Sylvia Bretschneider Christina Gestrin Parliament Of MecklenburgVorpommern Finnish Parliament

sylvia bretschneider christina gestrin parliament of mecklenburg-vorpommern finnish parliament report on the exercise of the ob

Sylvia Bretschneider Christina Gestrin
Parliament of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Finnish Parliament
Report on the Exercise of the Observer Status of the Baltic Sea
Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) at the
Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission
(Helsinki Commission - HELCOM)
2011/2012
1Introduction1
==============
During the 20th Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) in Helsinki
2011 Sylvia Bretschneider and Christina Gestrin were appointed once
again to exercise the mandate of an observer and follow the relevant
HELCOM bodies’ activities.
For four decades, the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission
known as Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) is engaged in implementing the
"Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic
Sea Area," known as the Helsinki Convention signed in 1974 by seven
Baltic costal states an entered into force on 3 May 1980. Today HELCOM
as the governing body of the Helsinki Convention works on the
protection of the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all
sources of pollution. Contracting parties are the nine Baltic Sea
countries.
This report on the exercise of the observer status of the Baltic Sea
Parliamentary Conference at Helsinki Commission is based on the
previous report that reflected HELCOMS’ work and activities from 2010
to 2011. The present document will thus give an overview of activities
and measures taken up in the reporting time from 20th BSPC on 28 to 30
August 2011 in Helsinki to the 21st BSPC on 26 to 28 August 2012 in
St. Petersburg linking to the previous report. It indicates both - the
plenty and the variety of HELCOM activities during the past year.
The report reflects on three meetings, the 36th meeting of the Heads
of Delegation (HOD 36/2011), the 33rd Helsinki Commission Meeting
(HELCOM 33/2012) as well as the 37th meeting of the Heads of
Delegation.
The 36th meeting of the Heads of Delegation was held in Helsinki,
Finland, from 5 to 6 December 2011 and focused mainly on the
country-wise implementation of the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP).
The designation of the Baltic Sea as Nitrogen Oxid Emission Control
Area (NECA) as well as high loads of phosphor revealed in Luga River
in late November 2011 within the BALTHAZAR Project were two main
issues that were raised at the 33rd Helsinki Commission Meeting from 5
to 7 March 2012 in Helsinki.
Trelleborg hosted the 37th meeting of the Heads of Delegation from 14
to 15 June 2012, the last under the Swedish chairmanship. Besides the
NECA subject and the follow-up of the incidents in Luga River, the
final report of the Plan Bothnia project was presented. Besides, an
excursion gave an impression about the upcoming Trelleborg Port
development until 2020 and amongst others of the Myge experimental
algae biogas fermentation and residue treatment plant.
This report is once again proof of the scope of activities conducted
by HELCOM and of HELCOMs ability to take up and respond to emerging
and highly topical issues as well as continuing problems.
The forthcoming HELCOM Ministerial Meeting will be held in the second
half of 2013. It will mark another milestone in order to implement the
Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP). This is one of the core pieces of
HELCOMs activities. To achieve the common purpose and the agreed
targets a strong political will and support of all Contracting Parties
and stakeholders in the Baltic Sea Region is essential. The
Ministerial Meeting 2013 will be an important platform to call upon
this shared commitment and to highlight the overall awareness
regarding the importance of the BSAP.
2Cooperation between BSPC and HELCOM
====================================
The Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference is holding the observer status
to HELCOM since 2002, dealing since its foundation in 1991 intensively
with policies regarding the protection of the Baltic Sea. A fruitful
cooperation has been established during these last years that includes
common exchange of information and experience on a regular basis. This
includes a mutual comprehension in conferences and events, a
cooperation between intergovernmental and interparlamentary bodies
that is a specific achievement of the Baltic Sea Region and that is
not self-evident in other parts of the world.
At the 20th BSPC from 28 to 30 August 2011 in Helsinki, Gabriella
Lindholm, Chairlady of HELCOM and Ambassador for the Marine
Environment at the Swedish Ministry of Environment, presented the
current status of the implementation of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action
Plan (BSAP), the progress in working towards the designation of the
Baltic Sea as a NOx Emission Control Area (NECA), BRISK, the overall
risk assessment of shipping accidents to identify hot spots for oil
spills, the Joint HELCOM-VASAB Working Group on Maritime Spatial
Planning (MSP) and the Plan Bothnia Project. Moreover, expectations
towards the 2013 Ministerial Meeting were named, like further BSAP
implementation and the assessment of progress in reaching
environmental targets and efficiency of actions.
At the same occasion, Jochen Schulte, former Chair of the BSPC Working
Group on Integrated Maritime Policy and now – together with Roger
Jansson, former Vice-Chair of the WG - Rapporteur on Integrated
Maritime Policy, gave his report.
During earlier working group meetings in 2011, there had been a
fruitful cooperation between HELCOMS’ RESPONSE group that had informed
the Working Group about activities of the risk assessment of pollution
caused by shipping accidents covering the whole Baltic Sea on-going
and further tasks under the BRISK Project.
At the European Maritime Day from 20 to 22 May 2012 in Gothenburg, a
workshop of nine Baltic Sea Organisations on Maritime Policy reflected
on the cooperation of organisations active in the Baltic, amongst them
BSPC and HELCOM.
3Programme of the Danish Chairmanship
=====================================
Denmark will chair HELCOM from 1 July 2012 to30 June 2014. Ms. Helle
Pilsgaard has been nominated Danish Chairlady of HELCOM. Ms. Pilsgaard
is Deputy Director General at the Danish Nature Agency of the Danish
Ministry of the Environment and also the Danish Marine Director of the
European Union.
