Author: Eeva Nyyssönen

​The 35th Annual Meeting of closed yesterday evening after reviewing the current and relevant key issues related to regional policy-making on Baltic marine environment.  The Annual Meeting, involving HELCOM member parties which consist of all the Baltic coastal nations and the EU, is the highest decision-making body of HELCOM and explores the yearly developments concerning eutrophication, hazardous substances, biodiversity and maritime activities. This year’s Meeting started with a special festive flavor with the 40th Anniversary celebrating the signing of the 1974 Helsinki Convention, providing the basis for HELCOM work.  The Meeting decided yesterday on necessary steps in order to develop a Regional Action Plan on marine litter by 2015, as agreed by the Ministerial Meeting last October. Marine litter is a broad and critical concern and the Action Plan will form a regional strategy on how to deal with it in a comprehensive way. The Plan will be developed based on information on sources and amounts of marine litter, and it aims to include concrete measures to minimize the presence of marine litter in the Baltic Sea. Its development will be organized through regional workshops and with close involvement of the Contracting Parties. The proposed working plan utilizes the experience from preparing the Regional Action Plan for the North-East Atlantic within OSPAR. Another key topic in the extensive Meeting agenda was the major overhaul of the HELCOM Recommendation on coastal and marine Baltic Sea protected areas. Such protected areas are essential for maintaining biodiversity and ensuring the versatility of ecosystems. The previous similar document, HELCOM Recommendation , was adopted 20 years ago, and the Contracting Parties now agreed on the main changes in the Recommendation with only small aspects pending confirmation shortly. The main reasons for creating the new Recommendation have been the need to update the selection criteria of the marine protected areas, also concerning the newly Red-listed habitats and species; to establish a new database and ensure it is updated; and to re-assess the criteria for both ecological coherence and management aspects. Furthermore, to help reduce harmful nutrients in the Baltic Sea, the Meeting decided in principal to submit a notification on improved sewage reception facilities in Baltic ports to the International Maritime Organization (). Such a submission to IMO meeting will trigger an enforcement of ban on sewage discharges from passenger ships according to the special areas status of the Baltic Sea under the IMO MARPOL convention, which Baltic has been granted as the first sea area in the world following the HELCOM-led process.  An overview on current availability of port reception facilities for passenger vessels’ sewage, as well as on passenger traffic trends, are about to be published on HELCOM website. Almost 40 years of successful marine protection of HELCOM has been achieved through constant self-reflection. Yesterday the 35th Annual Meeting endorsed a plan for major deliverables by the organization until 2021 as well as agreed to implement a number of measures for a modernized HELCOM. The new, more streamlined working structure for HELCOM main operational bodies was to a large extent completed, to better reflect the current environmental challenges and obligations of the Contracting Parties. HELCOM will pay more attention in the future to better communicating scientific and technical outcomes to decision-makers as well as the general public.  The 35th meeting was chaired by Helle Pilsgaard, Chair of HELCOM. All Meeting documents can be accessed in  * * *Note for editors:The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organisation of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region. Since 1974, HELCOM has been the governing body of the ‘Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area’, more commonly known as the Helsinki Convention.For more information, please contact:Johanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail:  

Work starts on Baltic marine litter action plan and other current key issues reviewed on Baltic environmental policies.

