Category: BIODIV

The lack of a joint network to monitor and share data
on Baltic offshore water birds will be among the issues addressed in the HELCOM

meetings in Tallinn, Estonia, this week.
has for long had a high focus on coordinated international environmental
monitoring for the Baltic. The EU co-funded BALSAM aims to enhance the
coordination, as well as fill gaps in the regional monitoring work by strengthening
the capacity of the
Baltic Sea coastal countries in their monitoring of water birds, benthic
habitats, seals and non-indigenous species in ports. “Coordinated
monitoring of the offshore water bird has not been carried out in the Baltic before
and the aim is now to build a platform to start international collaboration to
monitor and share data on the birds. Coordinated efforts in monitoring would help
protect endangered seabirds in the Baltic, such as Steller’s eider and long-tailed
duck”, says Ainars Aunins from the Latvian Fund for Nature, coordinator of the
seabird platform.The BALSAM Project
also contributes to the revision of the HELCOM joint monitoring programme and the
development of the online joint HELCOM Monitoring Manual. The Manual will assist
the EU member states in their reporting for the Marine Strategy Framework
Directive (MSFD) and is expected to be available online in the autumn of 2014. In
the BALSAM Meetings this week, the main focus will be on contributing to the Manual,
discussing the establishment of a platform for water bird monitoring as well as
drafting a manual on benthic habitat monitoring for the Baltic.   “Currently no regular monitoring exists for
Baltic Sea benthic habitats, although habitat mapping has started in many
countries. Our goal is to prepare a manual with recommendations on how to
monitor the habitats in the future” says Georg Martin from the Estonian Marine
Institute.BALSAM
ensures harmonized approaches also in an interregional level, by cooperating
with two other pilot projects in the North Sea (JMP NS/CS) and in the
Mediterranean (IRIS-SES). Further, BALSAM will provide recommendations to enhance
coordinated use of research vessels in the Baltic Sea. The project started on 1
October 2013 and will run until the end of March 2015. (all documents public after the
meeting), 7-8 May
2014, Tallinn, Estonia  * * *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 KarhuBALSAM Project CoordinatorHELCOM
Tel. +358 406619040
Skype: helcom63E-mail: Johanna Laurila
Information SecretaryHELCOM
Tel: +358 40 523 8988
Skype: helcom70
E-mail:  

The lack of a joint network to monitor and share data on offshore water birds will be among the issues addressed in the HELCOM BALSAM Project meetings in Tallinn, Estonia, this week.

HELCOM work on (MPAs) took a major leap forward as the new Recommendation on coastal and marine Baltic Sea protected areas was adopted earlier this month (). Protected areas are essential for maintaining healthy biodiversity and ensuring the versatility of ecosystems. The primary reason for creating the new Recommendation is the need to update selection criteria of marine protected areas. Such improved criteria are now possible due to recent major HELCOM work to define at risk of extinction, as well as
threatened by collapse in the Baltic Sea. Another essential feature is that the network of HELCOM MPAs aims to be ecologically coherent, in other words that the collection of sites protects the full range of biodiversity in the region. Moreover, the contents of management plans for the protected areas require urgent attention. The area of HELCOM marine protected areas has increased threefold since 2004 and now covers about 12 % of the marine area, thereby exceeding the target of 10 % set by the Convention on Biological Diversity, confirms the HELCOM Overview published last year. The Baltic Sea was one of the first regional seas in the world to reach this target.  However, little progress has been made to include more off-shore areas under the protection regime, and the network of protected areas is not yet ecologically coherent in spite of the HELCOM target set three years ago. The newly adopted Recommendation incorporates all Baltic Sea sub-basins within the 10 % protection coverage target. Further, new management plans are needed: currently, 106 HELCOM MPAs (65% of the total) have a management plan in force; in 42 (26%) sites a plan is still inpreparation; and the rest – 15 out of 163 – have no progress for such a plan. The new Recommendation therefore reiterates that all MPAs should have a management plan by 2015 and that any new site should establish a management plan within five years of its designation.   Moreover, the new Recommendation stipulates that the database for HELCOM MPAs will be modernized to facilitate the reporting and assessment of protected areas. And along with the new Recommendation, a new acronym has also been adopted:  from now on, instead of the former BSPAs (Baltic Sea Protected Areas) the coastal and marine Baltic Sea protected areas will be known as HELCOM MPAs. * * *Note for editors:, which is one of the HELCOM Working Groups involving all the Baltic coastal states, works to conserve and protect biodiversity, species and habitats of the Baltic Sea. HABITAT promotes the sustainable use of living marine resources and aims to ensure that the environmental protection needs are duly considered in different activities that affect the marine environment, by using tools such as spatial planning and environmental impact assessments. 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 contactJanica BorgProject Researcher (PROTECT)HELCOM Tel: +358 40 662 0101 E-mail: janica.borg(@)helcom.fiSkype: helcom57 Johanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 E-mail: Skype: helcom70​

