Tag: Response to spills

​HELCOM’s international aerial surveillance operation over the Northern Baltic Sea ended today at 17:00 (CET +2hrs), completed despite thick fog at night time, 27 hours after the start. This year’s Coordinated Extended Pollution Control Operation (CEPCO North) was organized by the Estonian Police and Border Guard and no oil spills or other discharges from ships were detected. “The operation involved four specially equipped aircraft from four countries – Estonia, Finland, Latvia and Sweden. More support was provided by three participating vessels as well as through satellite surveillance from the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA).  The weather conditions had a major effect to the operation due to unpredictable fog, but nevertheless the overall cooperation went smoothly”, says Priit Pajusaar, CEPCO North 2014 coordinator and Police Captain from Estonian Police and Border Guard Board. Such high-intensity operations supplement the regular aerial control operations in the region which aim at creating a realistic picture of the level of compliance to the anti-pollution regulations in the Baltic area. The purpose is also to gather evidence of infringements and, if possible, to catch polluters red handed.  “Pollution surveillance has a substantial preventive effect on the illegal oil discharges. All HELCOM states should ensure sufficient support and funds for surveillance, in order to respect the HELCOM precautionary principle as well as the commitments of the Helsinki Convention through regular pollution control. Moreover, the persistent efforts of the HELCOM Response Group deserve credit for the decreasing trend not only in the number of oil discharges in the Baltic, but also in their volume,” says Harry Liiv,​​ Chair of HELCOM. Source: HELCOM. Click to enlargeSince the timing of the HELCOM CEPCOs is randomly selected, the operation is intense and strictly confidential until the entire operation is over, it reflects the realistic situation of discharges in the Baltic Sea.  CEPCO operations have several objectives, such as to survey continuously high density traffic areas with a high risk of illegal discharges; identify and catch the polluters; practise communication between aircraft, patrol vessels and the Command Centres involved; improve cooperation between countries; and exchange experiences between crews. * * *Note to Editors:HELCOM member states carry out several cross-border surveillance operations annually.  CEPCO flights (Mini CEPCO at least 12 hours; CEPCO at least 24 hours; Super CEPCO several days) contribute to the Baltic Sea marine protection according to HELCOM’s principles. The operation supports national aerial surveillance by detecting polluters who might not be otherwise identified. The intensity of CEPCOs enable a realistic estimation of the total number of oil spills over the Baltic Sea during a randomly selected time. In addition, helicopters, patrol vessels as well as the EMSA CleanSeaNet oil spill detection service enhance the coverage. In 2013, a total of 130 mineral oil spills were detected in the Baltic Sea during aerial surveillance, which is around the same as in the two previous years. The total estimated volume of detected discharges was lower than ever, with 11 m3. Alarmingly, the total hours of aerial surveillance in 2013 in the HELCOM area sank by 15 % from 2012. To reach the Baltic Sea Action Plan objective of no illegal spills in the Baltic Sea by 2021, there is a need for adequate surveillance also in the future by all HELCOM countries and especially as the number of observations of other harmful discharges than oil has increased. The Informal working group on aerial surveillance (), as part of the HELCOM RESPONSE cooperation is responsible for joint aerial surveillance as well as for co-ordination of the satellite based oil spill surveillance and evaluation of its results and operational effectiveness. Download here:  * * *, usually referred to as the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM), is an intergovernmental organisation of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region. HELCOM is 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:Priit PajusaarPolice Captain, Chief System OperatorPolice and Border Guard BoardBorder Guard Department / Aviation GroupTel: +372 614 9247; +372 5047805E-mail: priit.pajusaar(at)politsei.ee Hermanni BackerProfessional SecretaryMaritime, Response and Maritime Spatial PlanningHELCOMTel:  +358 46 8509199E-mail: hermanni.backer(at)helcom.fi

HELCOM’s international operation over the Northern Baltic Sea ended today at 17:00hrs – no oil spills or other discharges from ships were detected.