​Statement by the Executive Secretary of HELCOM, Mrs. Monika Stankiewicz, giving her account on the activities of the Commission in 2013 at HELCOM 35/2014 013 was first and foremost the year of the Copenhagen Ministerial Meeting. Work in the HELCOM Secretariat and with and among the Contracting Parties concentrated very much on preparations for the Ministerial Meeting during the first three quarters of the year. It was important to get all the important deliverables ready by the meeting; therefore we made extra efforts together at all working levels as well as each and every one individually. As an example we had altogether five HOD meetings in 2013 – in normal years there are two, maybe threeThe hard work paid off: we can be proud of the successful Ministerial Meeting. From the Secretariat’s side I would like to thank Denmark for excellent cooperation in the preparations and arrangements of the meeting as part of the Danish chairmanship. But all the Contracting Party representatives, experts, staff, observers and other partners involved in the process deserve our gratitude for their contributions to the success of the meetingIn Copenhagen the Ministers and the High-Level Representatives of the Contracting Parties to the Helsinki Convention negotiated in an open and constructive spirit the open questions and finally adopted a Declaration and some major deliverables, indicating the progress in all fields of the Baltic Sea Action Plan. These included new HELCOM Recommendations in the maritime and maritime special planning fields, amendment to the Helsinki Convention concerning shoreline response, joint HELCOM/OSPAR guidance on harmonized approach to the exemptions under the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention, and revised Monitoring and Assessment Strategy.The Ministerial discussions on the timing for the establishment of the Baltic Sea NOx Emission Control Area under Annex VI of MARPOL proved challenging. While we are awaiting the outcome of the IMO considerations on the same issue, I’m especially glad that the Platform on green technology and alternative fuels for shipping, supported by the Ministers, has already kick-started and the related draft roadmap for future actions is presented to this Meeting.Further, I am especially happy about the adoption of the updated and revised Nutrient Reduction Scheme, including  the sharing of the pollution reduction burden between HELCOM countries. By agreeing to this, the Contracting Parties showed their commitment to continue their efforts to fight eutrophication of the Baltic Sea. One last step is still to be made – we are awaiting the outcome of the national negotiations in Poland so also Poland fully signs up to the common schemeThe revised HELCOM nutrient reduction scheme includes also airborne nitrogen and explicitly extends to sources outside the coastal countries, in the Baltic Sea catchment area. This is important to be able to reduce inputs in a more cost-efficient and comprehensive way.With the funds allocated in the HELCOM budget, complemented by some special contributions, and with the dedication of numerous HELCOM experts around the Baltic Sea we were able to finalize major projects, which delivered important inputs for the Ministerial Meeting. The Red List project did a huge job, an unprecedented effort, during five years to verify the conservation status of biodiversity. 1753 species and 209 biotopes were assessed for risk of extinction in the Red List reports. 69 of Baltic Sea species and 59 biotopes were found to be under such risk. The enormous amount of data collected and analyzed during this project – and also outcomes of other projects such as CORESET project on core-indicators – is in the HELCOM website available to the public openly and free of charge.And this brings me to the second big theme of last year: reform, or modernization, or streamlining, which was started in a very concrete way, by reforming the HELCOM website. The new face of HELCOM was revealed just before the Ministerial Meeting. You have seen the outcome, but what you have not seen are the extra efforts by everybody working in the Secretariat during the construction of the new website – all staff worked really hard in the web project on top of their regular responsibilities. The new meeting portal will soon follow. And as we all know, the whole HELCOM working structure is under review since last year. I’m sure that the streamlining process will lead to a more efficient HELCOMAs has been said many times, also during this meeting and the Jubilee Session, for HELCOM it is as important as the ambitious contents of the Ministerial Declaration to transform words into action, to ensure that the governments, HELCOM community and other stakeholders act together and make the change.  

Statement by the Executive Secretary of HELCOM, Mrs. Monika Stankiewicz, giving her account on the activities of the Commission in 2013 at HELCOM 35/2014.

​President Tarja Halonen and HELCOM Executive Secretary Monika Stankiewicz. Photo: Marco ManziJoyful mood accompanied the HELCOM 40th anniversary Jubilee session this morning in Helsinki, Finland, inaugurated by President Tarja Halonen, Minister of Environment of Finland, Ville Niinistö, Jacqueline Alder from the Division of Environmental Policy Implementation of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and Helle Pilsgaard, Chair of HELCOM. The first Helsinki Convention was signed 40 years ago, making history in environmental protection and establishing the Finnish capital as the host for the more permanent functions of HELCOM.  President Tarja Halonen on behalf of the host country of HELCOM, Finland, opened the Jubilee by acknowledging that while many seas in the world struggle due to political and economic situations, the Baltic region enjoy economic prosperity and stability putting even more expectations on us. “Despite economic downturns from time to time, the Baltic Sea coastal countries have what it takes to be persistent, ambitious and forward-looking in their efforts to save the sea.” “The HELCOM organization has a legal basis, established procedures, transparency and professionalism. This needs to be coupled with higher political support to fully utilize the potential of a cooperation platform. Also all the members should be involved on equal footing and strive for harmonized implementation of the same and sufficient standards though out the region.” Ms. Halonen also said that in the Baltic Region , the work of the states is very important but not enough. “In order to achieve effective measures to clean our Baltic Sea, we need all actors of society onboard.” Ville Niinistö, Minister of Environment of Finland referred in his speech to the 1974 Helsinki Convention being unique. “The signing of the Convention was a historic milestone — for the first time ever, a single Convention covered all the pollution sources around an entire sea.  This legally binding instrument has been and should continue to be an effective channel for introducing local and regional aspects into global and European commitments. ” Mr. Niinistö also referred to the progress in the implementation of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan, calling for further necessary actions as agreed e.g. in Copenhagen Ministerial Meeting last October. A special 40th premiered at the end of the Jubilee, and a video recording of the morning celebrations can soon be downloaded from HELCOM website. The Jubilee session precedes the HELCOM Annual Meeting, the highest decision-making body of HELCOM. The Meeting starts at 13:30 today and continues until 6 March at 16:00.   * * *Note for editors: The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organisation of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region. Since 1974, HELCOM has been the governing body of the ‘Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area’, more commonly known as the Helsinki Convention. For more information, please contact:Johanna  LaurilaInformation Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail: johanna.laurila(@)helcom.fi

