Tag: Industrial & municipal releases

How HELCOM’s new strategic approach is reshaping the regional response to hazardous substances in the Baltic Sea.

Laying the groundwork: strategic review for change

By the end of 2010s, HELCOM’s work on hazardous substances was still focused on a relatively limited number of substances. Actions and HELCOM Recommendations were often developed on an ad hoc basis and were not systematically linked to regularly updated assessments of the marine environment or pollutant loads. The regional context had also changed significantly since the Helsinki Convention was negotiated: by 2004, eight of nine HELCOM Contracting Parties were also EU member states, and chemicals regulation had become largely harmonized at the EU level.

Work began in spring 2020 on a comprehensive review of the HELCOM framework on hazardous substances. The review was carried out in cooperation with the Baltic Sea Centre of Stockholm University and supported by the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management, with all HELCOM Contracting Parties actively participating.

In 2021, a background report on an update of HELCOM work on hazardous substances in the Baltic Sea was published. The review concluded that while an existing HELCOM Recommendation had set out general principles for work on hazardous substances, there was no systematic mechanism for regularly updating the list of priority substances. Such a mechanism was needed to ensure that decisions were based on the latest data on inputs, environmental status and emerging substances of concern. HELCOM’s role in relation to other regional and EU-level policies also needed to be clarified, with a focus on identifying the specific added value of HELCOM’s activities.

These findings informed the 2021 update of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP), through which the HELCOM Contracting Parties committed to several key actions. These included developing a regional strategic approach for managing hazardous substances, establishing a mechanism for managing the HELCOM list of priority substances, setting up procedures to use and build on data from other policy frameworks as well as updating the priority substances list and developing a regional action plan.

From strategic review to strategic approach

The development work began in October 2022. It was supported by two dedicated projects, HAPHazard and HAZ-SHAP, which ensured sufficient resources for the work. Clear requirements were defined for the new framework:

1. It should promote a truly holistic assessment of hazardous substances, covering a broad range of chemicals  
2. It should link actions to the outcomes of the assessment, ensuring that measures target the most relevant substances and issues, including data and knowledge gaps
3. It should actively interact with existing policies, both by utilizing data generated by them and by influencing their further development, ensuring that HELCOM actions provide added value to – and function in synergy with – existing policies.

To inform the design, paradigms and mechanisms used under other policies or organizations, as well as examples from scientific literature, were reviewed to identify relevant elements for the regional marine framework. These insights, combined with creative development work, helped to define a high-level conceptual structure for the framework.

A series of informal consultation sessions of HELCOM’s Expert Group on Hazardous substances (EG Haz) and several ad hoc meetings helped to refine the concept into a fully functional mechanism. This was a systematic and iterative process, where national experts contributed knowledge, feedback and suggestions on optimizing the various parts of the framework’s mechanism. Throughout the whole process, the HELCOM Working Group on Source to Sea Management of Nutrients and Hazardous Substances and Sustainable Agricultural Practices (WG Source to Sea) provided overarching strategic guidance. By the end of 2023, a draft but operational version of the regional strategic approach was ready for testing – or rather its ‘primary run’.  The finalized regional strategic approach consists of four main steps:

1. Holistic assessment of the state of the environment (levels of chemicals and observed biological effects), human activities and pressures (e.g. inputs to the Baltic Sea via different pathways).
2. Identification of substances or groups of substances of possible concern for the Baltic Sea, based on established criteria.
3. Updating of three priority lists (substances, sources of release, uncertainties to address).
4. Use of these lists as complementary perspectives to inspire adoption of measures of added value, following an analysis of the effectiveness and gaps in existing measures.

The approach was designed to be both flexible and systematic and to account for differences in the availability of data and resources as well as policy priorities. It ensures that each piece of information contributes clearly to understanding of the overall picture. The systematic structuring of available information also facilitates the identification of knowledge gaps in data or methodologies, helps express uncertainties and allows for easy integration of new scientific developments and data. Special attention was given in balancing the need for evidence with the precautionary principle.