New Recommendation on coastal and marine Baltic Sea protected areas was adopted earlier this month.

Best measures to monitor and assess underwater noise and marine litter in the Baltic Sea, and especially the development of indicators, were discussed in Oslo during the 3-day of HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Group () ending yesterday. Noise and litter have damaging impacts on marine ecosystems and immediate attention is needed to define suitable mitigation measures, as well as follow-up on the effectiveness of actions. The long-running MONAS Group consists of representatives from all the Baltic coastal countries, from the fields of research and policy-making alike.  A dedicated thematic session at the meeting focused, among others, on planning the way forward for the development of indicators for underwater noise, which may be used for monitoring ambient and impulsive underwater noise in the Baltic Sea. Human-introduced noise from e.g. wind farm construction and shipping is increasing. Such sounds, highly challenging to measure and manage, may have a significant negative impact on animals in a number of ways, on both individual and population levels.  Moreover, another session at the MONAS meeting considered latest research initiatives and available information on sources and amounts of marine litter in the Baltic Sea as well as existing methods for monitoring. The session provided inputs towards development of a Regional Action Plan for marine litter by 2015. The Action Plan has the aim to significantly reduce marine litter by 2025. Marine litter from land and sea-based sources, with a dominance of plastics of different sizes ranging from macro- to microparticles, causes harmful impacts not only on habitats and species, but also on various economic sectors, such as fisheries, shipping or tourism.  The agenda of the MONAS meeting, which started on Tuesday, has otherwise focused on the extensive revision of the HELCOM monitoring programmes; the development and operationalization of core indicators; and planning of the execution of a second holistic assessment. he Meeting was chaired by HELCOM MONAS Chair Ms. Anna-Stiina Heiskanen, Finland. Note for editors:The Monitoring and Assessment Group () looks after one of HELCOM’s key tasks by assessing trends in threats to the marine environment, their impacts, the resulting state of the marine environment, and the effectiveness of adopted measures. This work forms the basis for the work of HELCOM’s other main groups, and helps to define the need for additional measures. 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:Ulla Li Zweifel Professional Secretary – GEAR, HABITAT & MONASHELCOM Tel. +358 46 850 9198  Skype: helcom64E-mail: ullali.zweifel(@)helcom.fiJohanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 E-mail: johanna.laurila(@)helcom.fi

Best measures to monitor and assess underwater noise and marine litter in the Baltic Sea, especially developing indicators, were discussed in MONAS Meeting.

​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.

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.

​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.

​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.

An expert workshop today kicks off the second round of HELCOM work on core indicators, which measure the state of and pressures affecting the Baltic Sea environment. The workshop is organized by the recently started HELCOM project (2013–2015) that has the objective of operationalizing the first mutually agreed core indicators for biodiversity, hazardous substances and eutrophication, and to possibly develop additional ones. HELCOM, involving all Baltic coastal countries and EU as its Contracting Parties as well as an extensive specialist expert and observer network, has long experience in indicator development. HELCOM core indicators are common for all Contracting Parties and can be used to assess the state of the whole Baltic Sea ecosystem, including its flora, fauna and habitats, as well as pressures affecting the Sea such as hazardous substances like PCB and radioactive substances. Core indicators analyze data from environmental monitoring and measure the environment’s state against a target or boundary value for good environmental status (GES). They are also a prerequisite for comparing monitoring data and assessment results across the entire Baltic Sea region. Such indicators enable assessments of whether the objectives of are being met, and, for the countries being EU members, also the requirements of the . * * *Note 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:Lena AvellanProject Manager, CORESET IIHELCOM Tel: +358 40 162 2054Skype: helcom35 E-mail:   Johanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail:

An expert workshop today kick offs the second round of HELCOM work on core indicators, which measure the state of and pressures affecting the Baltic

