Poinc from Gdynia, Poland deploying the oil boom of 600 meters.Twenty ships under the HELCOM flag conducted today a successful operation to contain and recover two simulated oil spills from vessels collided off the Polish coast in the Pomeranian Bay, as part of the annual Baltic Sea pollution response exercise Balex Delta 2015. A large-scale national onshore exercise was organized simultaneously for deployment of the clean-up units as well as coordination between all the actors involved.   For over 25 years HELCOM has sustained the international operational preparedness in maritime emergencies and polluting accidents at sea, in one of the most vulnerable and busiest sea areas in the world.  The largest maritime emergency and counter-pollution drill of its kind in the Baltic Sea area – and one of the largest worldwide – involve the release of simulated oil; the mobilization of pollution response vessels from several coastal countries; as well as the establishment of a unified command structure and communication system. In addition, a full-scale oil recovery operation at the site of the accident was set up, including actual deployment of oil containment booms and skimming equipment along with the onshore response of more than a hundred trained staff and 40 fire engines, and other necessary equipment. Eight HELCOM Member States – Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden – took part in the exercise with both pollution-combating ships and smaller vessels with over 400 participants in total. Almost 50 observers from all the nine HELCOM countries as well as Brazil, Canada, Portugal and USA monitored the actions of the response units. The Exercise Evaluation Team consisted of representatives of Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. “The fact that the HELCOM member states send their vessels each and every year for an international oil drill is globally rather special, as such a well-established framework is rare in other parts of the world. The Baltic Sea country crews have established a smooth cooperation over the years, and this was again a good opportunity to see what we’re ready for and what needs further improvement,” says Heli Haapasaari, Chairman of HELCOM’s Response Group.  “With such a large coinciding national drill on the shore, the exercise gave the host nation a bigger-than-usual opportunity to test its own capacity to command an international operation with a large response fleet, in addition to the action at shore with more complex communication and coordination tasks.”  The aim of Balex Delta is to test the alarm procedures and the response capability of HELCOM members as well as national alarm procedures, including the capacity of each country to command a large international drill, and also evaluate staff functions and the cooperation between the countries’ combating units. This year the goals extended to the shore, for trying in practice the national onshore clean-up capabilities and the national wildlife response alert procedures. In addition, the 2015 drill had a main focus on communication between the involved units as well as the interaction between offshore response and clean-up units on the shore. This year’s HELCOM annual exercise was organized by the Polish Maritime Search and Rescue Service, Gdynia (Maritime part), and the West Pomeranian Regional Headquarters of the State Fire Service (Onshore part). The exercise involved a scenario where a middle size tanker collides with a smaller container vessel, resulting in oil slicks of 500 m3 and 150 m3 of heavy fuel oil from the drifting ships. Units from the HELCOM countries were tasked to jointly prevent the oil slicks from coming ashore to the nearby National Park and Natura 2000 areas. Having two sources of pollution on different locations, the pool of response vessels were divided into two groups. The oil spilt during the exercise was simulated by two large releases of environmentally-friendly expanded perlite (15 and 5 cubic metres). Expanded perlite is volcanic amorphous glass, fully non-toxic and similar than beach sand. BackgroundBALEX DELTA operational response exercises have been held annually since 1989. Throughout this time HELCOM has steadily improved the readiness of the countries around the Baltic to jointly respond to oil spills at sea. Regional cooperation on preparedness and response to pollution incidents has however much longer roots, being a part of the first 1974 Helsinki Convention and followed by a series of related Recommendations right at the start of the permanent HELCOM activities in early 1980s.   Today, with 80 per cent of global merchandise trade by volume carried by sea and handled by ports worldwide, the economic importance of maritime transport – and the risk of collisions and other accidents – cannot be overemphasized. In the Baltic Sea, ship traffic is dense and maritime transport has been in the increase in the recent past.[1] UNCTAD, Review of Maritime Transport 2013. ​ * * * Note to Editors:The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as the Helsinki Commission, or HELCOM, is an intergovernmental organisation of all the nine Baltic Sea countries and the EU which works to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution. HELCOM is the governing body of the “Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area,” known as the Helsinki Convention. * * * For more information, please contact:Heli HaapasaariChair of HELCOM Response Working GroupFinnish Environment Institute – SYKETel: +358 40 1793050E-mail: heli.haapasaari(at)environment.fiJohanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fiHermanni BackerProfessional Secretary for Maritime and ResponseHELCOMTel:  +358 46 8509199​E-mail: hermanni.backer(at)helcom.fi