The Helsinki 1992, the
international legal treaty on the Baltic Sea between the coastal countries of
the Baltic and the EU, was changed yesterday 1 July, according to a decision
taken at the 2013 HELCOM Ministerial
last October. >> >The changes strengthens the
Baltic Sea pollution response cooperation in situations where oil or other
substance has reached the shore.> >>The 2013 HELCOM Ministerial
Meeting adopted this change, or amendment, as part of HELCOM Recommendation “Amendments
to Annex VII ‘Response to Pollution Accidents’ of the 1992 Helsinki Convention,
concerning response on the shore”. The Recommendation specified a formal
consultation period as well as 1 July 2014 as date for entry into force of the
new text of Annex VII.>On-shore response rehearsed in Ventspils, Latvia 11 June 2014 during HELCOM international Balex Delta exercise. Photo: HELCOM > >The 2013 Ministerial Meeting
agreed also on the expansion of the regional HELCOM Response Manual. The new of the Manual focuses especially on response to pollution incidents on
the shore, defining a common approach on how to plan and carry out
international combating operations for response on the shore in the Baltic Sea
region.>> >In contrast to the HELCOM
response cooperation at sea, which has been in place since the 1974 adoption of
the original Helsinki Convention, revised in 1992, such response on the shore
has been less a regional matter.>> >HELCOM has a targeted Expert
Working Group on response on the shore working since 2008 under the HELCOM . The
HELCOM is
currently chaired by Ms. Sonja Dobo, Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency.>>>* * *>Note to Editors:>>The
Baltic Sea today is one of the busiest seas in the world. There are about 2,000
ships in the Baltic marine area at any given moment.>>Although
growing traffic is a positive sign of intensified cooperation in the Baltic Sea
region and a prospering economy, it also makes potentially polluting shipping
accidents more likely. Collisions and groundings have increased, and these days
there are some 120-140 shipping accidents in the Baltic Sea area every year.
Fortunately, most of the accidents in the Baltic do not cause notable
pollution. Over the period 2000–2009, an average of 7% of all reported
accidents resulted in some kind of pollution. However, even just one
large-scale accident would seriously threaten the marine environment. Two of
the five most serious accidents in the Baltic marine area have occurred since
2001, involving “Baltic Carrier” in 2001 (2,700 tons of oil spilt), and “Fu
Shan Hai” in 2003 (1,200 tons of oil spilt). >> >
works to ensure swift national and international response to maritime pollution
incidents and that in case of an accident the right equipment is available and
routines are in place to respond immediately in cooperation with neighbouring
states. The Group also coordinates the aerial surveillance of maritime shipping
routes to provide a complete picture of sea-based pollution around the Baltic,
and to help identify suspected polluters. The meetings of the HELCOM RESPONSE
Group have been held regularly among all Baltic Sea countries and EU for over
thirty years.> >>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 further information,
please contact: >>Hermanni
Backer
Professional Secretary for Maritime, Response and Maritime Spatial Planning
HELCOM
Tel:  +358 46 8509199
Skype: helcom02
E-mail: hermanni.backer(at)helcom.fi> >>

Johanna Laurila
Information Secretary
HELCOM
Tel: +358 40 523 8988
Skype: helcom70
E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi

The Helsinki Convention 1992, the international legal treaty on the Baltic Sea between the coastal countries of the Baltic and the EU, was changed yesterday 1 July.