Joyful mood accompanied the HELCOM 40th anniversary Jubilee session this morning in Helsinki.

​Honorary guests, expert speakers and panelists, and the extended HELCOM family will celebrate tomorrow 5 March the 40th anniversary year of signing of the Helsinki Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area. A session will be streamed at 10–12:30 o’clock (CET+1h).  Selected highlights from a special exhibition, showcasing major achievements, photos and many memories from the four decades of environmental collaboration between the nine Baltic Sea countries and the EU, will also be made available in HELCOM website.  The Jubilee will be opened by President Tarja Halonen, followed by Minister of the Environment of Finland, Ville Niinistö, Jacqueline Alder from the United Nations Environment Programme, and Helle Pilsgaard, Chair of HELCOM. Three expert presentations will shed some light on the status of the Baltic marine environment and future prospects for its recovery, by Professor Erik Bonsdorff, Åbo Akademi; Bo Gustafsson, Baltic Nest Institute; and Marianne Kettunen from the Institute of European Environmental Policy.  As the final part, the stage will be taken over by a panel with a future focus, participated by Chiefs-of-Office of HELCOM, Marine environment protection Commission of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR), International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), and the BONUS Baltic Research Programme. The panel will also be joined by the representatives of two HELCOM members: the European Union and the Russian Federation.  Note for editors:The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organisation of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region. Since 1974, HELCOM has been the governing body of the ‘Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area’, more commonly known as the Helsinki Convention. For more information, please contact:Johanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail:

Honorary guests, expert speakers and panelists, and the extended HELCOM family will celebrate tomorrow the 40th anniversary year.

​The renowned efforts of HELCOM on marine protected areas (MPAs) are addressed today in a high level visit of Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Dr. Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias. The side-event organized by the Ministry of the Environment of Finland showcases the work being done in implementing CBD and its programmes of work. HELCOM Executive Secretary Monika Stankiewicz has presented regional achievements.  HELCOM marine protected areas (MPAs) are established to protect valuable marine and coastal habitats in the Baltic Sea. This is done by designating areas with particular nature values as protected areas, and by managing human activities within those areas. HELCOM MPAs base on HELCOM Recommendation 15/5 and this week, a new MPA Recommendation matching better the present situation expects adoption in the HELCOM Annual Meeting. Currently a proud 12% of the Baltic Sea area has been designated as protected, three-fold more than in 2004 and clearly exceeding the 10% target set by CBD. The number of management plans in marine protected areas has also increased. However, the network is not yet ecologically coherent.  The latest of MPAs in the Baltic Sea was prepared for the 2013 HELCOM Ministerial Meeting.   Convention on Biological Diversity is a global agreement addressing all aspects of biological diversity: genetic resources, species, and ecosystems. The international legally binding treaty entered into force on 1993. Note for editors:The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organisation of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region. Since 1974, HELCOM has been the governing body of the ‘Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area’, more commonly known as the Helsinki Convention. For further information, please contact:Johanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail:

Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Dr. Braulio Dias visits today a side event organized by Finnish Ministry of Environment.

