Category: SOURCE TO SEA

​​​​​​​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.

​​​​More push for the actions against marine litter in the Baltic Sea is a key purpose of the HELCOM Marine Litter Stakeholder , held today in Helsinki, Finland . As litter is a complex issue and ranges from micro particles from cosmetics to ships’ waste management and fisheries practices, reducing it requires work from a wide range of stakeholders. For collecting many viewpoints, HELCOM will host today a mix of selected representatives of governance, industry, research and civil society, to find new ways for more effective leadership in the battle on litter in the Baltic. ​ In June 2015, thirty concrete tasks to combat litter in the Baltic Sea were agreed on by all the Baltic coastal states as well as the EU, and listed in the HELCOM Regional on Marine Litter. The present status of implementing the actions of the Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter is the underpinning of the Conference – over half are having leads and/or co-leads by the coastal states, while many remain without a guiding force. Fight against marine litter is not a solitary affair. The involvement of G7, United Nations, European Union and HELCOM sister entities such as OSPAR and Mediterranean Action Plan, among others, are indispensable for the success in reducing marine litter. Marine litter is a global and local problem with far-reaching implications also in the Baltic Sea. Marine litter impairs marine organisms, threatens human health and safety, and has socio-economic costs. There are many land- and sea-based sources of marine debris but the problem can be largely traced to general production and consumption habits. Among other factors, household disposal of waste material, management of waste water as well as shipping discharges play a significant role in the well-being of marine ecosystems around the world. The Conference will be between 10:00 -16:30 (CET+2hrs). The audiences are encouraged to participate through Twitter, #litterconf. Afterwards all materials, including video clips, will be available at the . The summary conclusions of the Conference will be presented tomorrow on 10 March to the 37th HELCOM Annual 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. * * * For more information, please contact:Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988Skype: helcom70E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi

More push for the actions against marine litter in the Baltic Sea is a key purpose of the HELCOM Marine Litter Stakeholder Conference, held today in Helsinki, Finland.

​​​​​​​Six waste water treatment plants were approved for deletion from the HELCOM list by the high-level Baltic coastal country representatives, ending their meeting last Friday in Helsinki, Finland. The six Hot Spots, listed as significant pollution sites in the Baltic Sea catchment area, are all located in the Polish terrain: three in Warsaw area and the rest in Krakow, Lublib and Poznan. The Heads of Delegation also pushed forward a large amount activities pursued within the HELCOM regional framework, covering the key segments of the Baltic Sea Action Plan: eutrophication, biodiversity, hazardous substances and maritime activities.Baltic Sea gets cleaner with the improvements made in waste water treatment. Photo: Metsähallitus NHS/Janos Honkonen  The HELCOM list of Hot Spots, with 162 sites identified as very major pollution sources originating from municipal and industrial waste water treatment, agriculture, as well as industrial sites, has only one quarter of Hot Spots left. The list was originally established as a part of the Baltic Sea Joint Comprehensive Environmental Action Programme (JCP, 1992–2013). The six cleaned up pollution sites are all large urban waste water treatments plants, leaving only four HELCOM listed waste water treatment plants left in Poland.  Improving municipal waste water treatment is a highly cost-efficient measure to reduce phosphorus loads, a major cause of pollution in the Baltic Sea. This sector still has potential for achieving reductions in the overall inputs to the sea. Many cities in the Baltic Sea region have improved their treatment standards in recent years, and are meeting the requirements set by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. HELCOM has recommended even stricter standards to save the sensitive marine environment of the Baltic Sea which needs to be fulfilled in order for a municipal Hot Spot to be mitigated. As there are also hazardous substances in municipal and industrial waste water, concern has increased for minimizing the impact of substances such as pharmaceuticals and microplastics. All documents can be accessed shortly after the meeting. * * * Note for editorsThe Heads of Delegation (HOD) of HELCOM usually meet few times a year. While the Annual Meeting of HELCOM remains the Commission’s highest decision-making body, the Heads of Delegation have a relatively high authority over most major issues.  The working structure of HELCOM, supported and administered by the Secretariat, comprises of the Helsinki Commission, the Heads of Delegation, and eight main working groups, together with tens of expert groups, correspondence groups and projects. 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:Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988Skype: helcom70E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi​​

Six large urban wastewater treatments plants have been upgraded to meet HELCOM standards and deleted last week from the so-called Hot Spot list.

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.