​Sixteen oil response vessels from seven Baltic Sea coastal countries and institutions participated in HELCOM’s international response exercise ‘ 2014’ yesterday in Ventspils, Latvia. The annual exercise, carried out 25 years in a row, is of vital importance to keep up and improve skills on joint prevention of major damage from oil spills in the sea as well as on the shore of the HELCOM Contracting Parties, consisting of all the nine coastal Baltic States and the EU. Photo: HELCOMThe participating vessels, divided into four teams under the lead of the superior on scene commander Lt Sg Nauris Lakševics on-board the Latvian vessel “Varonis”, exercised laying out booms, operational formations, communication and other operational tasks at sea off the town of Ventspils. At the same time an exercise on the shore took place to rehearse response in a situation when the oil has reached the shore. The operations were carried out in mild wind and wave conditions but visibility was at times limited due to dense fog in the area. Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden contributed to the exercise this year along with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) representing the European Union. The exercise scenario stated that the collision between tanker and fishing boat had occurred in the Baltic Sea, northwards Ventspils port. Due to this accident about 10,000 tons of oil was spilt in the sea causing an environmental disaster. The scenario also states that ships won’t be able to collect all oil and some of it will wash ashore, thus participants of the exercise will be forced to test the oil spill readiness along the coastline, including saving the birds. The Exercise ‘Balex Delta’ has been organized by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of Latvia in cooperation with HELCOM (Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission) and the Latvian Naval Force Flotilla. More than 30 observers from several international organizations and countries outside the region also participated. Today Thursday 12 June, the general public can observe the traditional rowing competition of the HELCOM fleet, and in the afternoon the ships have open doors for public. * * * works to ensure swift national and international response to maritime pollution incidents and that in case of an accident the right equipment is available and routines are in place to respond immediately in cooperation with neighbouring states. The Group also coordinates the aerial surveillance of maritime shipping routes to provide a complete picture of sea-based pollution around the Baltic, and to help identify suspected polluters. The meetings of the HELCOM RESPONSE Group have been held regularly among all Baltic Sea countries and EU for over thirty years.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 further information, please contact:Laura MazmacaState Environmental Service of Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional DevelopmentRiga, LatviaTel: +371 67408166E-mail: laura.mazmaca(at)vvd.gov.lv Hermanni Backer Professional Secretary for Maritime, Response and Maritime Spatial Planning HELCOM Tel:  +358 46 8509199 Skype: helcom02 E-mail: hermanni.backer(at)helcom.fi Johanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi

Sixteen oil response vessels from seven Baltic Sea coastal countries and institutions participated in HELCOM’s international response exercise in Latvia.

​HELCOM’s international response exercise ‘Balex Delta’ will be held on 10-12 June in Latvian territorial waters. Ten oil response vessels from eight Baltic Sea coastal countries and institutions will participate in the operation, allowing to test Baltic coordination and cooperation in a highly operational level, as well as improve skills on joint prevention of major damage from oil spills in the sea as well as on the shore.Balex Delta 2012. Photo: SYKE / Kati Tahvonen.Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden will contribute to the annual exercise along with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) representing European Union. The general aim of the exercise is to test the alarm procedure, as well as the response capability and capacity of the HELCOM Contracting Parties, consisting of all the nine coastal Baltic States and the EU. The exercise scenario states that the collision between tanker and fishing boat has occurred in the Baltic Sea, northwards Ventspils port. Due to this accident about 10,000 tons of oil have spilt in the sea causing an environmental disaster. The scenario also states that ships won’t be able to collect all oil and some of it will wash ashore, thus participants of the exercise will be forced to test the oil spill readiness along the coastline, including saving the birds. Exercise ‘Balex Delta’ is organized by the Ministry of Environment of Latvia in cooperation with HELCOM (Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission) and the Latvian Naval Force Flotilla. More than 30 observers from several international organizations are also expected to participate. On Thursday 12 June, the general public can observe the traditional rowing competition of the HELCOM fleet, and in the afternoon the ships have open doors for public. Note for mass media representativesOn June 11 the Media Day of the exercise ‘Balex Delta’ will be held in Ventspils. For further information, please contact the Media Relations Section of the Ministry of Defence at:  * * * 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 further information, please contact:Laura MazmacaState Environmental Service of Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional DevelopmentRiga, LatviaTel: +371 67408166E-mail: laura.mazmaca(at)vvd.gov.lv Hermanni Backer Professional Secretary for Maritime, Response and Maritime Spatial Planning HELCOM Tel:  +358 46 8509199 Skype: helcom02 E-mail: hermanni.backer(at)helcom.fi Johanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi

HELCOM’s international response exercise ‘Balex Delta’ will be held on 10-12 June in Latvian territorial waters.