The framework operates in recurring six-year cycles, designed to align with and draw data from other HELCOM processes ( HOLAS ,  PLC ) or regulatory frameworks (MSFD, WFD, REACH, etc.). In turn, the framework can support these processes by providing a basis for proposing new indicators and strengthening coordination of monitoring programmes, programmes of measures and regulatory actions.

Testing the approach: Short and long-term impacts

The year 2024 marked the first full application of the new approach. Key data sources were identified and used to support a holistic assessment that ultimately covered around 1,500 substances and substance groups. In parallel, several projects provided deeper insight into specific parts of the assessments, including biological effects, pharmaceuticals, PFAS substances and on non-target and suspect screening.

The careful design of the framework, its principles, definitions and mechanisms proved effective. It not only improved the efficiency of the process but also helped regional discussions focus on the specific characteristics of substances and the selection of appropriate policy options.

The work led to direct results, such as three agreed priority lists and 55 fact sheets, providing overviews for each highlighted substance or substance group, a tested regional strategic approach as well as a regional action plan on hazardous substances in preparation, outlining HELCOM’s role in relation to other policy frameworks.

One key realization from this process was that although one of the priority lists (‘Horizontal uncertainties to address’) still contained a number of priority needs, overall the gaps had been significantly reduced compared to the situation before the primary run.

There were also valuable indirect outputs. New databases were established for the Baltic Sea and its catchment area, compiling information on marine concentrations and estimated inputs for numerous substances and groups, based on data from national and international databases, screening campaigns, scientific articles and reports and using automated tools.

Ther long-term impacts of this work are expected to include new HELCOM indicators based on newly listed HELCOM priority substances, support to EU-level processes such as the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) as well as stronger, better coordinated regional work. The three priority lists convey a clear message to authorities and stakeholders, helping them focus on mitigating the highest risks and on addressing key knowledge gaps or methodological gaps.

Looking ahead: Building synergies and shared tools

Throughout the development and implementation, collaboration with other Regional Sea Conventions and organisations brought mutual benefits through shared expertise. These exchanges laid the foundation for future cooperation and joint initiatives. A great example is the Harmonised Regional Seas Assessment Tool (HARSAT) tool, a collaboration between the Baltic, North-east Atlantic and Arctic Regional Seas Conventions, supported by ICES, consultants and members of the relevant expert groups.  This openly available tool improves the efficiency of statistical analysis of contaminant data in marine samples, enhancing indicator evaluations for hazardous substances across regions.

Written by Vasileios Kouloumpos, Project Researcher, HELCOM

This article was first published by UNEP in their StoryMap Regional Seas: Transforming Oceans, Empowering People

The Helsinki Commission has approved the deletion of the five remaining municipal HELCOM Hot Spots (main pollution sites) in Poland. These hot spots included the municipal wastewater treatment plants in Katowice, Gliwice, Bytom, Łódź and Wrocław.

On March 28, 2025, the Helsinki Commission confirmed the deletion of these sites from the list after reviewing and approving a report submitted by the State Water Holding Polish Waters.

Poland has made significant progress in municipal wastewater treatment, particularly through the implementation of the National Programme for Municipal Wastewater Treatment. The previous deletion of Polish hot spots took place in 2015, when the modernization of wastewater treatment plants in Warsaw, Poznań and Kraków were completed.

“We are very gratified by this Polish success story, which testifies to the overall success of the work on hot spots under the Baltic Sea Joint Comprehensive Environmental Action Programme (JCP), initiated in 1992,” notes HELCOM Executive Secretary Rüdiger Strempel.

The 2021 Baltic Sea Action Plan saw the countries around the Baltic Sea renew their commitment to eliminating the remaining hot spots identified under the JCP (Action HT23).

“On behalf of Polish Waters, I would like to thank all national and international partners involved for the cooperation that led to this important achievement. It is the result of consistent investment, infrastructure modernisation, and joint efforts to protect the Baltic Sea, as well as clear proof of effective international collaboration in the Baltic Sea region”, states Deputy President of State Holding Polish Waters Mrs. Alicja Michalik-Kucińska.