At the 37th meeting of the Heads of Delegations, Denmark presented the
following priorities for its chairmanship:
*
Effective fulfilment of the BSAP
During the Danish chairmanship, the implementation of the BSAP and its
segments on eutrophication, hazardous substances, biodiversity and
maritime activities will have the highest priority. Towards the 2013
HELCOM Ministerial Meeting the Danish Chairmanship will work for
evaluating the progress made on the implementation of the BSAP in
striving to fulfil any further measures to be taken in order to reach
the targets of BSAP by 2021.
*
New initiatives where progress is needed
The Danish Chairmanship will work for promoting and starting
initiatives also in areas besides BSAP where additional measures are
needed in order to reach a good environmental status in the Baltic Sea
by 2021 such as cleaning of waste water from cities and from scattered
housing, optimized use of slurry and animal manure, reduced impacts
from the use of pesticides and dredging operations. Furthermore, it
will work for achieving improved knowledge in areas where gaps are
identified, i.e. marine litter, underwater noise, alien species and
acidification of the sea.
*
Effective HELCOM co-operation and continued development of HELCOM
The Danish Chairmanship will work for a continued development of
HELCOM’s role in the Baltic Sea region as the environmental focal
point and strives to develop HELCOM as an efficient organisation that
works effectively and correlates with other obligations of the
contracting parties.
4Participation at events/conferences/forums
===========================================
HELCOM attended several conferences and forums and reported on its
active participation at the following events:
*
14th Baltic Development Forum Summit - 3rd Annual Forum of EU BSRS
17 - 19 June 2012, Copenhagen, Denmark
The HELCOM secretariat participated in some of the Forum’s
sessions as well as with a booth.
*
Rio+20 – UN Conference on Sustainable Development
20 - 22 June 2012, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
HELCOM was part of a side event “Northern Lights on Sustainable
Development”, organised by the German Presidency of the Council of
the Baltic Sea States, and gave an official statement (see section
9)
*
XIII. International Baltic Sea Day Environmental Forum
21 - 23 March 2012, St. Petersburg, Russia
*
European Maritime Day,
20 - 22 May 2012, Gothenburg, Sweden
HELCOM participated together with other pan-Baltic organisations
of the BSPC with a session “Better Coherence in the Baltic Sea
Region”, to discuss joint initiatives for maritime cooperation.
Furthermore, HELCOM informed in two sessions about maritime
spatial planning.
5Implementation of the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP)
====================================================
The HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan is an ambitious programme to restore
the good ecological status of the Baltic marine environment by 2021.
The BSAP was strongly supported by the BSPC in several resolutions.
The plan which has been drafted since 2005 is different from any other
programme previously undertaken by HELCOM as it is based on a clear
set of “ecological objectives” defined to reflect a jointly agreed
vision of “a healthy marine environment, with diverse biological
components functioning in balance, resulting in a good ecological
status and supporting a wide range of sustainable human activities”.
After a number of negotiations, the BSAP was adopted at the HELCOM
Ministerial Meeting 2007 in Krakow, Poland.
5.1 National Implementation Plans (NIPs)
----------------------------------------
According to the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP), National
Implementation Plans (NIPs) had to be developed and submitted for
HELCOM’s assessment by 2010 with a view to evaluate the effectiveness
of the programmes and to find out whether additional measures are
needed at the HELCOM Ministerial Meeting in 2013.All contracting
parties had submitted their NIPs for the 32rd HELCOM meeting 2010.
The 36th meeting of the Heads of Delegations took note of the
information on the follow-up of implementation of the Baltic Sea
Action Plan Index of Actions and agreed on the use of the updated BSAP
Index of Actions for the monitoring of the BSAP implementation
progress. The meeting also requested the contracting parties to make
the first update of the index table with relevant national and general
information by 5 February 2012 and invited the Subsidiary Bodies to
update the Index during their meetings.
Finland had commented at HELCOM LAND 17/2012 on the need to consider
the user-friendliness of the BSAP Index with a view to simplify the
presentation of information on regionally and nationally performed
activities. This issue will be addressed once the information on
implementation is completed.
HELCOM 33/2012 noted the updated information on the progress in the
BSAP implementation, including further synergies with the EU Strategy
for the Baltic Sea Region (EU SBSR) as well as other processes as
contained in the BSAP Index of Action. In order to set up the BSAP,
the meeting decided to continuously update the BSAP Index of Actions
in the course of the preparations for the HELCOM Ministerial Meeting
2013. The updated BSAP Index of Actions containing new information
from the contracting parties and HELCOM meetings will be submitted at
a later stage.
The 37th meeting of the Heads of Delegations took note of the updated
BSAP Index of Actions and agreed to make use of it when discussing the
outline for 2013 HELCOM Ministerial Meeting. Furthermore, a HELCOM
Observer, the Coalition of Clean Baltic (CCB) stated that the index
could be improved to better reflect the progress in the BSAP and to
have a transparent calculation of national nutrient load reductions.
5.2 Baltic Sea Action Plan Fund
-------------------------------
The Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) Fund, managed by the Nordic
Investment Bank (NIB) and the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation
(NEFCO) provides grants for technical assistance to projects that
support the implementation of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan. The
fund today disposes approximately 11 million€, originating from
donations from the Governments of Sweden and Finland. During 2011 an
intensive promotion of the BSAP Fund has been done. The project
portfolio of the BSAP Fund has thus increased during 2011 from 5 to 15
projects and the fund’s financial commitment has increased from about
2 million € to 4.8 million €.
During 2011 the BSAP Fund has received 42 initial project proposals
which have been reviewed by the BSAP Fund Manager and the Trust Fund
Committee. 17 project proposals have been further negotiated,
developed and presented to the Steering Committee for approval or
inclusion in the BSAP Fund pipeline. Ten new projects totalling 2.8
million € were approved and additionally five were admitted into the
pipeline of the BSAP portfolio during 2011. Four non-performing
projects were removed from the portfolio.