The new HELCOM on illegal discharges in the Baltic Sea indicates a drop in flight hours, particularly in Sweden and Germany. Overall in 2013, the total hours of aerial surveillance in the HELCOM area sank by 15 % from 2012. A clear positive trend, for a number of years, is the decrease in both the size of observed mineral oil spills and the number of spills. For better protection of the Baltic marine environment from pollution, every ship entering the area is urged to comply with anti-pollution regulations. The intensive aerial surveillance has helped, by its share, to reduce illegal spills significantly in the Baltic Sea (see figure below), despite the increasing traffic. To maintain the positive trend there is a need for adequate surveillance also in the future by all HELCOM countries.  In 2013, a total of 130 mineral oil spills were detected in the Baltic Sea during aerial surveillance and the total estimated volume of detected discharges was lower than ever, with 11 m3. In recent years, the number of observations of other harmful discharges than oil has increased; hence the specialized HELCOM Informal Working Group on Aerial Surveillance (IWGAS) has decided that observations of these substances will also be included in regular regional reporting, compiled by HELCOM.  Co-operation on aerial surveillance within the Baltic Sea area was established during the 1980s within the HELCOM framework. Through the (Article 14, Annex VII, Regulation 7) the Contracting Parties – the nine Baltic countries and the European Union – have agreed to develop and apply, individually or in co-operation, surveillance activities covering the Baltic Sea area in order to spot and monitor oil and other substances released into the sea. If possible, the identity of a polluter should be established and a spill sampled from both the sea surface and the suspected offender on board.   * * *Note for editors: works to ensure swift national and international response to maritime pollution incidents and that in case of an accident the right equipment is available and routines are in place to respond immediately in co-operation with neighbouring states. The Group also coordinates the aerial surveillance of maritime shipping routes to provide a complete picture of sea-based pollution around the Baltic, and to help identify suspected polluters. The meetings of the HELCOM Response Group have been held regularly among all Baltic Sea countries and EU for over thirty years. * * *The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organisation of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region. Since 1974, HELCOM has been the governing body of the ‘Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area’, more commonly known as the Helsinki Convention. * * *For more information, please contact: Laura MeskiAssisting Professional SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 162 2053Skype: helcom82E-mail: laura.meski(@)helcom.fi Johanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988Skype: helcom70 E-mail: johanna.laurila(@)helcom.fi ​

The new HELCOM report on illegal discharges in the Baltic Sea indicates a drop in flight hours in 2013.

The strategic direction for
HELCOM internal and external communication has been set and adopted by the
HELCOM Annual Meeting last Friday. The new has been prepared to better
reflect the main priorities of HELCOM work and to support its key function as
the provider of reliable and timely information, and it describes the basic
elements of HELCOM strategic communication such as goals and objectives, target
audience and messages.  mportantly, the new Strategy responds to the needs of streamlined HELCOM activities in reaction to inevitable changes in the realities surrounding and interacting with HELCOM key working areas. The achievements of the streamlining process will ensure an up-to-date, more efficient HELCOM in both internal processes and in its plentiful external relations. >

​>

* * *>>For further information, please contact:>>Johanna Laurila>
Information Secretary>
HELCOM>
Tel: +358 40 523 8988>
Skype: helcom70>
E-mail: >>

The strategic direction for HELCOM internal and external communication was adopted by the HELCOM Annual Meeting.