The work for a revised, scientifically sound, well-coordinated and cost-effective HELCOM monitoring programme moves forward in a project workshop closing today, with a focus on developing joint monitoring fact sheets templates, among others. The fact sheets will help the Baltic coastal countries to document the HELCOM monitoring work and on a broader level, to meet with the requirements of both HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan and the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). The Meeting is organized by the project “Revision of the HELCOM monitoring programmes (). “The Workshop will support in a valuable way the further improvements in coordinated monitoring of the Baltic Sea, involving the entire region, a task which HELCOM has continued for decades.  The joint system is currently being revised, as mandated by the , to better assess the state of the marine environment and the possible impact of any measures taken for the Baltic Sea’s recovery,” says the new Professional Secretary of HELCOM, Ms. Ulla Li Zweifel. The two-day workshop (HELCOM MORE 8/2014) will also consider the current developments for a joint web based monitoring manual. The manual will provide a documentation and presentation of the regionally coordinated joint monitoring system, including strategic aspects, legal background, description of the full monitoring system and specific monitoring programmes, among others.  * * *Note for editors: – The Monitoring and Assessment Group looks after one of HELCOM’s key tasks by assessing trends in threats to the marine environment, their impacts, the resulting state of the marine environment, and the effectiveness of adopted measures. This work forms the basis for the work of HELCOM’s other main groups, and helps to define the need for additional measures. * * *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:Manuel Frias Project CoordinatorHELCOM MORETel: +358 46 850 9209 Skype: helcom23 E-mail: Johanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail:

The work for a revised, scientifically sound and cost-effective HELCOM monitoring programme moves forward.

Final straight starts in exchanging best practices on environmental monitoring between the Baltic and the Black Seas, in the fourth and final project workshop which continues today in Istanbul, Turkey.  The EU funded project , or, “Environmental monitoring of the Black Sea with focus on nutrient pollution”, has for three years maintained close contact between expert networks in these regions, for sharing knowledge and developing new assessment methods for systematic monitoring of the largely similar marine environments. Baltic Sea Marine Environment Protection Commission () and the have been the key organizing forces. The two-day workshop introduces the recent developments in the monitoring and assessment of effects of nutrient enrichment, which is currently on-going in the Baltic Sea as mandated in the 2013 Copenhagen Ministerial Declaration last month. This time the HELCOM experts will present to the Black Sea colleagues the work done to improve the joint coordinated monitoring and assessment system for the Baltic Sea. This entails, for instance, presenting the new HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Strategy and new projects in the Baltic Sea area,such as  the recently started BALSAM project (Testing new concepts for integrated environmental monitoring of the Baltic Sea) and the upcoming EUTRO-OPER project (Making the eutrophication assessments operational).  A central contribution from HELCOM experts to the Black Sea experts have been the details of the nutrient reduction scheme, just upgraded and newly adopted by the HELCOM Ministers in October 2013, including the calculations of maximum allowable inputs of nutrients and the country-wise reduction targets. Other key items of exchange include harmonized monitoring of marine eutrophication e.g. via remote sensing techniques and other new valuable methods; and the benefits and development needs of a new eutrophication assessment tool “BEAST” in the Black Sea context. The regions have cooperated closely on BEAST, which is based on HELCOM assessment tool HEAT and expected to be useful in providing harmonized assessments of the eutrophication status in the entire Black Sea.  Furthermore, while binding together lessons learnt during the project, the aim is to discuss and draft plans regarding potential future cooperation between these two marginal semi-enclosed brackish sea regions sharing similar environmental challenges. Eutrophication – the main focus in the project Baltic2Black – is recognised as a major threat to the ecosystems of both seas, and it is directly linked to the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Assessing the ecosystem status of the seas in a holistic manner, taking into account all human pressures and their cumulative impacts on the marine ecosystems, could hence be considered one of the priorities in the future cooperation.      * * *Note for editors:The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organization 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 and to ensure safety of navigation.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 further information, please contact:Miia MannerlaProject Researcher, Baltic2BlackHELCOM Tel: +358 40 045 9349 E-mail: miia.mannerla@helcom.fiSkype: helcom81 Johanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 E-mail: johanna.laurila@helcom.fi Skype: helcom70

Final straight starts in exchanging best practices on environmental monitoring between the Baltic and the Black Seas.