HELCOM 33/2012 encouraged the preparation of new projects and active
HELCOM involvement in the promotion of the Fund and noted that the
Fund is open for contributions from other contracting parties. For
instance, the upcoming BASE Project could make use of the BSAP
NIB/NEFCO Fund.
6Groups/Working Groups
======================
6.1 HABITAT (Nature Protection and Biodiversity Group)
------------------------------------------------------
Compiling information on ecosystems and habitats to ensure the
availability of suitable information on habitats, species and the
conservation of biodiversity is the task of the Nature Protection and
Biodiversity Group (HELCOM HABITAT). HABITAT identifies and assesses
current and potential impacts of human activities on Baltic marine
biodiversity (ecosystems/habitats, species and genetic diversity) and
makes concrete proposals for consideration by HELCOM’s other groups
and projects.
The 14th HABITAT meeting took place from 22 to 25 May 2012 in
Stralsund, Germany, at the German Oceanographic Museum. The meeting
favoured starting a sturgeon project which had already been supported
by HELCOM HOD 31/2010 and its establishment by applying for EU
funding.
During HOD 37/2012 the outcome of the 14th HABITAT meeting was
presented. As discussed in HABITAT 13/2011, the meeting considered the
project proposal “Completing the BSPA network and the data and
information on the marine protected areas of the Baltic Sea” (HELCOM
PROTECT) and stressed that the project description should refer to the
requirements arising from the BSAP and the 2010 Ministerial
Declaration, the elaboration of expert proposals for additional
near-shore and in particular offshore BSPA.
The 13th HABITAT meeting reviewed some of the HELCOM recommendations
under HELCOM HABITAT and agreed to continue the technical review of
the recommendations during HELCOM HABITAT 14/2012. HOD 37/2012 thus
considered recommendation 17/2 amended by HABITAT 14/2012 concerning
the protection of harbour porpoise in the Baltic Sea Area, noted study
reservations by Germany and Denmark and, pending the clarification,
endorsed the recommendation and invited the secretariat to forward it
for adoption by the 34th meeting of the Helsinki Commission.
Furthermore, a new HELCOM recommendation “Safeguarding important
wintering habitats and migration routes of Baltic seabirds” was
welcomed and the secretariat was asked to submit the finalised
recommendation proposal for the consideration by HELCOM HOD meeting in
December 2012.
Concerning BALTFIMPA, a detailed work plan of the BALTIFIMPA Inception
Phase was endorsed, including the timeline and the overview of the
contributions by the partners.
Related to the HELCOM 2013 Ministerial Meeting, the main input from
HELCOM HABITAT will include the HELCOM RED LIST project (see section
8.10) as well as an assessment of the status and ecological coherence
of the network of protected areas, depending on the outcome of the
proposed HELCOM PROTECT project.
The 15th HABITAT meeting will be held in Latvia from 14 to 17 May
2013.
6.2 LAND (Land-based Pollution Group)
-------------------------------------
Reducing land-based pollution within the Baltic Seas region is the aim
of the Land-based Pollution Group (HELCOM LAND). It identifies sources
of land-based pollution of nutrients and hazardous substances, and
proposes suitable measures and actions to reduce these emissions and
discharges. The objective is to reduce inputs of nutrients, especially
from diffuse sources such as agriculture and transport. Priority areas
of LAND are eutrophication and hazardous substances.
Of special interest and importance for LAND Group are following
projects: BALTHAZAR, COHIBA, PURE as well as the Baltic COMPASS
Project.
The 17th meeting of HELCOM LAND (LAND 17/2012) has been arranged from
8 to 10 May 2012 in Warsaw, Poland, and has been preceded by the third
meeting of HELCOM Baltic Agricultural and Environmental Forum. The
meeting discussed the role and inputs of HELCOM LAND to the
implementation of the BSAP. Furthermore, actions to limit emissions
and discharges of nutrients from land-based sources as i.e. the
progress in investigation within the BALTHAZAR Project of elevated
phosphorous loads in Luga River were intensively discussed(see section
8.2). LAND 17/2012 also considered and discussed the draft final
summary report of the COHIBA project as presented by the secretariat
(see section 8.5). One subject has been the progress with the
implementation of the Project on Urban Reduction of Eutrophication
(PURE) including the development of the Book of Good Practices in
Sludge Management as presented by the secretariat.
A HELCOM LAND workshop will be arranged in November 2012 to deal with
issues pending from HOD 37/2012like e. g. the Baltic Sea Joint
Comprehensive Environmental Action Programme (JCP) assessment as well
as with the preparation of LAND’s inputs to the 2013 Ministerial
Meeting.
The next meeting of HELCOM LAND will be held in April/May 2013,
possibly in Sweden.
HELCOM “Hot Spots” under the JCP
The JCP specifies a series of actions to be undertaken at "pollution
hot spots" around the Baltic Sea drainage basin, as most notorious hot
spots are point sources, like municipal facilities and industrial
plants. The first environmental hot spots were designated in 1992.
Since then, water quality in many coastal waters of the Baltic Sea has
improved considerably. This is reflected by the fact that 94 of the
162 original hot spots and subsequent sub-hot spots have been deleted
from the list until now, and several more will be removed soon with
the aim to reach project closure in 2012.
The JCP assessment work will be on the agenda of the November 2012
HELCOM LAND Workshop.
Green Baltic Spots
The HELCOM Ministerial Meeting in 2010 agreed in presenting best
examples, thus a so-called “List of Green Baltic Spots”. The approach
to shift from a “name-and-blame” list towards promoting best examples
also came up as a response to the upcoming finalisation of the Baltic
Sea Joint Comprehensive Environmental Action Programme JCP to be
completed in 2012.
HELCOM LAND 16/2011 had agreed on that the municipal waste water
treatment sector would be a relatively simple area to establish such a
List of Green Baltic Spots and mandated the secretariat to establish
clear criteria on establishing the list.