HELCOM hosts a pan-European meeting today on pollution incident cooperation, with the view to maintain a thorough exchange of experiences and information across the continent. The annual meeting aims to create working synergies of the organizations in the Baltic Sea, Mediterranean Sea, the Northeast Atlantic, the Nordic countries and the EU: European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and the European Commission. Representatives of the concerned regional agreements will each present an overview of recent, current and planned activities, regarding both operational and preparedness matters. The agreements represented include the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC), Bonn Agreement, Lisbon Agreement, Copenhagen Agreement and the Helsinki Convention (HELCOM). * * *Note for editors:Maritime transportation in the Baltic Sea region has steadily increased during the past decade. On the average, 2,000 ships are at sea every day and by 2017 maritime transport of goods in the region has been estimated to double.  works to ensure swift national and international response to maritime pollution incidents and that in case of an accident the right equipment is available and routines are in place to respond immediately in cooperation with neighbouring states. The Group also coordinates the aerial surveillance to provide a complete picture of sea-based pollution around the Baltic and to help identify suspected polluters. The meetings of the HELCOM Response Group have been held regularly for over thirty years.  The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organisation of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region. Since 1974, HELCOM has been the governing body of the ‘Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area’, more commonly known as the Helsinki Convention. For more information, please contact:Hermanni BackerProfessional Secretary for Maritime, Response and Maritime Spatial PlanningHELCOMTel:  +358 46 8509199Skype: helcom02E-mail: hermanni.backer(at)helcom.fiJohanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988Skype: helcom70E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi

HELCOM hosts a pan-European meeting today on pollution incident cooperation among the continent’s regional agreements.

​The , consisting of competent pollution incident authorities of all the Baltic Sea coastal countries and European Union services, convenes today for its regular three day meeting in Szczecin, Poland.Under the Chairmanship of Mr. , Swedish Coast Guard, the participants will i.a. share information on last year’s response operations, discuss revision of the hazardous and noxious substances sections of the HELCOM Manual on Co-operation on Marine Pollution response (the HELCOM Response manual) as well as consider the future of HELCOM communication procedures related to notifying and requesting assistance to spills in light of new EU developments.The Meeting will also consider implementation of other pollution preparedness and response issues highlighted by the 2013 HELCOM Ministerial Meeting. * * *Note to Editors:The HELCOM cooperation on Baltic regional pollution preparedness and response has been in place since 1976. The working group, currently entitled , has created a highly operational regional response system covering all the Baltic Sea countries, where information on accidents and illegal pollution, as well as response fleet and capacity, are shared with a minimum delay. The procedure is documented in the HELCOM Response Manual.The HELCOM RESPONSE Group also coordinates the aerial surveillance of maritime shipping routes to provide a complete picture of sea-based pollution around the Baltic, and to help identify suspected polluters. The present Chair of the Group is Mr. of the Swedish Coast Guard.Although growing traffic is a positive sign of intensified cooperation in the Baltic Sea region and a prospering economy, it also makes potentially polluting shipping accidents more likely. Collisions and groundings have increased, and these days there are some 120–140 shipping accidents in the Baltic Sea area every year. Fortunately, most of the accidents in the Baltic do not cause notable pollution. Over the period 2000–2009, an average of 7% of all reported accidents resulted in some kind of pollution. However, even just one large-scale accident would seriously threaten the marine environment. Two of the five most serious accidents in the Baltic marine area have occurred since 2001 – involving “Baltic Carrier” in 2001 (2,700 tons of oil spilt), and “Fu Shan Hai” in 2003 (1,200 tons of oil spilt).  * * * (Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission) 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. HELCOM is the governing body of the “Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area,” more usually known as the Helsinki Convention. The Convention has also targeted provisions on response to pollution incidents. * * *For more information, please contact:Hermanni BackerProfessional Secretary for Response, Maritime and Maritime Spatial PlanningHELCOMTel: +358 (0)46 850 9199Fax: +358 (0)207 412 645E-mail: Hermanni.backer@helcom.fiSkype: helcom02 Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 (0)40 523 8988Fax: +358 (0)207 412 639E-mail: johanna.laurila@helcom.fiSkype: helcom70 

Baltic Sea pollution incident authorities gather for annual review and planning for future.