​​​Significant opportunities for nutrient recycling as well as decreasing nutrient losses to the Baltic Sea can be achieved through effective manure management, the topic of the 2-day starting today in Vantaa, Finland.National standards for manure would be the basis for smart nutrient management in agriculture and also for reducing nutrient losses in the region.​ Photo: Helena Rosenlew.The aim of the workshop, organized by HELCOM and the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), is to help further develop national standards for manure and also put them in practice. This is much needed as such national system for nutrient content in manure will be the basis for smart nutrient management in agriculture and also for reducing nutrient losses in the region. Developing national standards for manure, as well as recommendations on using such standard, were among the key targets set in the 2013 HELCOM Ministerial for regional work on agriculture.Creating a system of manure standards, as in evaluating the nutrient content values of different types of manure, is an opportunity to unify understanding on manure quality and thus build a joint basis for manure management and fertilizer use. Examples of national manure standards already exist in some Baltic Sea countries. The workshop participants – representatives of agricultural and environmental authorities and research organizations in the Baltic Sea countries; as well as HELCOM Observers – share their national experiences and work together to find the next steps towards developing guidelines for the use of national manure standards.  * * * Note for editorsThe HELCOM Group on Sustainable Agricultural Practices () 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​.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:Susanna Kaasinen Agri-Environment Coordinator HELCOM Tel: +358 40 536 5819 Skype: helcom85 E-mail: susanna.kaasinen(at)helcom.fiJohanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi

National standards for manure are the focus of the 2-day workshop, as it is the basis for smart nutrient management in agriculture and also for reducing nutrient losses in the region.

​​​Suppressing harmful underwater noise in the Baltic Sea tops the agenda of the HELCOM Pressure group this week, as the practical work for creating a regional register of impulsive sounds kick-starts. The occurrence of such abrupt sounds, challenging to measure, is planned for national reporting in a jointly agreed manner, and the register contributes to the overall task of minimizing the negative impact of underwater noise on marine life.Construction is one source of underwater noise. Photo: Flickr/Thomas Dämmrich​Representatives of scientific and policy institutions from the Baltic littoral states will take part in the 3-day Pressure group meeting, held in Copenhagen, Denmark, to review and assess the impact of pressures mainly from input of hazardous substances and nutrients, littering of marine environment and dredging activities. The Meeting will be chaired by Lars Sonesten from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. The Meeting follows up on the commitment to set up the impulsive sound register by the end of 2016, along with other noise management measures, as agreed by the HELCOM 2013 Ministerial Meeting. The new HELCOM Experts Network on Underwater Noise is about to start hands-on activities, the topmost goal being a Roadmap to building a knowledge base on underwater noise. The Network will prepare the short term Roadmap for 2015–17 and look after its implementation. Moreover, the Meeting will review the ongoing work to prepare a region-wide HELCOM indicator for ambient noise, referring to continuous low frequency anthropogenic sound.  As the biotopes of the Baltic seafloor are negatively affected by several human activities such as dredging,  construction, fishing with bottom contact fishing gear and extraction of sand and gravel, the Meeting will inspect the latest concerned information submitted by the countries. An updated report on disposal of dredged material at sea for 1999–2013 has been submitted for the Meeting, which is invited to identify any hindrances for reporting comprehensive and reliable information in due time. The packed agenda of the Meeting will, among others, also address several sites which have been proposed for deletion from the HELCOM Hot Spot list. The four suggested Hot Spots, aka significant pollution sites in the Baltic Sea region, concern the following Polish sites: Plaszow waste water treatment plant (WWTP) in Krakow; left-bank WWTP in Poznan; Czajka, Poludnie and Pancerz WWTPs in Warsaw; and Hajdow WWTP in Lublin.  Other points of consideration of the Meeting include marine litter and the progress in implementation of the recently adopted Regional Action Plan; further development of the HELCOM Recommendation on sewage sludge handling; and reviewing the priority hazardous substances which are to be assessed by HELCOM in the future. * * * 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. 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-KamenetskyProfessional SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 630 9933Skype: helcom68E-mail: dmitry.frank-kamenetsky(at)helcom.fi Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988Skype: helcom70E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi​

Suppressing harmful underwater noise in the Baltic Sea tops the agenda of the HELCOM Pressure group this week, as the practical work for creating a regional register of impulsive sounds kick-starts.

​​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.