Overall, there are only 35 sites left from the original 162 significant pollution points identified in the Baltic Sea catchment area. Currently only nine municipal hot spots remain on the HELCOM hot spot list, located in Latvia (2), Russia (2), Belarus (3), Ukraine (1) and the Czech Republic (1).

To delete the remaining hot spots from the list, it must be demonstrated that they meet the regionally defined criteria, in this case regarding the quality of the treated wastewater and its impact on the surface water downstream. For municipal wastewater treatment plants, this includes compliance with HELCOM Recommendation 28/E on municipal wastewater treatment. This recommendation sets parameters for five-day biological oxygen demand (BOD5), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP). Additionally, compliance with HELCOM Recommendation 38/1 on sewage sludge handling is required.

Above: A map of HELCOM Hot Spots.

About HELCOM Hot Spots

The HELCOM Hot Spot list was established in 1992 by the Helsinki Commission to draw attention to the most important sources of pollution affecting the quality of the Baltic Sea waters. Among them there were large agglomerations with insufficient wastewater management (municipal point sources), industrial areas and areas of intensive agriculture. Under the Helsinki Convention, Contracting Parties of are obliged to take action to remove hot spots from the list. Deletion of a Hot Spot requires proof that effective measures have been taken in the area, the hot spot’s environmental impact has been eliminated, and that the contaminated areas have been remediated.

Contact

Eeva Nyyssönen
Communication Secretary
eeva.nyyssonen@helcom.fi

The HELCOM Stakeholder Conference 2025, a one-day online event dedicated to discussing hazardous substances in the Baltic Sea, will take place on 31 March 2025, from 10:00 to 16:00 EEST. Under the theme of the ‘One Baltic’ approach, the conference will explore the latest advancements in applying a holistic approach to managing hazardous substances to ensure a cleaner and healthier Baltic Sea.

The event is open to everyone, but pre-registration is required. Registration for this event has now closed.

The conference aims to bring together stakeholders from HELCOM Contracting Parties, industry representatives, NGOs, international organizations, civil society groups, and other interested individuals to discuss key actions supporting the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) goal: ‘A Baltic Sea unaffected by hazardous substances’.

The discussions will focus on implementing BSAP actions and the upcoming Regional Action Plan on Hazardous Substances (RAP HAZ), set to be finalized in 2025. Key topics include the current state of hazardous substances in the region, the impact of PFAS regulations, the risks associated with pharmaceuticals in the Baltic Sea, and the importance of a holistic regional approach to managing hazardous substances.

For more information and to view the provisional programme on the event page.

After several years in the making, HOLAS 3 thematic assessments on the state of the Baltic Sea have been published, covering the period of 2016–2021. The thematic assessments are part of the third HELCOM holistic assessment (HOLAS 3), providing a holistic view of the Baltic Sea ecosystem health. 

The holistic approach highlights the interconnectedness of various environmental factors and their impact on the ecosystem. The five assessment reports each focus on a specific topic, addressing the state of biodiversity, environmental pressures, eutrophication, and the relationship between humanity and nature. The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, scientists, and stakeholders alike.

The results of HOLAS 3 have been published in stages, commencing in March 2023, and the process will culminate in the publication of the summary report State of the Baltic Sea, expected at the end of October 2023.

A comprehensive holistic assessment on the state of the Baltic Sea is conducted once every six years. The reports result from collaborative efforts among HELCOM member states, scientific experts, and organizations dedicated to the protection of the Baltic Sea. They serve as a cornerstone of HELCOM’s work and policymaking, assisting in the monitoring of the implementation and the effectiveness of the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP).

Thematic assessments 2023

HELCOM Thematic assessment of economic and social analyses 2016-2021

HELCOM Thematic assessment of spatial distribution of pressures and impacts 2016-2021

HELCOM Thematic assessment of hazardous substances, marine litter, underwater noise and non-indigenous species 2016-2021

HELCOM Thematic assessment of biodiversity 2016-2021 (Main report compressed)

HELCOM Thematic assessment of eutrophication 2016-2021

To improve on the quality of monitoring data in the Baltic Sea, an intercalibration of analyzing methods of nutrients and heavy metals was recently carried out involving 22 laboratories across the region. The results were published in a report.