​High-level decisions expected for a healthier Baltic Sea marine environment 3 October 2013, Copenhagen, Denmark – New targets for nutrient input reductions for the Baltic Sea per each Baltic coastal state are expected to be adopted today by HELCOM Contracting Parties, consisting of all the nine Baltic coastal states and the European Union, in the 2013 HELCOM Ministerial Meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark.  The targets will be an important part of the new Ministerial outcome which will set the overall direction for regional actions for a healthier marine environment of the Baltic Sea. Other major decisions expected today concern environmentally friendly shipping and, in particular, a joint proposal to apply for the NOx Emission Control Area (NECA) status for the Baltic Sea, as well as agriculture and more specifically, nutrient balanced fertilisation practices. A key focus of the Meeting is on HELCOM work to reduce nutrient inputs which cause eutrophication in the Baltic Sea. The HELCOM nutrient input reduction scheme has been subject to extensive review in the past years, for ensuring a solid scientific basis and a fair sharing of the reduction burden. Finally today, the updated, jointly agreed figures on maximum allowable inputs and reduction targets for HELCOM countries are put forward for adoptionThe substantial potential to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from ships, if the Baltic Sea is designated with a special NECA status for the Baltic Sea, has led to preparing of a joint HELCOM application to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). The timing of submitting the application to IMO for such a designation will be another major issue for the ministers. The intensive negotiations preceding today’s high-level gathering have also addressed agricultural practices in the region, such as applying nutrient accounting at farm level by 2018. Positive examples in some HELCOM countries may pave the way to decisions on nutrient balanced fertilisation across the whole region and less nutrient losses. Targeted and cost-effective measures on manure handling are also a part of the draft Ministerial Declaration. Other items waiting for ministers’ decisions today include an amendment of the Helsinki Convention which more explicitly calls for international response to pollution accidents on shoreline. In contrast to the established framework on response cooperation at sea, which has been in place since the 1970s adoption of the Helsinki Convention, such shoreline response has so far largely been a national matter. Furthermore, several decisions by the Ministerial Meeting would result in fewer pressures on biodiversity as well as improvements in the conservation measures for instance of species, habitats and biotopes.Since the adoption of the Baltic Sea Action Plan in 2007, this is the second Ministerial Meeting, following the Ministerial Meeting in Moscow in 2010, to assess the effectiveness of the Action Plan and subsequent progress towards Good Environmental Status of the Baltic Sea. The 2013 Ministerial Meeting relies on the assessing of how far the region has come in the implementation of HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP, 2007–2021). This careful groundwork has also explored any positive trends and signs of decreasing pollution which could be observed as a result of the actions taken.  Out of all the measures and actions agreed in the Baltic Sea Action Plan, as well as following up the 2010 Moscow Ministerial Declaration, about one third of actions have been accomplished. Six out of ten measures have been partly accomplished or are still on-going with varying degree of implementation in different countries, and the remaining ten per cent are still to be initiated.Please note that the outcome of the Ministerial meeting will be summarized today for the press starting at 11.45 (CET+1hrs). The Declaration will be available after the Meeting at: Twitter: #HELCOM2013 * * *Note for editors: starts at 9:00 on 3 October 2013 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The high-level representatives of Environmental Ministries from the nine Baltic coastal states and the EU Environment Commissioner gather to discuss the status and the future of the Baltic Sea marine environment. The Meeting reviews the progress in implementing the Baltic Sea Action Plan (2007–2021) and sets priorities for action. The Ministerial Declaration, signed at noon, revolves around the still unsatisfactory status of the Baltic Sea; the ecosystem approach as the basis for blue and green growth, the opportunities for more coherent policies and implementation, as well as committing to do more for a healthier Baltic Sea.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. HELCOM works since 1974 to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region. HELCOM is the governing body of the “Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area,” more usually known as the Helsinki Convention. * * *For further information:Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988E-mail: Skype: helcom70

New targets for nutrient input reductions for the Baltic Sea per each Baltic coastal state are expected to be adopted today by HELCOM Contracting Parties.

