Category: SOURCE TO SEA

The report summarizes the occurrence, concentrations and pathways of pharmaceuticals into the environment in the Baltic Sea regionTonnes of pharmaceuticals enter freshwater and marine environments yearly, mainly through municipal waste water treatmentNew HELCOM expert group to support policy-making and dialogue on pharmaceuticals in Baltic watersA has been recently published by UNESCO and HELCOM. The report was developed jointly by the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (Helsinki Commission, HELCOM) and Policy Area Hazards of the European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR). It serves as a case study within the framework of UNESCO Series under UNESCO-IHP’s International Initiative on Water Quality (IIWQ) Project on ‘Emerging Pollutants in Wastewater Reuse in Developing Countries’Photo credit: through Creative Commons. Cropped from original.Out of the eight therapeutic groups included in the report, the available data indicate that the most frequently measured substances in the Baltic Sea marine environment belong to the groups of anti-inflammatory and analgesics, cardiovascular agents, and central nervous system agents. Ninety-one percent of the measured pharmaceuticals were detected in Municipal Waste Water Treatment Plants (MWWTPs), 52% in freshwater and 44% in marine environment.The main pathway of pharmaceuticals into the freshwater and marine environments, according to the collected data, is via the discharges of MWWTPs effluents. Only nine out of 118 assessed pharmaceuticals were removed from wastewater during the treatment processes with an efficiency over 95%, and nearly half of the compounds were removed with an efficiency of less than 50%. Sixteen compounds were found in higher concentrations in effluents from MWWTP than in influentsThe report includes data on 167 pharmaceutical substances sampled in the marine environment, 111 in surface freshwater systems, and 156 pharmaceutical substances and 2 metabolites in influents, effluents and sludge from municipal wastewater treatment plants. Data were reported by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Poland, Russia (St. Petersburg), and Sweden. The data presented in the report cover the period 2003–2014 and include 47,600 individual samples on pharmaceuticals in MWWTPs and freshwater as well as 4,600 individual samples in the coastal, open sea and transitional areas of the Baltic Sea marine environmentIn order to follow up the findings of the Status report, HELCOM decided to establish an expert group () to provide scientific background for the regional environmental policy regarding pharmaceuticals in the environment and to serve as a platform for regional dialogue for various environmental issues related to pharmaceuticals.The HELCOM group will cooperate with the , launched by Policy Area Hazards of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. The cooperation platform is intended to support the implementation of projects and other activities aiming to reduce the emission of pharmaceuticals to the Baltic environment, as well as to support regional policy development and stakeholder cooperationThe case study was funded by UNESCO, HELCOM and PA Hazards.* * * 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.

HELCOM’s focuses on nutrient
and hazardous substance inputs from diffuse sources and point sources on land,
including the follow-up of HELCOM nutrient reduction scheme implementation. The
group ensures the necessary technical underpinning and develops solutions for policy-relevant
questions and needs. Marine litter and underwater noise are also coordinated by
this group. Its official name is the Working Group on Reduction of Pressures
from the Baltic Sea Catchment Area.For more information, please contact:

Dmitry Frank-Kamenetsky Professional Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 630 9933 Skype: helcom68 E-mail: dmitry.frank-kamenetsky(at)helcom.fi

The report summarizes the occurrence, concentrations and pathways of pharmaceuticals into the environment in the Baltic Sea region.

​​​ On behalf of the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, the HELCOM Secretariat and all the members of the HELCOM family, in particular the Heads of Delegation, we would like to express our heartfelt condolences on the passing away of Leonid Korovin, the Russian Federation representative in HELCOM. This loss is felt very deeply in the HELCOM community, particularly because of Leonid Korovin’s remarkable contribution to HELCOM work and personal dedication to the protection of the Baltic Sea environment. For many years, Leonid Korovin wisely chaired one of the most important HELCOM groups – LAND – which was responsible for mitigation of land based pollution of the Sea. The Saint-Petersburg Public Organization “Ecology and Business” that he headed contributed to various HELCOM activities inside and outside Russia. Another remarkable milestone was the successful international EU-financed BASE project which supported implementation of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan in Russia. The results of the project are actively used for various HELCOM tasks.Thanks to his energy and inspiration the International Forum “Baltic Sea Day” has become one of the most important, long-standing and appreciated environmental events in the region. But most of all, Leonid Korovin was a dear colleague and a true friend, who will be missed by the HELCOM family very much.​HELCOM would also like to express our deep sympathy to his colleagues and family.​

We would like to express our heartfelt condolences on the passing away of Leonid Korovin, the Russian Federation representative in HELCOM.