At the HOD 36/2011, members were invited to re-/nominate their
candidates for the Green Baltic Spot Award in the municipal wastewater
treatment sector in order to grant more time for nominations.
Therefore the meeting noted the re-nomination of Vodokanal of St.
Petersburg to the HELCOM Green Baltic Spots List. HOD 36/2011
discussed the elaboration of draft criteria for the HELCOM Green
Baltic Spots Award in other sectors and agreed to wait with
considering the development of the criteria for other sectors until
the award in the municipal waste water sector has been launched. Based
on the nominated candidates the meeting will be invited to reconsider
the issue with the aim to make a final decision during HELCOM 33/2012.
HOD 37/2012 considered the outcome of HELCOM LAND 17/2012 discussion
on the nomination of Baltic Green Spot Award to Przemysl and Szczecin
Zdroje Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) in Poland and Vodokanal St.
Petersburg, Russia, and appreciated the extensive work carried out by
the nominated candidates. The meeting noted remarks of Denmark
pledging for candidates for nomination with clear qualitative and
quantitative criteria as well as remarks from Finland and EU to define
Green Spots as forerunner, lighthouse and innovative examples that go
even beyond fulfilling the requirements of existing HELCOM
recommendations and EU regulations (with regard to EU members of
HELCOM).
The meeting thus requested the HELCOM LAND Workshop in fall 2012 to
consider qualitative and quantitative criteria for nomination of
candidates for Green Spots. The meeting invited Denmark and Finland in
coordination with the secretariat to draft such criteria for
consideration of the HELCOM LAND Workshop.
6.3 MARITIME (Maritime Group)
-----------------------------
The Maritime Group of the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM MARITIME) is
responsible for the prevention of pollution from ships. This also
includes deliberate operational discharges and accidental pollution.
The group wants to ensure that adopted regulations are observed and
enforced effectively and uniformly through international co-operation.
It works to identify and promote actions to limit sea-based pollution
and to ensure safe navigation.
The 10th meeting of the MARITIME group was held from 15 to 17 November
2011 in Finland. The meeting reflected and welcomed the IMO decision
to designate the Baltic Sea as a Special Area for sewage side charges
from passenger ships under MARPOL Annex IV (MEPEC 62 July 2011). The
decision is based on a joint paper by the HELCOM countries which will
enter into force when IMO has notified the availability of adequate
reception facilities for sewage in ports of the Baltic Sea. The
standards for sewage treatment on board passenger ships are expected
to be agreed within IMO in 2012.
Furthermore, the 10th HELCOM MARITIME discussed the pending issue of
amending the Agreement on Access to the HELCOM Automatic
Identification System (AIS). The work continued on the maintenance and
further development of the AIS. A meeting of the HELCOM Expert Working
Group for Mutual Exchange and Deliveries of AIS data (HELCOM AIS EWG
22/2011) was held on 4 October 2011 in Kaliningrad, Russia.
The Cooperation Platform on Port Reception Facilities (PRF) has been
launched and throughout 2011 worked to facilitate, in co-operation
with ports, industry and WWTPs the implementation of the HELCOM
Roadmap for upgrading port reception facilities in the Baltic Sea.
Concerning the Ballast Water Management Convention (BWMC), the
majority of the countries reported progress in ratification by 2013 as
decided in the Baltic Sea Action Plan. The common understanding on
exemptions from applying ballast water management and risk assessments
for intra-Baltic voyages were extensively discussed and were also the
topic of the finalized HELCOM project “Pilot risk assessments of alien
species transfer on intra-Baltic ship voyages”, including its meeting
hosted by German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency(BSH) on 19
September 2011 in Hamburg, Germany.
The implementation of the Baltic Sea Revised Hydrographic Re-survey
Scheme under the Baltic Sea Hydrographic Commission is progressing.
Progress has been achieved by all Baltic Sea hydrographic offices;
including the preparation of the national re-survey schemes with
timetable estimations, updating the status of resurveys in the common
database and hydrographic re-surveys, including large areas of Finnish
and Swedish waters (EU TEN-T MONA LISA project).
HOD 36/2011 considered the outcome of the 10th MARITIME meeting and
especially welcomed last years’ achievements related to the adoption
by the IMO to amend MARPOL Annex IV, strengthen regulations for side
charges of sewage from passenger ships and the designation of the
Baltic Sea as a Special Area. Also, aproposal for a HELCOM
recommendation on the unified interpretation in relation to access to
and the use of HELCOM AIS was adopted, to be submitted at a later
stage.
Concerning sewage from ships, HELCOM HOD 36/2011 welcomed the progress
in the framework of the Cooperation Platform PRF to facilitate the
upgrading of PRF for sewage in the Baltic Sea and the on-going work to
develop HELCOM Guidance on operation and technical aspects of sewage
delivery under the leadership of Sweden and the HELCOM Observer World
Wildlife Fund (WWF).
Regarding the BWMC, the report of the project “Pilot risk assessments
of alien species transfer on intra-Baltic ship voyages” was approved
by HOD 36/2011. A joint workshop with OSPAR to cooperate on the risk
assessments and other relevant Ballast Water Management issues will be
arranged. The meeting mandated the Correspondence Group to implement
the Ballast Water Roadmap under the lead of Germany to continue the
work of the joint workshop. It also adopted a project proposal “Study
on biological surveys protocols and target species criteria and
selection” and welcomed the offer by Sweden and Finland to contribute
financially to the study.
The second meeting of HELCOM experts on safety of navigation was held
on 8 February 2012, in Copenhagen, Denmark, with the aim to further
discuss the strengthening of regional cooperation in maritime safety
in the framework of the HELCOM Maritime Group in line with the Moscow
Ministerial Declaration.