Twenty ships from eight HELCOM Member States participated in the large oil response drill off Polish coast. Large-scale national onshore exercise was organized simultaneously with over one hundred staff.

​​Cruise ships’ sewage continues to raise concern in the Baltic Sea, as untreated discharging to the sea has a polluting effect. Background and developments on the issue have been compiled at HELCOM . Photo: Franz Airiman/Flickr.During the past year, HELCOM countries have negotiated intensively about the enforcement of the already established special area status for sewage. The dates for not discharging passenger ship sewage to the Baltic Sea have been postponed – as of IMO meeting in April 2015 – to 1 January 2019 for new ships and 1 January 2021 for existing ones. HELCOM will continue the technical cooperation within the Port Reception Facilities (PRF) Cooperation Platform on sewage delivery between the administrations, industry stakeholders and the civil society. HELCOM published an overview in early 2015. The overview, covering active cruise voyage months of 2014, describes in detail the cruise ships operating in the Baltic Sea, their length of sea voyages as well as frequency and duration of port visits. Also the ports visited by cruise ships and the sewage facilities are covered in terms of facilities and traffic trends.  In July 2011, a milestone in Baltic protection was reached when IMO decided, upon request by HELCOM, to establish the Baltic Sea as a special area for sewage from passenger ships, by amending the Annex IV of the MARPOL Convention. The decision took effect on 1 January 2013. The effective application of this already existing legal status has been, according to the 2011 IMO decision, subject to the availability of adequate sewage Port Reception Facilities (PRF) in the region. * * *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 contactHermanni BackerProfessional Secretary for Maritime, Response and Maritime Spatial PlanningHELCOMTel:  +358 46 8509199Skype: helcom02E-mail: hermanni.backer(at)helcom.fi Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988Skype: helcom70E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi

Cruise ships’ sewage continues to raise concern in the Baltic Sea, as untreated discharging to the sea has a polluting effect. Web pages compile past and present information.

​​Stressing the successful link between science and policy was a key point of Executive Secretary of HELCOM, Monika Stankiewicz, in her speech to the European Commissioner Carlos Moedas for Research, Science and Innovation. Commissioner Moedas visited today , the joint Baltic Sea research and development programme in Helsinki, Finland. “Many, if not the majority of topical marine policy questions are on a sea basin scale, thus it has been simply perfect for HELCOM to have its regional “counterpart” in science – BONUS – to cooperate with,” said Ms. Stankiewicz. Still, there are gaps and HELCOM would welcome the future research, for instance, to increase the understanding of the services provided by marine and coastal ecosystems and the costs of their degradation. This knowledge could become part of the decision-making, planning and operation of businesses, in the larger context of sustainable development and responsible consumption.  about Commissioner’s visit to BONUS of HELCOM Executive Secretary Getting ready for the group photo. From left: Kaisa Kononen, Executive Director of BONUS; Monika Stankiewicz, Executive Secretary of HELCOM; European Commissioner Carlos Moedas from DG Research; and Mats
Svensson, Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management.* * *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 contactJohanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988Skype: helcom70E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi

Stressing the successful link between science and policy was a key point of Executive Secretary of HELCOM when Commissioner Moedas visited BONUS in Helsinki.