The Sixth Meeting of HELCOM
Working Group on Reduction of Pressures from the Baltic Sea Catchment Area
(PRESSURE 6-2017) took place in St. Petersburg, Russia 25-27 April. The key theme of the
meeting was the reduction of nutrient’s input into the Baltic Sea. The first results of a
HELCOM project compiling information on nutrient load on the Baltic Sea were
presented to the group. The results, based on data reported by all HELCOM
countries, indicate further reduction of nitrogen and phosphorus input in
2012-2014.Provisional figures show
that the nitrogen input was reduced by about 13% and phosphorus almost by 19%
since the reference period 1997-2003 (based on a 3 year average, 2012-2014)
while the reduction in the period 2010-2012 was 9.4% and 13,6% respectively. The final results are
expected in the end of June 2017. A ranking of the sources of nutrients, the
assessment of effectiveness of the undertaken measures and the evaluation of
progress achieved by individual countries towards the implementation of
national reduction targets will be presented at the
PRESSURE group meeting in October 2017.Another hot topic of the
meeting was the follow up of the situation around the HELCOM hot spot toxic
landfill Krasnyi Bor near St. Petersburg. Russia presented a concept for the
remediation of the site implying the conservation of the site in a period of
about 7 years. The international experts welcomed Russia’s initiative to establish
a public information center to communicate all relevant issues with public
society, current activities coordinated by NEFCO on validation of waste water
treatment system on the landfill and launching of cooperation with on the verification of the monitoring programme.Among other HELCOM priorities the group discussed the progress in
implementing the regional action plan on marine litter and the progress in
elaborating HELCOM guidelines for establishing environmental targets for
underwater noise. The participants also agreed on the working plan of the
HELCOM group on pharmaceutical residues in the environment. HELCOM countries also pointed out that exploitation of mineral resources
on the sea floor might have a significant potential environmental effect which
is scarcely known and requires urgent action to compile relevant information.Note for editorsHELCOM 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.The Working Group on Reduction of Pressures from the Baltic Sea Catchment Area – – focuses on nutrient and hazardous substance inputs from diffuse sources and point sources on land, including the follow-up of the implementation of the HELCOM nutrient reduction scheme. The group ensures the necessary technical underpinning as well as develops solutions to the policy-relevant questions and needs. Marine litter and underwater noise are also coordinated by this group.For more information, please contact:Dmitry Frank-Kamenetsky Professional Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 630 9933 Skype: helcom68 E-mail: dmitry.frank-kamenetsky(at)helcom.fi

The Sixth Meeting of HELCOM Working Group on Reduction of Pressures from the Baltic Sea Catchment Area (PRESSURE 6-2017) took place in St. Petersburg, Russia 25-27 April.

Eutrophication is a major
threat to the Baltic Sea. High release of nutrients, particularly nitrogen and
phosphorus, to the Baltic Sea over the decades has resulted in the occasional growing
of vast mass of toxic algae causing e.g. increased turbidity, oxygen depletion
and changes in species composition. The reduction of the input of nutrients is
one of the key tasks of the HELCOM Baltic Sea action plan.The Sixth Meeting of HELCOM
Working Group on Reduction of Pressures from the Baltic Sea Catchment Area
(PRESSURE 6-2017) will be held in St. Petersburg, Russia 25-17 April. The
Meeting will mainly focus on the follow up of the implementation of the HELCOM nutrient input reduction
scheme which is an essential part of the Baltic Sea Action Plan. The assessment
of the progress towards the targets covers the assessment of maximum allowable
inputs, the implementation of country-wise allocated reduction targets, the identification
of major sources of nutrients and the effectiveness of applied measures. The meeting
will also address matters related to marine litter, underwater noise, hazardous
substances and physical damage to the seafloor. PRESSURE working group will
also follow up the current development of the HELCOM hot spot toxic waste
landfill Krasnyi Bor in Russia.Note for editorsHELCOM 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.

The Working
Group on Reduction of Pressures from the Baltic Sea Catchment Area – – focuses on
nutrient and hazardous substance inputs from diffuse sources and point sources
on land, including the follow-up of the implementation of the HELCOM nutrient
reduction scheme. The group ensures the necessary technical underpinning as
well as develops solutions to the policy-relevant questions and needs. Marine
litter and underwater noise are also coordinated by this group.For more information, please contact:Dmitry Frank-Kamenetsky Professional Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 630 9933 Skype: helcom68 E-mail: dmitry.frank-kamenetsky(at)helcom.fi

Eutrophication is a major threat to the Baltic Sea.