Financed by HELCOM, the intercalibration was carried out by the Danish Centre for Environment and Energy (DCE) of Aarhus University, on behalf of the HELCOM Pollution Load Compilation (PLC-8) project.

“For accurate Baltic-wide assessments of nutrient and metal concentrations, intercalibration between laboratories is crucial as it guarantees the compatibility of reported data, basically allowing us to compare apples with apples,” said Dmitry Frank-Kamenetsky, the coordinator of the HELCOM Pollution Load Compilation (PLC) projects. 

HELCOM now regularly organizes intercalibration campaigns at the beginning of each PLC project, to assure compatibility of reported data regarding nutrients and heavy metals. The latest campaign was already the third of its kind.

“The more we intercalibrate, the better data we get,” said Frank-Kamenetsky. “The good results of the recent intercalibration exercise confirm the trend of a continuous improvement of environmental monitoring data produced by the HELCOM countries.”

Marine litter and underwater noise topped the agenda of PRESSURE 14-2021, the meeting of the HELCOM Pressure Working Group dealing with pressures on the Baltic Sea, and which was held online from 13 to 16 April 2021. 

A revised full version of the HELCOM Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter (RAP ML) was presented at PRESSURE 14-2021. Based on the initial plan that was adopted in 2015 and incorporating the lessons learnt from all previous implementation efforts, the updated version is due to be adopted in October 2021 during the HELCOM Ministerial Meeting 2021, alongside the new Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP). 

PRESSURE 14-2021 further recognized the successful implementation of some of the actions under the current RAP ML, notably on including HELCOM guidelines on marine litter in national and local waste prevention and waste management plans, as well as sharing best practices on waste management. 

Other completed actions under the RAP ML include the development of best practices on the disposal of scrapped pleasure boats and handling of expanded polystyrene, the identification of key practical aspects of prevention of litter, and the retrieval and the management of ghost nets, among others. 

On underwater noise, a factor affecting species that are reliant on hearing, such as harbour porpoises, seals and some species of fish, wide support was expressed for the draft Regional Action Plan on Underwater Noise that is currently under development. The plan is due to be adopted with the BSAP later this year, along with an accompanying HELCOM Recommendation.

PRESSURE 14-2021 further developed recommendations on the regional policy document on hazardous substances that provides guidance on the upcoming HELCOM framework for hazardous substances. The framework is being developed to provide a more efficient and future-proof response to threats to the marine environment stemming from hazardous substances, especially from new chemicals. 

During the meeting, the topics of physical damage to the seafloor, the next HELCOM holistic assessment (HOLAS III), the update of the Baltic Sea Action Plan, eutrophication and issues pertaining to nutrients such as the Nutrient Recycling Strategy and the HELCOM framework on internal nutrient load management were also discussed. 

The meeting was attended by all HELCOM Contracting Parties and observers from Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB), Baltic Farmers’ Forum on Environment (BFFE), the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP), European Federation of National Associations of Water and Wastewater Services (EurEau), Race for the Baltic, and John Nurminen Foundation, as well as by invited guest from Baltic Nest Institute (BNI) and the City of Helsinki. 

• Read the outcome of PRESSURE 14-2021
• See all meeting documents

Entering a final stretch, another major milestone was crossed last week when the first full draft of the updated Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) was presented to the organization’s decision-makers during the autumn meeting of the HELCOM Heads of Delegation (HOD 59-2020) that took place online.

Building on the existing plan, the updated BSAP is expected to maintain and adapt the current structure and segments that seek to reflect the pressures stemming from land (“Eutrophication” and “Hazardous substances and litter”) and from our activities at sea (“Sea-based activities”) as well as the state of the environment (“Biodiversity and ecosystems”).

In addition, the updated plan is due to feature a segment on horizontal actions having an incidence on the four main segments. These are climate change, monitoring, maritime spatial planning, economic and social analysis, and financing.

Furthermore, all measures and actions contained in the new plan are intended to be implemented by 2030 at the latest. 