​​​​What                    HELCOM Balex Delta 2015. A designated boat will be ready for registered media to observe the international drill from close distance, followed by a press conference.When                   Wednesday, 9 September 2015: Exercise briefing at 18:00–18:30.Thursday, 10 September 2015: Exercise time: 09:00–14:00 & Press conference at 16:00Who                     Around 20 specially equipped response vessels from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden;Around 100 participants of the national shoreline response exercise;Coordination: Polish Maritime Search and Rescue Service, Gdynia (Maritime Part), West Pomeranian Regional Headquarters of the State Fire Service (Shoreline Part). Where                 Pomeranian Bay (Swinoujscie), Poland.Press conference and exercise briefing: Polish Maritime Search and Rescue Service naval base, Wybrzeże Władysława IV 1 Str, Swinoujscie. WhyThe exercise simulates a large real life oil catastrophe in one of the most vulnerable – and busiest – sea areas in the world. The goal is to recover as much oil as possible in the open sea before it would reach the shores of the islands or mainland, since this is roughly ten times more cost-efficient than shoreline clean-up.The annual HELCOM Balex Delta is hosted this year by the Polish Maritime Search and Rescue Service. For the list of vessels and equipment participating in the exercise please see the​.The national shoreline response part of Balex Delta 2015 will be organized and conducted by the Polish State Fire Service, with the help of Search and Rescue (SAR) Service and Maritime Office in Szczecin. The shoreline exercise will be conducted parallel to the maritime part on 10 September. The exercise area is planned on the beach east to the LNG Terminal in Swinoujście (at the Wolin Island). The State Fire Service plans to use c.a. 40 fire engines together with the equipment. The SAR Service will send the crew of the Costal Rescue Station in Dziwnow (one heavy rescue truck, one rescue boat (RIB type), 150m of oil boom and a portable Ro-mop oil skimmer. Programme (local time CEST = UTC +2hrs)8.00 Media cruise departure. Name of the ship: Pasat or Magda (tbc). Point of departure: Polish Maritime Search and Rescue Service naval base, WybrzeżeWładysława IV 1 Str, SwinoujscieThe exercise scenario and roles of responsible parties explained briefly by the representatives of national partners Balex Delta exercise: all oil response equipment such as booms and skimmers in use, by all the oil response and other ships and assisted by a Maritime Office aircraft9:00 – 14:00: Shoreline clean-up demonstration, location: shore on the Wolin Island Part of Swinoujscie East of the LNG Terminal 53.916615 N 14.307325 E14:00 Approximate time of return to the SAR naval base16:00 Press conference at Polish Maritime Search and Rescue Service base, Swinoujscie Media representatives are asked to apply for accreditation by 3 September 2015, by providing contact information (name, media, e-mail, phone number) to:bd2015@sar.gov.pl* * *Background information:>The annual BALEX DELTA exercises>>test the alarm procedures and response capability of the HELCOM Contracting States (all nine Baltic Sea coastal states) in case of a major accident and an international response operation. have the general objective to ensure that every Contracting State is able to lead a major response operation. are hosted by the Contracting States according to an agreed schedule.are most famous of the regular, operational HELCOM pollution response exercisesare the largest pollution response exercise in the Baltic Sea and one of the largest worldwide * * *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.HELCOM is the governing body of the “Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area,” more usually known as the Helsinki Convention, from 1974. * * *For further information, please contact:Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi Marek ReszkoChief coordinator of the BD2015 ExercisePolish Maritime Search and Rescue ServiceTel: +48 505050961E-mail: marek.​reszko(at)sar.gov.pl

Balex Delta 2015 on 9 September in Swinoujscie, Poland, media is invited to register by 3 September.