HELCOM Agri group initiated development of a regional strategy on nutrient recycling. “Nutrient recycling is essential to reduce nutrient losses to the Baltic Sea and to efficiently use limited phosphorus resources” says Tarja Haaranen, the Chair of HELCOM Agri group. As a first step, a HELCOM Workshop on nutrient recycling in the Baltic Sea countries was organized on 27-28 March in Berlin, Germany. The workshop gathered more than 40 experts from all Baltic Sea countries to discuss national strategies and programmes to recycle phosphorus in agriculture and waste water management. The Workshop aimed at creating suggestions for HELCOM to promote nutrient recycling and fully utilize valuable components of manure and sewage sludge.Nutrient recycling was also in the focus of the 4th Meeting of the HELCOM Group on Sustainable Agricultural Practices organized on 3-4 April in Brussels, Belgium. Smart nutrient management in agriculture is a priority for the Agri group. The group particularly aims at advancing manure standards as a basis for effective nutrient accounting on farm level. This enables balanced fertilization as manure is considered not as a waste but as a nutrient resource.The HELCOM Agri group focused on nutrient recycling in their 4th meeting held on 3 -4 April in Brussels.The group continued its work on agricultural measures to reduce nutrient losses to the Baltic Sea which is a joint effort of several HELCOM groups, especially the HELCOM Pressure group focused on land based sources of pollution. The group considered the potential of innovative water management and the prevention of soil erosion to reduce losses of nutrients from agricultural fields to the sea as well as the best available techniques to mitigate ammonia emissions from agricultural production. See the Outcome of Agri 4-2017.See the Outcome of the HELCOM Workshop on nutrient recycling in the Baltic Sea region.Note for editorsHELCOM is one of the Regional Sea Conventions and Action Plans around the world, working for healthy oceans and sustainable us of marine resources. HELCOM consists 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. The HELCOM Group on Sustainable Agricultural Practices (Agri) deals with agriculture in relation to the implementation of the ecosystem-based approach and involves representatives from agriculture and environment authorities of the Baltic Sea countries, as well as EU and HELCOM Observers. The group provides a platform for agri-environmental policy measures and instruments and joint discussion on the Baltic agriculture in the context of the protection of the marine environment, in order to address nutrient inputs and emissions from agriculture.***For more information, please contact:Tarja HaaranenChair of HELCOM Group on Sustainable Agricultural PracticesMinistry of the Environment of FinlandTel:  +358 295 250 282Email: tarja.haaranen(at)ym.fi Dmitry Frank-Kamenetsky Professional Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 630 9933 Skype: helcom68 E-mail: dmitry.frank-kamenetsky(at)helcom.fi​

HELCOM Agri group initiated development of a regional strategy on nutrient recycling.

​The annual meeting of HELCOM adopted HELCOM Recommendation 38/1 on sewage sludge handlingRecycling phosphorus and reducing unwanted substances in sewage sludge among the main aims of the recommendationThe new outlines the basic principles for sewage sludge handling and the use of its valuable compounds in the Baltic Sea coastal countries. The Recommendation is a first step to promoting sustainable sludge handling. It paves the way for a regional dialog to create regionally agreed parameters assuring maximum utilization of the valuable components in the sludge while minimising potential negative effects.Already in 2007, HELCOM adopted a which implementation has successfully reduced inputs of nitrogen and phosphorus to the Baltic Sea. In the largest waste water treatment plants at least 90 % of phosphorus and 70-80 % of nitrogen should be removed. Improving waste water treatment has resulted in generation of vast amount of phosphorus containing sludge. The new sewage sludge recommendation compliments the municipal waste water treatment recommendation by giving guidance on sustainable handing and utilization of sludge taking also into account the principles of circular economy and energy efficiency.The sewage sludge recommendation guides the safe handling of sewage sludge to prevent leaching of nutrients as well as hazardous substances and pathogens to the environment. It recommends reuse of the valuable components contained in the sludge, phosphorus in particular, and maximum utilization of its energetic potential through variable technological processes. The document also identifies basic principles for application of treated sewage sludge and products containing it in agriculture, land reclamation, green areas etc. to minimize negative impacts on the environment. The Recommendation encourages research and development of cost effectives solution as well as exchange of knowledge across the region.You can find the new recommendation .* * * Note for editors The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organization of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region. Since 1974, HELCOM has been the governing body of the ‘Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area’, more commonly known as the Helsinki Convention.***For more information, please contact:Dmitry Frank-KamenetskyProfessional SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 630 9933Skype: helcom68E-mail: dmitry.frank-kamenetsky(at)helcom.fiSusanna Kaasinen Agri-Environment Coordinator HELCOM Tel. +358 40 536 5819 Skype: helcom85 Email: susanna.kaasinen(at)helcom.fi