HELCOM 33 welcomed the information provided by the Chair of HELCOM
MARITIME regarding main outcomes and progress of the Group:
*
Preparation of Annex IV MARPOL (Sewage) “special area” designation
(June 2011) and port reception facilities for sewage (PRF)
*
Preparation of a Baltic NOx Emission Control Area (NECA)
application under MARPOL Annex VI within a targeted correspondence
group
*
Ballast Water Management Convention (BWMC) regional implementation
*
Safety of navigation issues including meetings of a newly
established Group of Experts on Safety of Navigation (HELCOM SAFE
NAV).
The 11thmeeting of HELCOME MARITIME will be held from 6 to 8 November
2012 in Denmark.
Designation as NECA
The MARPOL Annex VI regulations provide a legal framework for reducing
NOx emissions from ships. The worldwide Tier II regulations came into
effect on 1 January 2011, requiring that a marine diesel engine
installed on a ship built on or after that date shall achieve a 15-20%
reduction level compared to the previous legislation. More stringent
requirements are possible if a sea area is designated as a NOx
Emission Control Area (NECA), requiring ships built on or after 1
January 2016 operating in a NECA to reduce their NOx emission by 80%
(Tier III). A sea area can be designated as a NOx Emission Control
Area upon initiative of the coastal countries. Since the adoption of
the NECA regulations in 2008, only one NOx Emission Control Area has
been designated in the world, in the waters of the US and Canada.
Since 2008 the Baltic Sea countries work on the joint proposal to the
IMO to designate the Baltic Sea as a NOx Emission Control Area (NECA)
under Annex VI of the MARPOL Convention. The NECA Correspondence Group
under the leadership of Finland has been established to make an
overview of the research studies and to prepare a draft for
submission. Since 2008, extensive studies on the effect of shipping
emissions on eutrophication and its harmful effects on human health,
as well as studies on the economic impacts of this measure have been
carried out. Comprehensive analyses were finalised in 2010 to estimate
the NOx emissions from ships operating in the Baltic Sea area and the
impact of the emissions on air quality, ecosystems and human health. A
HELCOM study “Baltic NECA – economic impacts” has been made by the
Centre of Maritime Studies of the University of Turku. The studies
have confirmed that NOx emissions from shipping contribute
significantly to air pollution, have adverse effects on human health,
especially in big coastal cities, and contribute to the eutrophication
of the Baltic Sea. It will take 20-30 years to achieve full
environmental benefits of NECA, and likewise the costs to industry
will be reduced gradually. The Baltic Sea NECA would lead, in the long
run, to the reduction of NOx emissions from ships in the Baltic by
approximately 80% compared to the current estimated level of 357,000
tonnes in 2009. This will contribute to curbing eutrophication one of
the biggest environmental problems of the Baltic Sea.
The HELCOM Moscow Ministerial Meeting 2010 agreed to work towards
submitting, preferably by 2011, a joint proposal by the Baltic Sea
countries to the IMO applying for a NOx Emission Control Area (NECA)
status for the Baltic Sea, taking into account the results of the
study by HELCOM on economic impacts of a Baltic Sea NECA.
The Correspondence group (CG) continued its work throughout 2010 and
2011 with the aim to come to a final decision at the 32nd meeting of
the Helsinki Commission. HELCOM 32/2011 realized that some contracting
parties were not yet ready to take an immediate decision for
submission. Thus, several aspects of the submission should be
delivered to the CG by April 2011. During the HOD 35/2011 the
insertion of a second section on additional investment costs of SCR
was agreed with the aim to take a final decision by HOD 36/2011 in
December 2011.
HOD 36/2011 considered the progress regarding the designation of the
Baltic Sea as a NOx Emission Control Area (NECA). The meeting stated
that the application to IMO to designate the Baltic Sea as a NECA
fulfils in principle the IMO criteria in Appendix III to Annex VI to
MARPOL and thus is ready for a political decision. The findings and
possible recommendations of the Correspondence Group on abatement
technology and related matters should be considered by the HELCOM
Heads of Delegation, including whether to accommodate these in the
submission. HOD 36/2011 agreed that the Correspondence Group shall
continue the work to review the issue of abatement technology and
related matters. Findings should be presented at HELCOM 33 /2012 and a
final decision on the submission to be taken.
At HELCOM 33, the Correspondence group informed that no amendments
apart from editorial corrections had been made to the application to
IMO because the application already fulfils in principle the IMO
criteria in Appendix III to Annex VI to MARPOL, and thus was ready for
a political decision. The meeting decided that there will be two
submissions to IMO, namely the proposal to designate the Baltic Sea as
an ECA for Nitrogen Oxides as well as an overview of available
technology to meet NECA requirements, a document that had been further
developed since the 10th HELCOM MARITIME meeting. The meeting agreed
that both these submissions were complete.
Latvia and Lithuania requested additional time to finalise their
domestic consultations, the Russian Federation commented on cost
efficiency and environmental performance of selective catalytic
reduction (SCR) technology, especially emitted greenhouse gases, in
the course of deoxidized nitrogen oxides (NOx). Poland stressed the
economic side of NECA and the need for economic incentives to address
it.
HELCOM 33/2012 furthermore discussed the timing of submitting the
documents to the IMO as only question remaining, and referred to the
2010 Moscow Ministerial Meeting regarding the Baltic NECA commitment.
As the next meeting of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection
Committee (MEPC 64) will take place from 1 to 5 October 2012 with a
deadline for document submission on 29 June, and MEPC 65 will only
take place in July 2013.Therefore it was decided that a final decision
regarding the submissions should be made at the next meeting of the
Heads of Delegation in June 2012, taking into account the need to
report on fulfilling this BSAP commitment before the HELCOM
Ministerial Meeting 2013, which is expected to be held in the second
half of 2013.