​​New regional action plans to combat marine litter in Baltic Sea and North-East Atlantic have been key topics today during the annual tour of the German Federal Environment Minister, Barbara Hendricks in Stralsund, Germany. HELCOM, upon invitation, gave insight into its achievements in protecting the Baltic marine environment and the 2-month old Regional for Marine Litter. Representatives of the municipality, civil society and the media joined the Minister’s troupe in learning details about the litter issue at the local level.  From left: Darius Campbell, Executive Secretary of OSPAR; Monika Stankiewicz, Executiv​e Secretary of HELCOM; Barbara Hendricks, German Federal Environment Minister; and Heike Imhoff, Chair of HELCOM Gear group, German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety.​”The actions against this urgent conservation issue are now intensifying at many fronts, as the meeting of G7 heads of state and government proved in the beginning of June this year. We need to create ownership, in particular as regards the local and the regional level. Global combat against marine litter can’t succeed without strong support from the Regional Seas Conventions,” said Barbara Hendricks, German Federal Minister from the Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety. “As the tour today has shown, the importance of local level should not be disregarded, whether in sufficient management of shipping disposals at ports or safer practices concerning fishing nets.  “The only way to ensure that the actions against litter are accomplished for real is that all actors join the governments’ work,” urged Monika Stankiewicz, Executive Secretary of HELCOM. HELCOM launched last June the complete for Marine Litter for the Baltic Sea, listing over thirty specific regional actions which are required for unburdening the Baltic Sea from litter. The list of actions in the HELCOM litter plan covers 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 Action plan for marine litter also covers sea-based sources which entail developing best practices for handling waste from fisheries and ships, as well as collection of abandoned fishing gear such as ghost nets. As according to research, most of marine litter derives from households and consumer practices, actions addressing education and outreach on marine litter are also included in the document. Marine litter has a large impact on the environment. While an evident aesthetic problem, litter impairs marine organisms, threatens human health and safety, and increases socio-economic costs. It is estimated that three quarters of litter is plastics, including tiny micro particles which may end up climbing up the food chain. Fast facts on marine litter in the Baltic Sea​- Consumer behaviour is the top reason for marine litter in the Baltic Sea.>- 48% of marine litter in the Baltic Sea originates from household‐related waste, including sanitary waste, while waste generated by recreational or tourism activities would add up to 33%.Microplastics- Up to 40 tonnes of microplastics – particles <5mm in diameter – are released annually into the Baltic Sea catchment through the use of products like body wash, shower gels, and scrubs.> – A growing number of scientific studies show that microplastics can bring serious harm to the marine environment and its inhabitants. When in water, microplastics act as magnets, attracting and carrying bacteria and various contaminants that “colonize” the particles.>>- Around 130 tons of polyethylene particles from personal care products are flushed down the household drains in the Baltic Sea catchment area each year.​Beach litter- The amounts of litter collected in selected Baltic beaches ranged from 76 items/100m at rural beaches to 237 items/100m at urban beaches. Different beach types were monitored in 2012–13 in Estonia, Latvia, Finland and Sweden. > – There are an estimated 150–450 tons of lost fish nets in the seabed of the Polish territorial sea and Polish exclusive economic zone alone.>​​Some global figures- The world annual plastic prod uction has increased dramatically, from 1.7 million tonnes in the 1950s to approximately 280 million tonnes in 2011. Each year up to 10 percent of global plastics production, which is estimated to account for 299 million tons in 2015, ends up as marine litter.  > – The estimated proportion of plastic among total global marine debris ranges from 60 to 80%, reaching 90 to 95% in some areas.  MARLIN Project, 2013; ARCADIS report, 2012;  MARLIN Project, 2013;  Baltic Eye Policy Brief, April 2015;  ibid;  ibid;  MARLIN Project, 2013;  WWF Poland, 2011;  PlasticsEurope, 2012; ​ Gregory & Ryan 1997.​​* * *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:Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988Skype: helcom70E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi

New regional action plans to combat marine litter in Baltic Sea and North-East Atlantic have been key topics during the annual tour of the German Federal Environment Minister, Barbara Hendricks today in Stralsund, Germany.

​​​​​​HELCOM showcased yesterday the work on a regional status on pharmaceuticals at the global in Stockholm, Sweden. The report, scheduled for release in February 2016, will provide a comprehensive background for a regional strategy to mitigate pharmaceuticals’ possible harmful effect in the Baltic Sea.  The forthcoming assessment was the only chosen European case study in the UNESCO session, Emerging pollutants in water and wastewater, in Stockholm on Sunday.There are global cases where high concentrations of pharmaceuticals in the environment lead to disastrous consequences for the population of the exposed species. Photo: Bill Lyons/FlickrThe work will be conducted by HELCOM with active participation of Swedish Environmental Protection Agency   as the coordinator of Policy Area of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR).  The report will be based on information compiled at national and regional level. The aim is to integrate information on production and consumption of pharmaceuticals in the region, their pathways to the Baltic Sea environment, and concentrations in all the compartments of the environment and effects on marine life. The report will also identify knowledge gaps and possible measures to fill such gaps. Pharmaceutical residues in the Baltic Sea are causing concern as the full impact for the marine environment is still unknown. Research shows that not all chemical compounds from medicines are dissolved by the treatment in the waste water plant.  Moreover, pharmaceuticals used in veterinary enter the soil – and consequently groundwater – via manure. Updates on the work on the report will be posted in dedicated HELCOM . * * *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: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​