The updated BSAP is expected to be adopted by the Ministers of the HELCOM Contracting Parties during the HELCOM Ministerial Meeting that will be held in Lübeck, Germany on 20 October 2021.

With its set of targets for protecting biodiversity and reducing the pressures affecting the Baltic, as well as its number of concrete measures, the BSAP remains one of the most effective instruments for achieving the HELCOM ecological objectives, offering a long-term vision and strategic orientation for attaining good environmental status in the Baltic. 

The original plan, adopted in 2007, can be credited with significantly reducing inputs of nutrients and hazardous substances, improving the protection of biodiversity, and boosting cleaner and safer shipping practices. 

At HOD 59-2020, the decision-makers also approved a draft of the HELCOM Science Agenda that is meant to support the implementation of the BSAP and other HELCOM processes, by identifying the scientific knowledge needs related to the Baltic marine environment and which are foreseen to surface in the next 10 years.

Meant to be launched alongside the new BSAP, the first draft of the Baltic Sea Regional Nutrient Recycling Strategywas also presented during the meeting. In a bid to curb eutrophication, the strategy seeks to minimize the run-off of nutrients, stemming mainly from agricultural sources such as fertilizers, to the Baltic Sea by keeping them in a closed loop. 

More good news: the Heads of Delegation announced the removal of HELCOM Hot Spot n°42, the Riga wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), from its list of pollution sites. 

More than EUR 200 million were invested in the plant over the last 20 years, leading to a significant reduction of the discharges of nutrients and hazardous substances to the Baltic via the Lielupe river. The WWTP is now complying with EU regulations and almost fully meets the more stringent HELCOM targets on water purification. 

The Riga WWTP had been added to the list of significant pollution sites due to insufficient treatment of wastewater and a large share of untreated municipal wastewater being released to the environment. 

The HELCOM Heads of Delegation further approved the draft of a key regional instrument for fighting pollution incidents at sea, the Joint Inter-Regional Marine HNS Response Manual which will replace the current HELCOM Response Manual Volume II. A guideline for addressing and coordinating response to major accidents such as oil or chemical spills, the manual is expected to be adopted during the next meeting of the Helsinki Commission in March 2021.

On shipping, and more specifically on the management of ballast water which is a major source of introduction of alien species to the Baltic Sea, the Heads of Delegation further approved the revised HELCOM-OSPAR Joint Harmonised Procedure on the granting of exemptions under International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (JHP).

The procedure is supported by an online decision tool that gives shipping professionals a quick overview of the risk of introducing non-indigenous species (NIS) through ballast water between two ports. Co-developed with OSPAR and recently updated, the tool covers both the North and Baltic Seas.

The collaboration between HELCOM and OSPAR comes at a time when both organizations are actively seeking to strengthen their partnership, a fact particularly welcomed during HOD 59-2020.

Experts from the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina also presented their recent discussion paper on underwater archaeology “Traces under Water”, highlighting the mutual benefits of protecting both the marine environment and underwater heritage from the common pressures arising from ammunitions, ghost nets and eutrophication.

Chaired by Germany, HOD 59-2020 was attended by participants from all Contracting Parties, by Observers from Baltic Farmers’ Forum on Environment (BFFE), Baltic Sea Advisory Council (BSAC), Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC), Baltic Sea States Subregional Co-operation (BSSSC) & CPMR Baltic Sea Commission, Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB), Cruise Lines International Association Europe (CLIA Europe), Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP), Global Water Partnership Central and Eastern Europe and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and by invited guests.

• Read the outcome of HOD 59-2020 and see all meeting documents

In a bid to better understand the effects of certain hazardous substances on the Baltic Sea, HELCOM, in collaboration with Stockholm University’s Baltic Sea Centre, has compiled the latest science on selected chemical contaminants.

The results were published in four reports, namely on dioxins and PCBs, brominated flame retardants, PFOS and PFAS, and diclofenac.

“We must identify the major sources of the hazardous substances and understand how they move in the ecosystems to be able to do something about the problem,” said Emma Undeman, a researcher at Stockholm University and lead author of the reports. 

The reports give insights into the sources and pathways to the sea of the addressed substances, as well as on how their concentrations have changed in the Baltic Sea over time.