At HOD 37/2012 the NECA CG Chair reconfirmed that benefits exceeding
the cost of installing and operating NECA equipment of designation
were reconfirmed and mentioned recently completed studies. Moreover,
studies showed that the impacts of NECA on freight rates were only
marginal and unlikely to lead to a shift towards land-based
transportation modes.
Russia commented once again on certain drawbacks of the SCR
Technology, like increased CO2 emissions. The meeting emphasised that
the discussions opening up technical content should not affect the
finalised Baltic NECA submission.
Although all contracting parties fully committed themselves to
implement the decisions adopted in the HELCOM Moscow Ministerial
Declaration regarding NECA as well as support the idea of a NOx
Emission Control Area also in other sea areas, in particular in the
North Sea, a decision for the time of submission could not be taken
during the meeting. In detail, the member countries declared their
positions as follows: The majority of the countries are ready to
submit the application as soon as possible. Lithuania is ready to
submit a Baltic NECA application this year 2012. Latvia informed that
they are ready to make a submission for MEPC 65 of July 2013.
The Chairman of the Correspondence Group explained that the two NECA
submissions for the Baltic and the North Sea are separate processes as
countries bordering a sea area should make their regional applications
to the IMO independently. The North Sea countries had just finalised
their studies to be used in developing a NECA application, and the
timeline of the work toward a North Sea NECA was still open. Anyway,
the Russian Federation, Poland and Latvia stated that they preferred
Baltic and North Sea NECA applications to be submitted at the same
time as larger geographic coverage of NECA would bring greater
environmental benefits and have positive impacts on competitiveness.
The meeting invited the North Sea countries to submit the North Sea
NECA application to the same MEPC 65 meeting and asked Sweden, Germany
and Denmark to report on the follow-up on the North Sea NECA within
the HELCOM framework at the next MARITIME meeting from 6 to 8 November
2012 in Denmark.
The meeting pointed out the necessity to submit the NECA application
to the MEPC 65 in July 2013, pending the clarification of study
reservations by Poland and the Russian Federation, and took note that
one contracting Poland will still need to address procedural aspects
and will clarify their study reservation by HELCOM HOD in December
2012. The Russian Federation put a study reservation on its position
concerning the concrete date of the NECA submission to IMO. The
meeting requested Russia to clarify its study reservation by HELCOM
HOD in December 2012.
6.4 MONAS (Monitoring and Assessment Group)
-------------------------------------------
The HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Group (MONAS) assesses trends in
threats to the marine environment, their impacts, the resulting state
of the marine environment and the effectiveness of adopted measures.
MONAS provides information to other HELCOM groups and projects and
aims to ensure that HELCOM’s monitoring programmes are efficiently
used. Further it coordinates and implements monitoring and assessment
activities of HELCOM. MONAS supports the implementation of the BSAP
through technical and scientific support.
The 15th meeting of HELCOM MONAS took place from 4 to 7 October 2011
in Vilnius, Lithuania.
At HOD 36/2011, the secretariat informed about the outcome of MONAS
15/2011, i.e. the indicated development for eutrophication and
hazardous substances, targets for revision of the BSAP and the
country-wise allocation of nutrient loads. Moreover, on-going projects
reports were presented. The meeting approved the organizing roadmap
for revising the country-wise reduction targets and endorsed the
updated HELCOM MONAS work programme for 2012-2014. Furthermore, HELCOM
MORE was agreed by HELCOM HOD 36/2011 (see section 8.7).
At HELCOM 33/2012 the secretariat informed about the actual MONAS
activities as the focus on streamlining the monitoring and assessments
related work of HELCOM with other international requirements, e.g. the
EU MSFD (Marine Strategy Framework Directive). It drew attention on
the HELCOM Joint Advisory Board of the HELCOM CORESET and TARGREV
projects (HELCOM JAB) that aims to ensure that work is properly linked
to and supports the implementation of the EU MSFD (see section 8.12).
HELCOM MONAS has provided guidance related to the finalisation of the
Interim report of the HELCOM CORESET project and continued the
development of core eutrophication indicators.
On 15 and 16 December 2011,a HELCOM expert workshop was held in
Gothenburg, Sweden, with the main aim to discuss principles for HELCOM
assessments, revisit the HELCOM assessment tools, discuss and clarify
the relationships between assessment results from the HELCOM tools and
Water Framework Directive (WFD) assessments, and to plan the
assessment work of HELCOM towards the HELCOM 2013 Ministerial Meeting.
The 16th MONAS meeting was held from 11 to 13 April 2012 in Warsaw.
The meeting has been conveyed to the decisions of the 14th meeting of
HELCOM MONAS and HELCOM HOD 35/2011. It focused on the development of
HELCOM core indicators and associated targets reflecting good
environmental status and on the revision of the provisional Baltic Sea
Action Plan nutrient load reduction figures, as well as issues related
to the monitoring of loads. Related to the HELCOM 2013 Ministerial ,
HELCOM MONAS 16/2012 stated the need to provide to the Ministerial
Meeting an overall status report on the fulfilment of BSAP reduction
targets/core indicator on nutrient inputs, alongside with the
presentation for adoption of the reviewed BSAP maximum allowable
inputs (MAI) and nutrient reduction targets. Also the meeting planned
to finalize the CORESET project’s core indicators and their respective
reports on the HELCOM website for the 2013 Ministerial Meeting
although most of the biodiversity and hazardous substances core
indicators were still very preliminary, with limited data and
monitoring. Thus it is premature to make thematic assessments on
hazardous substances and biodiversity based on the CORESET project
indicators for the Ministerial Meeting.