Recycling phosphorus and reducing unwanted substances in sewage sludge among the main aims of the recommendation

​​​​​​HELCOM countries call for NEFCO to coordinate international involvement in remediation of Krasnyi Bor hazardous waste landfill Hazardous substances, progress in reducing marine litter and underwater noise other key topics in HELCOM Pressure group meetingThe international community discussed this week joint cooperation for cleaning up a major HELCOM – the toxic waste site Krasnyi Bor near St. Petersburg, Russia, at the HELCOM Pressure group in Warsaw, Poland. Krasnyi Bor waste landfill area. ​ ​​Upon the initiative of Finland, Estonia and Sweden, HELCOM countries called for Nordic Environment Finance Corporation () to coordinate the international involvement to the Krasnyi Bor waste site. A road map to remediate the site by 2025 was presented at the meeting by a representative of the St. Petersburg administration. The Russian representative also introduced a more open information policy regarding the progress in ongoing activities in the Krasnyi Bor clean-up and environmental monitoring data, both soon available online. Presentations by and State
Unitary Environmental
“Krasny Bor” Landfill” ​ provide more details about the issue.Krasnyi Bor, last by HELCOM experts in June 2016, is a hazardous waste dump site sorting some 2 million tons of hazardous waste and long known as a significant pollution Hot Spot in the region. The area has been built for the reception, disposal and burial of toxic industrial wastes from St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region. The site was listed as a HELCOM Hot Spot in the early 1990s. Last winter, the weather conditions raised concerns about imminent flooding and leaking of harmful substances from the site to the environment.Evaluating for the first time the progress made in significantly reducing marine litter in the Baltic was another topic of the HELCOM Pressure group meeting and the preceding workshop. The implementation of HELCOM Regional on Marine Litter, adopted in 2015, is followed up regularly and the suggested future actions include updating of HELCOM Recommendations on waste water treatment and storm water management, in order to prevent releasing of litter, particularly micro plastics, into the marine environment. The meeting has also had a high focus on hazardous substances in the Baltic Sea and other meeting topics include underwater noise, dredging, sewage sludge, and internal loading of phosphorus. of the HELCOM Working Group on Reduction of Pressures from the Baltic Sea Catchment Area (PRESSURE 5-2016) is held on 25–27 October 2016 in Warsaw, Poland. The meeting is hosted by the National Water Management Authority of Poland and chaired by Lars Sonesten, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.After the meeting, all documents will be available at the . * * * Note for editors:The list of – significant pollution sites around the Baltic Sea – was originally established in the beginning of 1990s, as a part of HELCOM’s efforts to foster international cooperation and coordination to resolve the most acute environmental problems of the Baltic Sea. Since then, three quarters of the Hot Spots have been removed from the list due to systematic mitigation work by the coastal states.  Nonetheless, some of the polluting sites still remain on the HELCOM agenda.The focuses on nutrient and hazardous substance inputs from diffuse sources and point sources on land, including the follow-up of HELCOM nutrient reduction scheme implementation. The group ensures the necessary technical underpinning and develops solutions for policy-relevant questions and needs. Marine litter and underwater noise are also coordinated by this group. Its official name is the Working Group on Reduction of Pressures from the Baltic Sea Catchment Area.Working to safeguard the marine environment from pollution and ensure safe navigation in the Baltic Sea, acts as the governing body of the 1974 Helsinki Convention. HELCOM’s official name is the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission.  * * * For more information, please contact:Dmitry Frank-Kamenetsky Professional Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 630 9933 E-mail: dmitry.frank-kamenetsky(at)helcom.fi Johanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi

HELCOM countries call for NEFCO to coordinate international involvement in remediation of Krasnyi Bor hazardous waste landfill.