A major Brussels conference ‘Healthy Oceans – Productive
Ecosystems ()’ opens today bringing together those working with or in
relation to the European marine environment, with sessions on marine indicators
to assess the status of the sea which is a traditional expertise area for
HELCOM. A key aim of the HOPE Conference is to discuss progress made over the
past 5 years since the adoption of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive
(MSFD), the problems and the solutions for improved coherence and better marine
governance. The Directive has strong parallels with the HELCOM Baltic Sea
Action Plan (2007–2021), both having the same objective to achieve and maintain
the good environmental status of the marine environment by 2020/2021 ELCOM Professional Secretary Ulla Li Zweifel will represent
long HELCOM experience in common indicator work, by joining Round 1 parallel
session on Monitoring in the morning of 4 March. HELCOM core indicators are
common for all Contracting Parties and can be used to assess the state of the
entire Baltic Sea ecosystem, including its flora, fauna and habitats, as well
as pressures affecting the Sea such as hazardous substances (e.g. PCB) and
radioactive substances. The first HELCOM core sets of indicators is ready for
eutrophication, and since last year, for biodiversity and hazardous substances,
and the work continues to develop them further by 2015.   he entire HOPE conference will be streamed live via on 3 and 4 March. Twitter hashtag: #HOPE4EUSEAS ote for editorsThe Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually
referred to as ,
is an intergovernmental organisation of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries
and the European Union working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic
Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the
region. Since 1974, HELCOM has governed the ‘Convention on the Protection of
the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area’, more commonly known as the
Helsinki Convention For further information, please contact:Ulla Li Zweifel
Professional Secretary
HELCOM
Tel: +358 46 850 9198
Skype: helcom64 E-mail: ullali.zweifel@helcom.fi

Johanna Laurila
Information Secretary
HELCOM
Tel: +358 40 523 8988
Skype: helcom70
E-mail:

A major Brussels conference ‘Healthy Oceans – Productive Ecosystems (HOPE)’ opens today, and is streamed live in its entirety.

 WHOPresident Tarja Halonen;Ville Niinistö, Minister of Environment of Finland;Jacqueline Alder, Head, Freshwater and Marine Ecosystems Branch, Division of Environmental Policy Implementation of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP);Helle Pilsgaard, Chair of HELCOM WHAT40th anniversary jubilee session of HELCOM, including expert presentations on ‘Baltic Sea: ecosystem and prosperity’ and a future-orientated dialogue panel – full programme enclosedWHENWednesday 5 March 2014, 10:00 – 12:30 WHERE                                 Marina Congress Center (Europaea Hall, ground floor), Katajanokanlaituri 6, 00160 Helsinki WHYThe Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM) celebrates its first 40 years since the historical signing of the Helsinki Convention on the protection of the marine environment of the Baltic Sea. Note that the Jubilee session can also be followed live through video stream on . Best of the special Jubilee exhibition, showcasing highlights from the rich history of HELCOM, will also be set up in the dedicated webpages.The Jubilee will be followed on 5–6 March 2014 by HELCOM Annual Meeting, the highest decision-making body of HELCOM.  Any interested media: please contact Johanna Laurila by Tuesday 4 March 2014 for accreditation. See contact details below* * *The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organisation of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region. Since 1974, HELCOM has been the governing body of the ‘Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area’, more commonly known as the Helsinki Convention. For more information, please contact:Johanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi 

MEDIA ADVISORY – President Tarja Halonen and Ville Niinistö, Minister of Environment of Finland will open the festivities on 5 March 2014 at 10am.

HELCOM hosts a pan-European meeting today on pollution incident cooperation, with the view to maintain a thorough exchange of experiences and information across the continent. The annual meeting aims to create working synergies of the organizations in the Baltic Sea, Mediterranean Sea, the Northeast Atlantic, the Nordic countries and the EU: European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and the European Commission. Representatives of the concerned regional agreements will each present an overview of recent, current and planned activities, regarding both operational and preparedness matters. The agreements represented include the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC), Bonn Agreement, Lisbon Agreement, Copenhagen Agreement and the Helsinki Convention (HELCOM). * * *Note for editors:Maritime transportation in the Baltic Sea region has steadily increased during the past decade. On the average, 2,000 ships are at sea every day and by 2017 maritime transport of goods in the region has been estimated to double.  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 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 for over thirty years.  The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organisation of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region. Since 1974, HELCOM has been the governing body of the ‘Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area’, more commonly known as the Helsinki Convention. For more information, please contact:Hermanni BackerProfessional Secretary for Maritime, Response and Maritime Spatial PlanningHELCOMTel:  +358 46 8509199Skype: helcom02E-mail: hermanni.backer(at)helcom.fiJohanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988Skype: helcom70E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi

HELCOM hosts a pan-European meeting today on pollution incident cooperation among the continent’s regional agreements.

