Baltic Marine Environment
Protection Commission

Data

HELCOM collects data about the Baltic Sea into various different thematic databases and makes data available via online data portals and data services which are listed below. 

Data portals

Online platforms that provide access to datasets and data-related resources for users.

Databases

Organized collections of thematic data. Data is typically collected on an annual reporting schedule following regionally agreed reporting formats and quality assurance procedures.

Data services

Machine-to-machine interfaces that can be used to access specific databases.

Tools

Software to use in assessments.

Related Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) topics

Data portals

NameBSAP topic(s) DescriptionFeatures
HELCOM Map and Data Service (MADS) Contains all geospatial data used in HELCOM Assessments and reports. Linked with HELCOM Metadata catalogue.• View
• Search
• Download
HELCOM Metadata Catalogue Contains metadata records of all geospatial data used in HELCOM Assessments and reports as well as in depth documentation of databases. Linked with HELCOM MADS. • Metadata
• Download
BASEMAPSBasemaps provides access to maritime spatial planning (MSP) data in the Baltic Sea: ‘Input data,’ as a service from data sources, and ‘Output data,’ which is MSP plans sea uses. • View
• Metadata 
HELCOM Biodiversity data portalContains all macrospecies observations data made available by HELCOM Contracting Parties.• View
• Search
• Download
Shipping data platformProvides access to various shipping-related data collected by HELCOM within the Maritime and Response Working Groups, expert groups and related projects.• View
Ballast water DSTThe HELCOM/OSPAR Ballast Water Exemptions Decision Support Tool contains data on NIS species observations and port sampling.• View
• Search
• Download
HELCOM MPA PortalAccess point to relevant information on the Baltic Sea Protected Areas (HELCOM MPAs).• View
• Search
• Download

Databases

Name BSAP topic(s)DescriptionReporting
format
FeaturesHosted by
Oceanographic data (nutrients)Oceanographic monitoring data gathered by HELCOM Contracting Parties.Link• Online access
• Download 

ICES
Hazardous substances in marine environmentMonitoring data on concentrations of contaminants in biota, sediment and seawater.Link• Online access
• Download 

ICES
Biological community data (open sea)Monitoring data on abundance and biomass of open sea phytoplankton, zooplankton, zoobenthos and phytobenthos.Link (ENV3.2), 
PEG Biovolume
• Online access
• Download 

ICES
Biodiversity databaseHELCOM Biodiversity database contains macrospecies observations.• Online access
• Download 

HELCOM
Pollution Load Compilation (PLC)HELCOM PLC Database contains waterborne nutrient and contaminant discharges to the Baltic Sea. Link• Online access
• Download 
•Dashboard

BNI
Impulsive noise Impulsive noise events reported by HELCOM Contracting Parties.Link• Online access
• Download 

ICES
Continuous noiseContinuous low-frequency sound monitored under the HELCOM programme in the Baltic SeaLink• Online access
• Download 

ICES
Shipping AccidentsShipping accidents reported to EMSA/EMCIP and verified by HELCOM Maritime• Online access
• Download 
Dashboard
HELCOM

EMSA
Illegal oil spillsLocation and size of spills observed during aerial surveillance flights by HELCOM Contracting Parties• Online access
• Download 
Dashboard

HELCOM
Disposal sites of dredged materialDisposal and deposit sites of dredged material reported by HELCOM Contracting PartiesLink• Online access
• Download 

HELCOM
Radioactive substance in the environment (MORS Env)Observations from monitoring of environmental radioactivity in the Baltic SeaLink• Download
HELCOM
Radioactive discharges (MORS Discharge)Airborne and waterborne discharges resulting from nuclear facilities in the Baltic Sea and North Sea regionLink• Download
HELCOM

STUK

Data services

The HELCOM data services provide standards-compliant methods for accessing environmental data related to the Baltic Sea. These services facilitate machine-to-machine communication, making it possible for GIS professionals, developers, and researchers to integrate HELCOM datasets into their workflows.  

Data services are documented in the HELCOM Metadata catalogue and are accessible from HELCOM ArcGIS REST Services Directory as follows:

  1. Select a thematic service from the service directory 
  2. Select the interface type from the top of the page (WFS / WMS / Rest)

Available service types are: 

  • OGC Web Feature Service (WFS) enables users to request and manipulate vector feature information from the HELCOM databases in a machine-readable format (for example, GeoJSON or GML). 
  • OGC Web Map Service (WMS) provides pre-rendered map images of spatial datasets directly from HELCOM’s servers.  
  • ESRI ArcGIS Rest interface allows direct access to HELCOM’s spatial data through ArcGIS-compatible REST endpoints.

Tools

Software tools developed for use in HELCOM assessments are listed below and are available in the HELCOM GitHub repositories.

NameBSAP topic(s)DescriptionFeatures
SPIA desktop tool (GIThub)ArcGIS Pro toolbox to run the spatial pressure and impact assessment with any pressure layer and ecosystem component datasets that meet the specified requirements.• Run assessment
SPIA online toolOnline tool for conducting the spatial pressure and impact assessment (SPIA). The newest input datasets are available, with links to corresponding metadata. Users can explore results and trace them back to contributions from human activities, pressure layers and ecosystem components. Downloadable outputs, including raster files and statistical information.• Run assessment
• Explore results
• Metadata
• Download
Sufficiency of Measures (SOM)A Python model developed by HELCOM to assess the potential improvements in environmental state and pressures achievable with existing measures.• Run assessment
HEATHELCOM Eutrophication Assessment Tool (HEAT) is used to carry out HELCOM Eutrophication assessment and indicator result calculation from monitoring data. • Run assessment
CHASEHELCOM Hazardous Substances Status Assessment Tool (CHASE). The CHASE tool integrates monitoring data on hazardous substances in water, sediments and biota as well as bio-effect indicators and is based on a substance- or bio-effect-specific calculation of a ‘contamination ratio’.• Run assessment
BEATHELCOM Biodiversity Assessment Tool (BEAT) is used for creating integrated assessments of biodiversity in the Baltic Sea based on biodiversity indicator results.• Run assessment

Usage and citation

Users are free to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format, so long as attribution is given to the creator (CC-BY license). See our data policy for more information.

How to cite: [Name of data source], [Year]. [Hosting organisation]. [weblink]  

Example: Shipping accidents, HELCOM Map and Data Service, 2024. The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM), Helsinki, Finland. https://maps.helcom.fi

Contact

Mock Employee
Joni Kaitaranta

Senior Data Manager
data@helcom.fi
+358 46 850 9206