Category: MARITIME

​​​​​​​​​​HELCOM active at European Maritime Day 18-19 May 2016 in turku, Finland HELCOM and the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) will host a on effective solutions for responsible growth in cruising on 18 May at the in Turku, Finland. Registration to the workshop is ! >> >The workshop will present state-of-the-art developments in the cruise industry and discuss the potential for maritime stakeholders’ cooperation in responsible growth. The cruise industry has a proven record of adding significant economic value to Europe. Only by acting together, the potential of blue economy can be unlocked. The participants and speakers will together discuss challenges and concrete suggestions to remove bottlenecks for a prosperous future of cruising and a sustainable maritime economy. >>>The session runs from 9:00 to 10:30 and will be moderated by Hermanni Backer, Professional Secretary at HELCOM. Speaking will be:>Tom Strang (Senior Vice President, Maritime Affairs at CARNIVAL CORP. & PLC and Chair of the CLIA Europe Environment, Safety and Security Subcommittee),Anna Petersson (Head of environment section, Swedish Transport Agency) ,Kirsti Tarnanen-Sariola (Deputy Director, Finnish Port Association and European Sea Ports Organisation; TBC), andPauli Merriman (Director, WWF Baltic Ecoregion Programme).>The brief outcome of the workshop will be made available soon afterwards. HELCOM has long worked on issues related to cruising in the Baltic Sea, with a last month with the IMO decision to bring the region into special sewage area status by 2021.  HELCOM elsewhere at European Maritime Day Coinciding with this year’s European Maritime Day (EMD), HELCOM is also organizing the on 18 May at 13:00-15:00. As a part of the official EMD programme HELCOM is co-organizing the session on with the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS). Further, HELCOM’s Executive Secretary Monika Stankiewicz will speak on 19 May at 08:30-10:30 at the session on . There will also be a under the theme of maritime spatial planning at the Networking Village. Interested parties may register to European Maritime Day . Please note that some workshops, such as , require separate registration. ​​​* * * 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​

Register soon to the workshop on effective solutions for responsible growth in cruising on 18 May at the 9th European Maritime Day in Turku, Finland.

​​​​​​WORKSHOP ON THE ROADMAP FOR THE SIMULTANEOUS DESIGNATION OF BALTIC SEA AND THE NORTH SEA NECAS  24-25 May 2016, St. Petersburg, Russia​HELCOM and North Sea countries have decided to apply in parallel for a NECA status for both the Baltic Sea and North Sea areas from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). When enforced, the Emission Control Areas (ECA) for Nitrogen Oxide (NOx), will considerably limit the ​polluting emissions from ships. style=”max-width:100%;”>The major basis for the workshop is the revised  for the Baltic Sea and the North Sea NECAs, which was agreed on at the last HELCOM Annual Meeting on 10 March 2016. style=”max-width:100%;”> style=”max-width:100%;”>To assist the parallel application, the responsible authority in the Russian Federation is organizing a workshop for stakeholders, including governance bodies and administrators as well as technology developers, ship owners and port authorities. style=”max-width:100%;”>If you are interested in registering to the workshop please use the following contacts: Ms Natalia Kutaeva, Councellor to the Director, Marine Rescue Service of Rosmorrechflot (MRS)>- morMr. Victoria Gunchenko
–  style=”max-width:100%;”> style=”max-width:100%;”>Draft programme will be released soon. style=”max-width:100%;”> style=”max-width:100%;”TOPICS OF THE WORKSHOPThe first day of the workshop will focus on the requirements of the MARPOL Convention on NOx emissions from ships, and the procedures of designation of the emission control areas. Invited speakers will share the latest information on the technologies of the Tier III NOx emission standards, including availability, efficiency and equipment particularities. style=”max-width:100%;”> style=”max-width:100%;”>The second part is aimed at national administrations. Topics will cover experiences of the North American ECAs, benefits of synchronized Baltic Sea and North Sea NECA designation, and also the rationale and status of the IMO application for both Baltic Sea and North Sea NECAs. style=”max-width:100%;”>​

The workshop on 24-25 May in St. Petersburg, Russia, will prepare HELCOM and North Sea countries to apply, as decided, in parallel for a NECA status from IMO.