​​​​​​HELCOM showcased yesterday the work on a regional status on pharmaceuticals at the global in Stockholm, Sweden. The report, scheduled for release in February 2016, will provide a comprehensive background for a regional strategy to mitigate pharmaceuticals’ possible harmful effect in the Baltic Sea.  The forthcoming assessment was the only chosen European case study in the UNESCO session, Emerging pollutants in water and wastewater, in Stockholm on Sunday.There are global cases where high concentrations of pharmaceuticals in the environment lead to disastrous consequences for the population of the exposed species. Photo: Bill Lyons/FlickrThe work will be conducted by HELCOM with active participation of Swedish Environmental Protection Agency   as the coordinator of Policy Area of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR).  The report will be based on information compiled at national and regional level. The aim is to integrate information on production and consumption of pharmaceuticals in the region, their pathways to the Baltic Sea environment, and concentrations in all the compartments of the environment and effects on marine life. The report will also identify knowledge gaps and possible measures to fill such gaps. Pharmaceutical residues in the Baltic Sea are causing concern as the full impact for the marine environment is still unknown. Research shows that not all chemical compounds from medicines are dissolved by the treatment in the waste water plant.  Moreover, pharmaceuticals used in veterinary enter the soil – and consequently groundwater – via manure. Updates on the work on the report will be posted in dedicated HELCOM . * * *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:Dmitry Frank-KamenetskyProfessional SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 630 9933Skype: helcom68E-mail: dmitry.frank-kamenetsky(at)helcom.fi Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988Skype: helcom70E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi​

The report, showcased yesterday in Stockholm World Water Week, will be a comprehensive background for a regional strategy to mitigate pharmaceuticals’ possible harmful effect. Release expected in February 2016.

​​The delegates representing all Baltic coastal states as well as the EU are expected to agree on HELCOM Recommendation on sustainable aquaculture in the Baltic Sea region in a starting today in Tallinn, Estonia. The two-day meeting is also anticipated to endorse a list of concrete actions to tackle marine ; almost twenty new HELCOM core indicators; as well as speedier international permits for research vessels. Photo: Flickr/​Bayfield Library “The new HELCOM Recommendation on sustainable aquaculture will greatly assist the Baltic Sea region in developing this sector in healthy balance between economical profit and environmental protection. The Recommendation gives guidance for the best practices for minimizing and preventing negative environmental impact of aquaculture on Baltic marine ecosystems. Moreover, the jointly agreed document encourages the industry, predicted to grow in the region, to realize its great potential to develop and apply environmentally friendly technologies and production methods, both in marine and fresh water,” says HELCOM Chair, Harry Liiv. The Meeting is also awaited to give final approval for over thirty regional actions to mitigate littering of the Baltic Sea. The proposed actions are part of HELCOM Recommendation () which was already adopted in March. The lengthy list of actions with set deadlines focuses on reduction of littering of marine environment from the land-based sources which entail improvement of 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 actions also cover sea-based sources, including developing best practices for handling waste from fisheries and ships, but also collection of abandoned fishing gears such as ghost nets. As according to research most of marine litter derives from households and consumer practices, a set of actions addressing education and outreach on marine litter is also included in the document. The comprehensive preparations for the core set of HELCOM indicators will likely be rewarded on Thursday, as the common definition of good environmental status of close to twenty of these fundamental tools await adoption by the HELCOM Heads of Delegation. Core indicators represent different biological and chemical features of the marine ecosystem and are an essential component of the HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Strategy, and as regularly updated, also providing the basis for HELCOM thematic and holistic assessments. Good environmental status is agreed for each indicator, thereby forming the basis to evaluate the status of the Baltic Sea and the achievement of HELCOM work to improve the environmental condition.  Less unnecessary delays for granting of permits for monitoring by scientific research vessels is among the Meeting topics, as a renewed HELCOM Recommendation is in the pipeline for adoption. The main aim of the Recommendation is to ensure granting permits in the territorial waters, Exclusive Economic Zone, fishing zones or continental shelves in neighboring countries related to the Baltic Monitoring Programme without delay. It also calls the countries to grant no shorter than 1-year permits. As a related positive outcome from a recently completed BALSAM project, a shared for information and coordination of offshore monitoring cruises has been established by HELCOM.Other meeting topics include HELCOM/OSPAR Joint Harmonized Procedure for ballast water exemptions, as proposed revisions are expecting endorsement; launching the work on underwater noise with the aim of a knowledge base on this growing concern; as well as a smoother online follow-up system for the country-wise nutrient reduction targets. . All document will be public after the meeting.  * * * Note for editorsThe Heads of Delegation () of HELCOM usually meet few times a year. While the Annual Meeting of HELCOM remains the Commission’s highest decision-making body, the Heads of Delegation have a relatively high authority over most major issues.  The working structure of HELCOM, supported and administered by the Secretariat, comprises of the Helsinki Commission, the Heads of Delegation, and eight main working groups, together with tens of expert groups, correspondence groups and projects. ​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:Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988Skype: helcom70E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi

The delegates representing all Baltic coastal states as well as EU are expected to adopt the Recommendation on aquaculture, actions on marine litter as well as core indicators.