Dioxins and PCBs, mainly by-products from industrial processes, primarily stem from atmospheric emissions, further persisting in the environment and accumulating in the food chain. This is a particular cause for concern since these substances are known for their adverse effects on the nervous, immune and endocrine systems of living organisms.

The levels of brominated flame retardants (PBDE) – which are now either banned or regulated but were heavily used in the past as additives to prevent ignition and delay spread of fire such as in furniture and curtains – seem to be declining, but trends show that it could take up to 40 years for these contaminants to reach safe levels in the Baltic Sea.

With regard to PFOS and PFAS, used for instance in metal coatings such as Teflon or in firefighting foams, the main pathways are discharges from wastewater treatment plants, and runoff from contaminated sites via groundwater and drainage ditches. Research on PFOS in Baltic Sea biota further indicates that transport to the sea has dropped but that concentrations have not yet declined, pointing towards a high persistence in the marine environment.

Diclofenac, a widely used painkiller that is water soluble, mainly enters the sea through wastewater treatment plants which have a low removal rate of the drug. Despite good absorption by the human body when ingested, diclofenac is overused, leading to significant excretions reaching sewer systems. Some of the diclofenac in wastewater may also originate from dermal application which has a low absorption rate by the body. 

The four reports support the update of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP), HELCOM’s strategic programme of actions for restoring good ecological status of the Baltic marine environment. The BSAP is due to be updated in 2021.

Information from the reports will notably serve to evaluate the efficiency of currently implemented measures under the present BSAP, and for suggesting additional measures needed to improve the Baltic Sea’s state in regard to the reduction of concentrations of hazardous substances. 

Download the reports:

​Marine litter, underwater noise and chemical contamination of the marine environment were prominently featured on the agenda of the PRESSURE 11-2019 meeting held in Brussels from 22 to 25 October. The meeting was further complemented by two workshops on hazardous substances and marine litter.

“Marine litter is posing a threat to the Baltic Sea’s biodiversity, so it needs to be solved rapidly,” said Dmitry Frank-Kamenetsky, adding that the issue is being successfully addressed through the implementation of the HELCOM Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter.

In Brussels, progress in the implementation of the plan was particularly acknowledged, and further steps were outlined to deal with derelict fishing gear, to improve stormwater management – crucial in addressing microplastics – and to address expanded polystyrene, one of the top litter items found on the entire Baltic Sea coast.

“Since rivers are significant pathways bringing litter and all sorts of substances to the sea, we also need to look upstream and beyond our shores,” said Frank-Kamenetsky, echoing the common view that further cooperation with river basin management authorities needs to be strengthened to address the marine litter issue.

Furthermore, a new draft of the action plan to mitigate manmade underwater noise was presented at PRESSURE 11-2019. “Although the document is still in a drafting phase, it is a first step in the HELCOM process that may eventually lead to concrete measures to ease the effects of man-made sound and noise on aquatic wildlife,” said Frank-Kamenetsky.

Marine mammals and certain type of fish are particularly affected by underwater noise since they rely heavily on hearing throughout their entire life, such as for geolocation, communicating, feeding or mating.

Chemical contamination of the marine environment was another of the key environmental pressures emphasized at PRESSURE 11-2019, highlighting the vast variety of chemicals currently used in industries and households. New products are continuously flooding the markets, and their effects on the marine environment aren’t always clear.

At the meeting, the HELCOM members therefore welcomed the progress on a knowledge base on micropollutants including pharmaceuticals currently in development, and concluded that the HELCOM framework on hazardous substances might require a significant revision to be able to respond to threats posed by these new chemicals.

Moreover, a new assessment of the input of nutrients to the Baltic sea was presented at PRESSURE 11-2019, illustrating the substantial reduction of nutrient inputs since the reference period. The assessment shows that inputs of nitrogen and phosphorus to the Baltic Sea were reduced by 14 and 24 percent respectively since early 2000.

The highest nitrogen input reduction in this period was observed in the Danish Straits (24 percent) and Kattegat (21 percent), while the highest reduction of phosphorus load was noted in the Gulf of Finland (51 percent) and Baltic Proper (22 percent).