​​​​​A major milestone reached through HELCOM cooperation The International Maritime Organization (IMO) agreed this week that the Baltic Sea special area for sewage discharges from passenger ships under Annex IV or the MARPOL Convention will take effect by latest 2021 for IMO registered passenger vessels. However, in certain cases of direct passages between St. Petersburg area and the North Sea there is a two-year extension to the deadline, until 2023.The decision means that by 2021 all IMO registered passenger vessels sailing in the Baltic Sea, as the first region in the world, must discharge all sewage at port reception facilities (PRFs), or treat it with an on-board treatment plant certified to meet stringent special area requirements. For new ships built on or later than 2019, these requirements will apply earlier.The significant outcome concludes the long HELCOM aiming to limit sewage discharges in the Baltic Sea from passenger vessels, as the emissions have negative impact on the marine environment.The decision was made during the meeting of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) ending today in London.The proposal to designate the Baltic Sea as a special area for sewage within MARPOL Annex IV was developed by the HELCOM Maritime Working Group, which is made up of maritime administrations of the Baltic Sea coastal countries and the EU. This proposal was submitted to IMO MEPC by the coastal countries in 2010, following a decision by the 2007 HELCOM Ministerial Meeting in Cracow, Poland.Based on the submission the Baltic Sea was designated by IMO as a special area for sewage in 2011. However, according to the IMO decision this status would only take effect once the coastal countries informed IMO that adequate Port Reception Facilities are available in the region. By the IMO meeting this week, all Baltic coastal countries had sent confirmation of adequate reception facilities in Baltic ports, as a result of substantial work on port reception facilities for sewage and their use in the Baltic Sea area by national administrations, ports and the passenger ship industry.In order to document overall on sewage PRFs and their use in the region during recent years, an was published by HELCOM in early 2015.Upcoming events where related issues will be discussed include a joint by HELCOM and CLIA on 18 May during the EU Maritime Day 2016 in Turku, Finland, and the International Workshop on Port Reception Facilities for the Baltic Sea as Special Area according to MARPOL Annex IV by Germany and BPO on 30 June – 1 July in Kiel, Germany. BackgroundThe momentum to submit a proposal to designate the Baltic Sea as a sewage special area comes from the fact that standards for, and implementation of, sewage treatment on the shore in the Baltic Sea region have been tightened considerably during the last decades—with stringent requirements applied today not only to cities but also to smaller municipalities and in some countries even leisure boats. The Nitrogen and Phosphorus contained in ship sewage aggravate the eutrophication of the Baltic Sea.From the perspective of the Baltic Sea, this week’s decision in London is a major milestone in more than 35 years of work to improve facilities and reduce sewage emissions from ships in the region. Already at the first meeting of the Helsinki Commission, or HELCOM, in 1980, the coastal countries adopted regional Recommendations targeting sewage from passenger ships, concerning both port reception as well as on-board treatment plants.[1] The process has seen several rounds of negotiations and milestones as part of HELCOM Ministerial Meetings, such as the Baltic Sea PRF strategy of 1996 and the 2010 list of priority ports for sewage PRF upgrades. Very importantly, since Convention revision in 1992 these negotiations have included in addition to national administrations also the shipping industry as well as ports. * * *Note for editorsHELCOM Maritime Working identifies and promotes actions to limit sea-based pollution and finds ways for safer navigation. Established in 1975, the group also deals with the harmonized implementation and enforcement of international shipping regulations. The Maritime group includes the HELCOM-OSPAR on Ballast Water Management (regional dimensions of implementing the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention), Expert on Safety of Navigation, Working for Mutual Exchange and Deliveries of Automatic Identification System (AIS) data, and HELCOM Cooperation on Port Reception Facilities (PRF).  is an intergovernmental organization made up of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union. Founded in 1974, its primary aims as a governing body are to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution, as well as to ensure safe maritime navigation. The official name of HELCOM is the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission; it is the governing body of the Helsinki Convention. * * * For more information, please contact:Anna Petersson Chair of HELCOM Maritime group Head of Environment Section Swedish Transport Agency Tel: +46 10 4953 249 E-mail: anna.petersson(at)transportstyrelsen.se Hermanni Backer Professional Secretary for Maritime, Response and Fish groups HELCOM Tel:  +358 46 8509199 E-mail: hermanni.backer(at)helcom.fi​[1] See e.g. HELCOM Recommendation 1/5 (adopted 5 May 1980): “Recommendation concerning the application by the Baltic Sea states of guidelines for type testing and approval of sewage treatment systems”.​