HOD 37/2012 supported the products planned to be developed by HELCOM
MONAS for the 2013 Ministerial Meeting as follows:
*
The set of core indicators on eutrophication, hazardous substances
and biodiversity with the web-based indicator reports and the
HELCOM CORESET final report,
*
PLC-5.5 report and the core indicator on nutrient inputs,
*
reviewed eutrophication targets, revised maximum allowable
nutrient inputs and country-wise nutrient reduction allocation
scheme with the scientific background report,
*
concise version of a thematic assessment on eutrophication based
on the four updated eutrophication core indicators and their
integration,
*
outcome of the HELCOM MORE project, e.g. revised HELCOM Monitoring
and Assessment Strategy and Strategic monitoring guidelines,
*
consideration of further needs for streamlining and synchronizing
HELCOM reporting and assessments with EU reporting requirements,
*
contribution by environmental economic researchers to the efforts
of combatting eutrophication,
*
updated thematic assessment on climate change in the Baltic Sea
region and its implications on the marine environment and
management.
HOD 37/2012 requested MONAS 17/2012 to investigate common
eutrophication targets with the aim that an agreement on the
science-based eutrophication targets to be used in the further BSAP
review work shall be reached in that same meeting.
The forthcoming 17th MONAS meeting will take place in Gothenburg,
Sweden, from 25 to 28 September 2012 (HELCOM MONAS 17/2012), HELCOM
MONAS 18/2013 will be held in spring 2013 due to the need to review
the products to be prepared by MONAS for the Ministerial Meeting from
22 to 25 April 2013.
6.5 RESPONSE (Response Group)
-----------------------------
The HELCOM RESPONSE group ensures swift national and international
response to maritime pollution accidents. Equipment and routines have
to be on site. The group analyses developments in maritime transport
to investigate possible impacts. It coordinates the aerial
surveillance of maritime shipping routes to provide a complete picture
of pollution and to help identify suspected polluters.
In order to ensure co-operation in case of a pollution incident,
exercises are regularly carried out, one of them being the annual
BALEX DELTA exercise whose main objective is to make sure that every
Contracting Party is able to lead a major response operation. In the
reporting time, a number of response exercises have been organized,
including the annual BALEX DELTA exercise 2011, which was held on 30
and 31August 2011 in Bornholm, Denmark. Although BALEX DELTA 2011 was
carried out in quite heavy wind, the Expert Evaluation Team (EET)
considered the exercise well organized. BALEX DELTA 2012 exercise will
be held in Helsinki on 29 and 30 August 2012, hosted by Finland.
Germany will be hosting BALEX DELTA in 2013.
Coordinated Extended Pollution Control Operation (CEPCO) flights are
arranged annually by HELCOM in the Baltic Sea. SuperCEPCO Baltic Sea
aerial surveillance operation was conducted in Turku, Finland on 29
August - 3 September 2011. At the CEPCO North Flight, organized on 7 -
9 May 2012 only four spills of vegetable oil were detected.
The 14th meeting of the RESPONSE group was held from 13 to 15
September 2011 in Helsinki, Finland. The group followed and discussed
the progress on the Baltic-wide risk assessment of shipping accidents
and pollution (BRISK/BRISK-RU projects, see section 8.4). A work
programme on oiled wildlife response and preparedness for 2011-2014
has been approved by HELCOM RESPONSE 14/2011, including the
organisation of a number of trainings and workshops in cooperation
with Sea Alarm and WWF. The meeting took note of the annual 2010
HELCOM report on illegal discharges observed during aerial
surveillance.
Latvia is holding the two-year chairmanship of the Informal Working
Group on Aerial Surveillance (IWGAS) for the years 2011 and 2012.
IWGAS work is on-going regarding actions that the aircraft crew is
allowed to take to act in case of detected spill and suspected
polluter in other country waters. The last IWGAS meeting took place on
20 and 21 March 2012 in Riga, Latvia.
The ad hoc Expert Working Group on Shoreline Response, dealing with
the implementation of the HELCOM BSAP and approved by HOD 34/2010,
held three meetings in 2011 and developed a draft HELCOM
recommendation “Co-operation in response to spillages of oil and other
harmful substances on the shore” which was approved by HELCOM HOD
36/2011 as HELCOM recommendation 33/2.
HOD 36/2011 also adopted the revised HELCOM recommendation 19/18 on
Reporting on incidents involving harmful substances and emergency
dumping as HELCOM recommendation 33/3.
HELCOM RESPONSE 15/2012 was held in Poland from 18 to 20 April 2012.
HOD 37/2012 agreed on a new HELCOM project on Shoreline Response
Manual to be applied for financing from for the Preparedness Call of the
Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department of the European
Commission (DG ECHO). During HOD 37/2012, the Chairman requested the
contracting parties to consider contributing to the costs of
maintaining and developing HELCOM oil drift tool SeaTrackWeb (STW) on
an annual basis, totalling a sum of around 20.000 €. A contribution
from the HELCOM budget to this sum also was requested. The issue will
be further discussed at HELCOM RESPONSE 16/2012.
The meeting considered and agreed on the development of the extension
stage project of BRISK/BRISK-RU with Finland as the lead partner and
HELCOM involvement, to be applied to the Baltic Sea Region Programme
for financing, in order to further support the contracting parties in
the implementation of the Baltic Sea Action Plan. The meeting welcomed
the successful finalization of BRISK and BRISK-RU projects and
requested HELCOM RESPONSE and MARITIME to consider the results of the
projects with the aim to fill in the identified gaps in response
capabilities and improve safety of navigation in the Baltic Sea.
The forthcoming RESPONSE meeting will be held in Denmark from 20 to 22
November 2012 (HELCOM RESPONSE 16/2012).
Development Marine Port Ust-Luga
The marine port Ust-Luga Area is rapidly expanding, large port
building activities are on-going and the harbour situated in proximity
to Saint Petersburg is expected to reach a turnover of 180 million
tons cargo per year in 2015 thus being the largest port of the Russian
Federation. According to publications in the Russian press, the
newly-erected harbour buildings and terminals are said to be in a bad
condition, mentioning sinkholes and landslides with a depth of 17
meters within the terminal area. In November 2011 this had only been
provisionally repaired.