The reduction indicates the joint effort of all HELCOM countries to reduce input of nutrients and commitment to abate eutrophication – the major threat for the Baltic Sea. But the assessment shows that the nutrient input targets for the whole Baltic Sea have not yet achieved.

PRESSURE 11-2019, the “11th Meeting of the Working Group on Reduction of Pressures from the Baltic Sea Catchment Area (HELCOM Pressure Group),” was hosted by the European Commission in Brussels.

The HELCOM Pressure Group seeks to provide the necessary technical background to the work on inputs of nutrients and hazardous substances from both diffuse and point sources on land, including follow-up of the implementation of the HELCOM nutrient reduction scheme. It currently also works on emerging challenges such as underwater noise and plastic pollution.

Read the outcome of PRESSURE 11-2019

​Two former pollution sites located in the Kaliningrad region in Russia were approved for removal from the HELCOM Hot Spot list by the HELCOM Heads of Delegation, one of the decision-making instances, during their last meeting held in Helsinki from 18 to 19 June 2019 – the 56th Meeting of the HELCOM Heads of Delegation(HOD 56-2019).

The first site to be removed from the list is the Kaliningrad wastewater treatment plant, or HELCOM Hot Spot No. 67. Newly constructed in December 2015, the upgraded wastewater treatment plant of Kaliningrad started to be fully operational by the end of 2016, with all of Kaliningrad’s sewage water redirected to the new plant. 

“The new treatment plant fully complies with the HELCOM recommendation on municipal wastewater,” said Natalia Tretiakova, the Russian Head of Delegation to HELCOM. With its population of 574,000 people, the city of Kaliningrad was the biggest source of untreated wastewater input to the Baltic Sea in the Kaliningrad region until the launch of the new plant. 

In the same meeting, the deletion of HELCOM Hot Spot No. 69, the Cepruss pulp and paper mill in Kaliningrad, Russia, was also approved. Cepruss was added to the list because of significant discharges of pollutants stemming from the processing of pulp and paper into the Pregolya river. The site ceased all production in 2011.  

Since 1992, HELCOM maintains a list of significant pollution sites around the Baltic Sea – the HELCOM Hot Spots. Today, about three quarters of all hotspots have been cleaned up. The most notorious Hot Spots are point sources such as municipal facilities and industrial plants, but the programme also covers pollution from agricultural areas and rural settlements, and sensitive areas such as coastal lagoons and wetlands where special environmental measures are needed. 

Furthermore, in Helsinki, the update of the Baltic Sea Action Plan(BSAP) featured prominently on the meeting’s agenda, with the Heads of Delegation moving forward on the structure of the updated plan. Maintaining the same level of ambition for the updated BSAP was a particular point of emphasis.

HOD 56-2019 also adopted the revised HELCOM Recommendation 28E/13 on Introducing Economic Incentives as a Complement to Existing Regulations to Reduce Emissions from Ships. Where implemented already, economic instruments have proven to increase environmentally friendly shipping practices beyond the existing legislation. Some of these methods include differentiated port fees and fairway dues, differentiated taxation of marine fuels and on-shore power supply. 

The creation of an expert network on marine protected areas (MPAs) – HELCOM Network for Marine Protected Area Management (EN MPA MANET) – was also approved during the meeting in Helsinki. The new network will respond to the need for a concerted approach on the management of MPAs across the Baltic Sea region, especially for transboundary areas. It will provide expert input to HELCOM work related to MPA management, as well as conservation of habitats, biotopes and species in general, the relevant Ecological Objectives in the Baltic Sea Action Plan.

Bidding farewell to the current HELCOM Executive Secretary, Ms Monika Stankiewicz, who is due to leave the organization in July 2019, the Heads of Delegation singled out her excellent performance and acknowledged her instrumental role in lifting HELCOM to where it is today.

Stankiewicz has been at the HELCOM Secretariat since 2006 when she started as Professional Secretary for Maritime Affairs. She assumed the position of Executive Secretary in 2012 until 2019. She will be succeeded by Mr Rüdiger Strempel.