The agreement, reached through HELCOM cooperation, will take effect by latest 2021 for IMO registered passenger vessels.

​​​HELCOM Annual Meeting with delegates from the nine Baltic coastal states and the EU has today adopted the on sustainable aquaculture. The Recommendation gives tools for the Baltic Sea region to develop this growing sector based on the Best Available Technologies (BAT) and Best Environmental Practices (BEP) and it will be followed by expert work to jointly develop a menu of BAT/BEP descriptions.HELCOM Annual Meeting is the highest decision-making body of the Helsinki Commission. In addition, three other HELCOM Recommendations were adopted by the Meeting, helping to improve the status of the Baltic marine environment: Recommendation on Conservation of Baltic Sea categorized as threatened, Recommendation on Safety of winter navigation with updated part on correspondence between Ice Classes (), as well as Recommendation concerning co-operation and coordination of based monitoring and procedures for granting permits. How is the region doing in more detail in implementing Baltic Sea Action Plan was one Meeting topic
(see summary graph below),​ through a new online explorer demonstrated to the participants. The portal, expecting launch in April, will show the level of accomplishment by the HELCOM countries of a selection of actions agreed on in HELCOM.  Among the many topics of the 2-day Meeting were maritime spatial planning and supporting the of the Joint HELCOM-VASAB Working Group, being a unique set-up and good example of sea-basin cooperation. The delegates also addressed possible improvements for following up the nutrient input reduction scheme and countries in their annual targets for Phosphorus and Nitrogen; as well as reviewed the requested information on activities in the Gulf of Finland and the situation of HELCOM – significant sources of pollution in the Baltic Sea. Russian Federation discussed one of the Hot Spots (No. 23) and was requested to provide more information on the situation and planned activities around the Krasny Bor landfill on the next HELCOM Pressure Working Group meeting in April 2016.  Moreover, the meeting the Roadmap for a Baltic Sea NECA, with potential to significantly reduce Nutrient inputs from ships to the Baltic Sea. Meeting outcome will be available next week. All meeting documents are available in ​New online explorer will soon be opened for browsing how the countries are doing in protecting​ the marine environment.-12 ms-rteFontSize-1″>-12 ms-rteFontSize-1″> * * * 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​

HELCOM Annual Meeting with delegates from the nine Baltic coastal states and the EU has adopted four HELCOM Recommendations.

​​​Today the Annual Meeting of the Helsinki Commission (), consisting of the Baltic coastal countries and the EU, have agreed on a Roadmap which includes a commitment to submit to IMO a proposal for a Baltic Sea NOx Emission Control Area (NECA) – according to the IMO MARPOL Convention Annex VI -​ in parallel with the North Sea. According to the Roadmap it will be submitted to the IMO MEPC 70 meeting, scheduled already for next autumn. Photo: Maritime Office in GdyniaNitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions from shipping is a major source of airborne deposition of Nitrogen, aggravating the serious eutrophication of the Baltic Sea. According to estimates, Baltic Sea NECA has potential to cost-efficiently and significantly – around 7 kilotons – reduce Nitrogen input to the Baltic Sea annually after a time lag needed for fleet renewal as the regulation addresses only new ships.The initiative for a Baltic Sea NECA emerges from the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan, agreed by the nine coastal countries and the EU in 2007. Since 2007 HELCOM has carried out the necessary environmental and economic studies, finalized the needed submission papers as well as carried out intensive negotiations on the right timing for a final submission to IMO. This anticipated reduction is significant and corresponds to more than the entire country-wise Nitrogen pollution load reduction commitment of several Baltic Sea countries according to the HELCOM Country Allocated Reduction Target (CART) scheme agreed in 2007, and updated in 2013.​Beginning tomorrow the coastal countries and the HELCOM Secretariat will prepare for a submission to the MEPC 70 Meeting, scheduled to take place in October 2016. This Baltic Sea NECA submission is planned to take place parallel to a similar NECA submission from the North Sea countries. >​* * *Note for editorsDuring the last decade shipping has steadily increased in the Baltic Sea, reflecting intensifying co-operation and economic prosperity around the region. The 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 in accordance to the 1992 Helsinki Convention. 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.  * * *For more information, please contact:Hermanni Backer Professional Secretary for Maritime, Response and Fish groups HELCOM Tel:  +358 46 8509199 Skype: helcom02 E-mail: hermanni.backer(at)helcom.fi Johanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi​​