The report, showcased yesterday in Stockholm World Water Week, will be a comprehensive background for a regional strategy to mitigate pharmaceuticals’ possible harmful effect. Release expected in February 2016.

​​​The total number of surveillance flight hours in the Baltic Sea dropped again in 2014 according to the annual HELCOM on aerial surveillance. Compared to the average total number of flight hours in 2000–2013, the decrease is 20%. There is a risk that the declined amount of time in the air of surveillance planes impairs the reliability of information on detected spills from ships in the Baltic, compiled by HELCOM since 1988. The number of mineral oil spills in 2014 was the lowest ever recorded in the Baltic Sea at 117 spills, indicating a continuous decreasing trend in oil spills. The focus of the recent report is on detected illegal spills of mineral oil, as HELCOM helps to monitor any violations on the existing regulations on prevention of pollution from ships. However, for the first time in 2014, the HELCOM Member States also reported spills of other detected substances as included in the report. Oil but also many other substances released from ships are a potential threat to the marine environment he size of the spills has also decreased in the past 15 years. In 2014, out of all the 117 mineral oil discharges detected in 2014, 109 (93 %) were smaller than 1 m3, and of these oil spills as many as 94 were even smaller than 0.1 m3 (100 litres). ­See chart below. n a vast majority of cases of detected discharges, in 2014 and in previous years, polluters remain unknown. ELCOM has collected comprehensive information since 1988 from all the Baltic coastal countries on aerial surveillance to detect spills of oil and other harmful substances Further information on the detections can be found in the fresh report, for instance, about the location, type, size, annual changes in the Pollution per Flight Hour (PF) Index as well as satellite detections. All data on the individual observed spills can be viewed and downloaded in the HELCOM .  .* * * Note for editorsCo-operation on was established in the 1980s within the HELCOM framework, requiring the Member States to conduct regular surveillance outside their coastlines. This includes developing and applying, individually or in co-operation, surveillance activities covering the Baltic Sea area. The aerial surveillance is complemented by satellite surveillance to enable bigger area coverage and optimisation of flights effectiveness.    The purpose of aerial surveillance is to detect spills of oil and other harmful substances which can threaten the marine environment. If possible, the identity of a polluter should be established and a spill sampled from both the sea surface and the suspected offender on board. Data on illegal discharges observed during national aerial surveillance activities of the coastal states in the Baltic Sea area are compiled by HELCOM every year. * * *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 PlanningHELCOMTel:  +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 total number of surveillance flight hours dropped again in 2014. This may cause less realistic evaluations on the number of harmful spills, and detected polluters, in the Baltic Sea.

​Upon request, HELCOM contributes an update each year to the report of the United Nations Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea. The HELCOM from 30 June 2015 provides an overview of HELCOM activities in 2014-15, with the more specific angle to report on the implementation to the previous UN General Assembly Resolution dated on 29 December 2014. The next full report will be considered by the General Assembly in its 70th session in September 2015. The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE) has been an observer of HELCOM since 1980 and has expressed a wish to keep informed about HELCOM work. On the other hand, HELCOM and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have reciprocal observership and has collaborated for instance in issue related to marine litter, marine biodiversity, and actions to address land-based sources.> > > * * * 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.

HELCOM contribution from 30 June 2015 provides an overview of HELCOM activities in 2014-15, with the more specific angle to report on the implementation to the previous UN General Assembly Resolution dated on 29 December 2014.