​Helping to minimize impact of any disposed material containing heavy metals and other hazardous substances is the ultimate goal of the dredged material Baltic expert meeting continuing today. HELCOM Guidelines which concern dredged material needs revising, the last being adopted in 2007, to better follow processes at the global level () and in the neighbouring marine regions such as North-East Atlantic (). The 2-day expert group meeting looks closely into recent legislative and technological developments and project outcomes related to dredging, in order to optimally update the guidelines for the Baltic Sea area.   Dredging is essential to maintain navigation in ports and harbours as well as for developing port facilities. However, dredging represents one of the human pressures onto marine environment hence it impacts sea floor integrity; releases and relocates contamination; and disturbs sea life by noise, turbidity and siltation. Bottom sediments being dredged, especially within port areas, often contain a cocktail of hazardous substances accumulated there as a result of human activities upstream. Only material which is considered “clean” can be disposed at sea.  Some of the dredged material from within the Baltic Sea area is, by its nature, either uncontaminated or only slightly contaminated by human activity – i.e. at, or close to, natural background levels. Such material can be utilised for various beneficial purposes such as land reclamation, beach nourishing and dykes.  The revised HELCOM Guidelines for the disposal of dredged material at sea should address options for sustainable handling of both contaminated and “clean” material, avoiding loss of resources and at the same time not compromising good environmental status.  * * *Note for editors:The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organisation of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region. Since 1974, HELCOM has governed the ‘Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area’, more commonly known as the Helsinki Convention. * * *For further information, please contact:Mikhail Durkin Professional Secretary  – LAND Group, AGRI/ENV FORUM, FISH/ENV FORUM E-mail: mikhail.durkin@helcom.fiTel. +358 46 850 9195 Skype: helcom04 Johanna Laurila Information Secretary Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail:

Helping to minimize impact of any disposed material containing heavy metals and other hazardous substances is the ultimate goal of the dredged material Baltic expert meeting.

HELCOM invites all interested to join by watching live video stream on HELCOM website next month, when the main event of the 40th anniversary year of the Helsinki Convention culminates the proud celebrations on the four decades of extraordinary marine protection work.  On 5 March 2014, at 10–12:30 o’clock, high level speakers from the host country Finland, United Nations Environment Programme () and HELCOM will start the session in front of the invited guests, followed by expert presentations under the topic ‘Baltic Sea: ecosystem and prosperity’.  Thirdly, a future-orientated dialogue panel gets all the major macro-regional chiefs-of-office and the European Commission representative to the stage.   In 1974, Helsinki had won among many eager aspirants to host a historical Conference climaxing on 22 March with the signing of the first Helsinki Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area. The Convention has bound the riparian countries at that time to take all appropriate legislative, administrative or other relevant measures to prevent and eliminate pollution in order to promote ecological restoration of the Baltic Sea area. This took place just two years after the United Nations Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment, resulting in the birth of UNEP and widely considered the starting point for modern political and public awareness of global environmental problems. During the 40 years of HELCOM work in protecting the Baltic marine environment many things have changed.  We can already see signs of recovery in the status of the Baltic Sea despite the region’s growth in economy, wealth and maritime transport, carrying risks of more, or new, pressures to the sea. HELCOM can claim its share for the achievement – it has succeeded well in keeping up regular cooperation across the national borders for four decades, in developing environmental policies and actions for a healthier Baltic Sea. The festivities of 5 March 2014 can be followed live, and an edited version downloaded afterwards through HELCOM website. Best of the special Jubilee exhibition, showcasing highlights from the rich history of HELCOM, will also be set up in the dedicated webpages.  The Jubilee session precedes the HELCOM Annual Meeting on 5-6 March, the highest decision-making body of HELCOM.   * * *Note for editors:The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as the Helsinki Commission or , is an intergovernmental organisation of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region. Since 1974, HELCOM has been the governing body of the ‘Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area’, more commonly known as the Helsinki Convention. * * *For further information, please contactJohanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail: johanna.laurila(@)helcom.fi

Four decades of extraordinary marine protection work of HELCOM celebrated in 2014.