Today the Annual Meeting of HELCOM, consisting of the Baltic coastal countries and the EU, have agreed on a NECA Roadmap which has potential to significantly reduce NOx input from ships.

Starting tomorrow, the country delegates of HELCOM will gather to decide upon a great amount of issues concerning the Baltic Sea and the protection of its marine environment. Heads of Delegation of HELCOM possess a high degree of power over the proposed topics, among the top ones approving the Roadmap on underwater noise and the Recommendation on sustainable aquaculture, and follow-up on the protection of threatened and endangered species.

Starting tomorrow, the country delegates of HELCOM will gather to decide upon a great amount of issues concerning the Baltic Sea and the protection of its marine environment.

​​​​​​​​​National maritime traffic authorities from the Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union will meet at the annual of the HELCOM working group on maritime issues starting today.Emissions from ships is one workimng area of HELCOM Maritime group. Photo: Metsähallitus Natural Heritage Services/Jan Ekebom​One of the more recent issues on the agenda is to consider the drafting of a comprehensive HELCOM assessment of maritime activities in the Baltic Sea area by 2016, as producing such an assessment was agreed by the coastal countries and EU during the 2013 HELCOM Ministerial .Based on national submissions, HELCOM updates annually a number of datasets on maritime activities in the Baltic Sea area covering issues such as spills observed via aerial surveillance, shipping intensity () and accidents, response operations, fisheries activities and dredging. The HELCOM Maritime Assessment, anticipated to be approved for release in December 2016, will synthesize this kind of information and utilize other sources to get a comprehensive overview of maritime activities as well their environmental effects. The publication will particularly focus on developments during the last ten years, from 2005 until 2015.Besides the regular data collection, the Maritime Assessment will also use results of other ongoing assessment activities such as the initiative to draft an HELCOM assessment on hazardous objects dumped or lost in the Baltic Sea by 2016. Moreover, the Maritime Assessment will support other activities within the HELCOM framework and eventually be an opportunity to consider the long term effects of shipping regulations in the region.The Meeting will also cover several other issues of more operational nature such as regional implementation of the Ballast Water Convention, implementation of the Baltic Sulphide Oxide Emission Control Area (SECA), Baltic Sea as a MARPOL Annex IV Sewage Special Area, as well as revised recommendations for harmonized fines.The Meeting will be hosted by the Lithuanian Maritime Authority in Klaipeda, Lithuania, and chaired by Ms. Anna Petersson, Sweden, Chair of HELCOM Maritime. . All documents will be public after the meeting. * * * Note for editorsThe , 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 IMOs international shipping regulations in accordance to the 1992 Helsinki Convention. Sub-groups include the HELCOM-OSPAR Task on Ballast Water Management (regional dimensions of implementing the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention), Expert on Safety of Navigation, Expert Working for Mutual Exchange and Deliveries of Automatic Identification System (AIS) Data, and HELCOM Cooperation 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 Backer Professional Secretary for Maritime, Response and Fish groups HELCOM Tel:  +358 46 8509199 Skype: helcom02 E-mail: hermanni.backer(at)helcom.fi Johanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi​

National maritime traffic authorities from the Baltic Sea coastal countries and EU will meet at the annual meeting of the HELCOM Maritime group starting today.

​​​​​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.

​​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.

​​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.