The Ministers of the Environment and High-Level Representatives of the nine Baltic coastal countries and the European Union, convened in a HELCOM Meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark today, have reached an agreement on a package of extensive actions and measures. This will open up new themes to be addressed in the protection of the Baltic Sea. After a year of negotiations, the new HELCOM Ministerial outcome expresses the ambition of the Baltic Sea region to become a model for good management of human activities and to steer regional actions for reaching a healthier marine environment for the Baltic Sea.  Today the Ministerial Meeting has adopted an overarching scheme for combatting eutrophication in the Baltic Sea. Within the scheme, each country commits to fulfil particular targets for reducing nutrient pollution, through measures addressing discharges and emissions from land and via air. The updated targets represent the best available knowledge and give guidance to sharing responsibility for reducing nutrient inputs originating from both HELCOM and non-HELCOM countries, as well as from shipping and sources outside the region.  Agriculture was singled out as a crucial sector for the success of reaching good environmental status of the Baltic. Regarding sustainable agricultural production, the Meeting agreed, among others, on measures that include annual nutrient accounting at farm level and environmentally sound utilization of manure nutrients to be achieved by the specific deadlines.  The future designation of the Baltic Sea as a Nitrogen Oxide Emission Control Area (NECA) under the MARPOL Convention of the International Maritime Organisation emerged as the main topic for negotiations among the Ministers. After lengthy negotiations the Meeting concluded by recalling the earlier commitment regarding the designation, and specified that it would lead to a reduction of nearly 7000 tons of nitrogen to the sea every year. The outcome further stresses that the achievement of the Baltic Sea unaffected by eutrophication relies on additional reduction efforts by shipping sector. The regional cooperation on preparedness and response to pollution especially on shoreline will now improve thanks to the adoption of an amendment to the Helsinki Convention providing the legal basis for HELCOM work. Furthermore, the new HELCOM Recommendation on airborne surveillance of illegal spills from ships enables more flexible border crossings of the patrol aircrafts, for more efficient gathering of evidence on environmental offenses.   The new Declaration also contains actions on Baltic marine protected areas. Some of them target fisheries practices with negative impacts in protected areas and others overall upgrading of the network of the areas. Furthermore, conservation plans for species, habitats and biotopes which are at risk of extinction will be developed.  New ways of biodiversity protection include a regional action plan for marine litter, to be developed within two years, as well as actions on negative impacts of underwater noise.  The Contracting Parties agreed that the implementation of all commitments in the declaration will be continuously reviewed by the Ministers. To support the continuous assessment of the state of the sea, the Meeting agreed on a new Monitoring and Assessment Strategy. Since the adoption of the Baltic Sea Action Plan in 2007, this is the second Ministerial Meeting, following the Ministerial Meeting in Moscow in 2010, to assess the effectiveness of the Action Plan and subsequent progress towards good environmental status of the Baltic Sea.  Out of all the measures and actions agreed in the Baltic Sea Action Plan as well as following up the 2010 Ministerial Declaration, about one third of agreed actions have been accomplished. Six out of ten measures have been partly accomplished or are still on-going with varying degree of implementation in different countries, and the remaining ten per cent are still to be initiated. * * *Reduction targets Changes in the country-wise nutrient reduction targets for nitrogen and phosphorus per country: 2007 – as in HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Pla2013 – as adopted by the HELCOM Ministerial Meeting on 3 October 2013* = figures after ‘+’ refer to loads originating from the country but being discharged to the Sea via another country; additional specific footnotes to the above table can be found in the text of the Ministerial Declaration * * *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. HELCOM has worked since 1974 to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region. HELCOM is the governing body of the “Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area,” more usually known as the Helsinki Convention. Associated documents for the Ministerial Meeting at:   * * *For further information, please contact:Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988E-mail: Skype: helcom70 

The new HELCOM Ministerial outcome, issued today, expresses the ambition of the Baltic Sea region to become a model…