​​​​Finding cost-efficient solutions to remediate the pollution from a large waste landfill Krasnyi Bor in St. Petersburg, Russia, is the main reason for a study visit to the site today. Experts from Estonia, Finland, Germany, Russia and Sweden will be joined by representatives of national environmental administrations, international financial institutions, NGOs as well as regional and federal environmental authorities of Russia. The study visit is organized by the Committee for Nature Use, Environmental Protection and Ecological Safety of the City of St. Petersburg.Krasnyi Bor waste landfill area. Photo from HELCOM BASE Project report, Status of HELCOM Hot Spots in Russia. The alarming situation of the toxic waste landfill Krasnyi Bor located in the vicinity of the city of St. Petersburg was discussed at the last HELCOM Annual in March. HELCOM , which is the subsidiary body responsible for matters related to land based pollution of the Baltics Sea, was mandated in April to consider the situation around the “Hot Spot”. As a result, the visitors will explore today the site itself in order to discuss the most acute aspects of the problem as well as elaborate further plans of the possible involvement of the international experts and financial institutions into the joint effort on remediation of the site.The plan for the day is to visit both the covered and open storages with toxic wastes. The participants will also check the water treatment facility and discuss its operation as well as visit the water drainage system of the landfill including internal and encircling channels, water collectors, accumulating ponds and other elements.The list of HELCOM – significant pollution sites around the Baltic Sea – was originally established in the beginning of 1990s, as a part of HELCOM’s efforts to foster international cooperation and coordination to resolve the most acute environmental problems of the Baltic Sea. Since then, three quarters of the Hot Spots have been removed from the list due to systematic mitigation work by the coastal states.  Nonetheless, some of the polluting sites still remain on the HELCOM agenda.  * * * Note for editorsWorking to safeguard the marine environment from pollution and ensure safe navigation in the Baltic Sea, acts as the governing body of the 1974 Helsinki Convention. HELCOM’s official name is the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission. * * * For more information, please contact:Dmitry Frank-Kamenetsky Professional Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 630 9933 E-mail: dmitry.frank-kamenetsky(at)helcom.fi Daria Golovinova Consular of the Chair of the Committee Sector for international cooperation and environmental education The Committee for Nature Use, Environmental Protection and Ecological SafetyCity of St. Petersburg, RussiaTel: +7 812 417 59 39E-mail: golovinova(at)kpoos.gov.spb.ru​

Finding cost-efficient solutions to remediate the pollution from a large waste landfill Krasnyi Bor in St. Petersburg, Russia, is the main reason for a study visit to the site today.

​​​​​​​Recycling nutrients from sewage sludge, the Krasny Bor hazardous waste landfill and HELCOM nutrient reduction have been key topics for HELCOM members gathering this week at the Pressure Group’s meeting in Gothenburg, Sweden. The meeting marks an important step in the ongoing HELCOM process of nutrient reduction in the Baltic Sea, with assessment methodologies, data collection procedures and planned products on the agenda.HELCOM Pressure group has its main focus on nutrient and hazardous substance inputs from land. Photo: Metsähallitus NHS/Lari Järvinen.Also receiving attention at the Pressure Group’s meeting is the draft HELCOM Recommendation on sewage . The upcoming Recommendation will offer ways to more efficiently recycle nutrients contained by sewage sludge, in particular phosphorus, and utilize its energetic potential while minimizing negative impacts on the environment. As such, it will contribute to HELCOM’s work on nutrient input reduction as well as to broader efforts, such as the EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy. In treating waste waters, the countries in the Baltic Sea watershed generate about 3.5 million tonnes of dry solids annually and this is only expected to increase—making environmentally sustainable management vital. Things are moving ahead at the Krasny Bor hazardous waste landfill located outside St. Petersburg. An update was given at the meeting by the Russian delegation on the state of the site, as recent concerns have been raised regarding increased environmental threats caused by extreme weather conditions at the beginning of this year. The landfill has been listed since the early 1990s on HELCOM’s list of . According to HELCOM , Krasny Bor has a significant and harmful impact on the environment and that the situation is still deteriorating.At the Pressure Group’s meeting, the delegation from St. Petersburg also provided information on possible urgent measures to be undertaken to clean up the Hot Spot. In addition, a call was also presented for international cooperation in the efforts, including a study visit and financing opportunities.In addition, the first-ever regional assessment of the occurrence of pharmaceuticals in the Baltic Sea environment is also under discussion this week. The status report is being prepared together with the HELCOM State and Conservation Group and is set for release later this year.This week’s meeting, hosted by the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management, is the fourth gathering of the HELCOM Working Group on Reduction of Pressures from the Baltic Sea Catchment Area (PRESSURE 4-2016). . All documents will be public after the meeting. * * * Note for editors:The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organization of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region. Since 1974, HELCOM has been the governing body of the ‘Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area’, more commonly known as the Helsinki Convention.The HELCOM works on issues related to nutrient and hazardous substance inputs from diffuse sources and point sources on land, including HELCOM nutrient reduction scheme implementation. The group ensures that necessary technical requirements are in place and develops solutions for policy-relevant questions and needs. Marine litter and underwater noise issues are also coordinated by the group. * * * For more information, please contact:Dmitry Frank-Kamenetsky Professional Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 630 9933 Skype: helcom68 E-mail: dmitry.frank-kamenetsky(at)helcom.fi Johanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi​

Krasny Bor hazardous waste landfill has been another key topic in the HELCOM Pressure Group’s meeting in Gothenburg, Sweden.

​​​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.