The development of terminals in Ust-Luga port attracted considerable
attention in several Baltic Sea countries as well as at EU level,
particularly focusing on questions around Environmental Impact
Assessments (EIA) of the oil terminal developments.
At HELCOM RESPONSE 15/2012, the Russian Federation informed with
regard to the response capabilities in the marine port Ust-Luga. The
meeting requested more information on the EIA of the Ust-Luga oil
terminal construction, taking into account recommendation 17/3,
information and consultation with regard to construction of new
installations affecting the Baltic Sea to be provided at the HELCOM
HOD 37/2012.
In the course of HOD 37/2012, a representative of the Maritime
Administration of the Sea Port of Saint Petersburg informed about the
on-going port developments. Russia reported that the developments of
the new terminals were being effected in strict compliance with
Russian national environmental protection legislation and that
international standards and relevant conventions for the safety of
navigation, safety of the life at sea and marine environment
protection would be complied with and were procured by the Maritime
Administration of port under supervision of the Federal Agency of
Maritime and River Transport and the Ministry of Transport of the
Russian Federation. Furthermore, Russia stated to be actually in the
process of acceding to the Espoo Convention. The responsibility of the
response capacity lies within the directive of the terminals’ owner
who contracted a private company to take care of environmental safety.
A voluntary monitoring system to enhance safety of the terminal is
implemented by the oil terminal operator “Stevedoring” himself.
Further development of environmental monitoring is being planned by
the Federal Agency of Maritime and River Transport, which may include
data sensors and satellite surveillance.
The meeting requested the Contracting Party to report on the progress
of such developments as appropriate. Upon question of a HELCOM
observer, Russia stated that there had been no accidents since March
2011. Denmark requested further written information in English on the
environmental impacts of the Ust-Luga port developments based on the
recommendation 17/3, which shall confirm that the Ust-Luga port
developments will not compromise the goals of the HELCOM BSAP.
6.6 Joint HELCOM-VASAB Group
----------------------------
The aim of the joint co-chaired HELCOM-VASAB Working Group on Maritime
Spatial Planning is to ensure cooperation among the Baltic Sea Region
countries for coherent regional maritime spatial planning processes.
Although a lot of work has already been done in the Baltic Sea Region,
great differences between the countries persist. By providing a
platform to discuss links between international agreements, EU legal
instruments and policies as well as Baltic Sea Region and national
policies, the Joint HELCOM-VASAB Group makes sure that a transboundary
dialogue takes place.
The 3rd Joint HELCOM-VASAB Maritime Spatial Planning Working Group met
from 28 to 29 September 2011 in Helsinki, Finland. The meeting
specifically focused on the minimum requirements for maritime spatial
planning (MSP), best practices on MSP, international legislative basis
for MSP and practical application of the ecosystem approach in MSP.
A Joint HELCOM/VASAB, OSPAR and ICES (International Council for the
Exploration of the Sea) workshop took place from 2 to 4 November 2011
in Lisbon, Portugal. The workshop covered a wide range of topics with
the overall objective to demonstrate how HELCOM/VASAB, OSPAR, and ICES
can contribute and cooperate to the development of the process of
ecosystem-based MSP. The participants discussed specific challenges
they experience with regard to the practical implementation of MSP and
the progress within the Plan Bothnia project was presented. The main
focus of the workshop was on playing a simulation game called “MSP
Challenge 2011” with the purpose of providing an almost real life MSP
experience. A joint report of the joint HELCOM/VASAB, OSPAR and ICES
workshop has been elaborated.
The MSP WG has been arranged from 7 to 8 February 2012 in Riga,
Latvia. The Working Group continued the work on the legal requirements
for MSP, the practical application of the ecosystem approach in MSP as
well as the minimum requirements and best practices for MSP. The Group
also started a discussion on data needs and requirements for MSP and
on the relation between MSP and Integrated Coastal Zone Management
(ICZM).
HELCOM 33/2012 noted the outcome of the 4th MSP WG. During HELCOM
33/201, Sweden stressed the importance of efforts achieved and the
showcasing of the Baltic Sea as an example of the development in this
field. The meeting noted the importance of the on-going discussion on
the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework (2014-2020) for the future
work of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region as well as the
European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (2014-2020), in supporting
further work on MSP. Furthermore, the meeting welcomed the progress of
the DG MARE-funded PLAN BOTHNIA Project on testing MSP in the Bothnian
Sea. During the European Maritime Day in May 2012 in Gothenburg, the
PLAN BOTHNIA Project had its final conference. Estonia informed on the
recent finalisation of the BaltSeaPlan Project and on the final report
which contains a number of recommendations regarding the improvement
of MSP and its linkage to land planning work and the resolving of
various conflicts between uses of maritime space.
HOD 37/2012 welcomed the final outcome of the Plan Bothnia Project and
agreed on the suggestions for further HELCOM work raised by the
completed initiative. The meeting further took note of the information
by Sweden on the upcoming Council Conclusions on the EU Strategy for
the Baltic Sea Region where MSP has been also highlighted and that the
Plan Bothnia will feed into their preparations of a national MSP
regulation.
The 5th meeting of the HELCOM-VASAB MSP WG will be arranged on 13 and
14 September 2012 in Helsinki, Finland. The 6th meeting of the Working
Group was tentatively scheduled for 24 and 25 January 2013, to take
place in Riga, Latvia, and the 7th meeting to be held in May 2013.
6.7 MUNI EG (HELCOM ad hoc Expert Group to update and review the
existing information on dumped chemical munitions in the Baltic Sea)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
After World War II, a large amount of chemical munitions was dumped
into the Baltic Sea. For this reason the HELCOM Moscow Ministerial
Meeting 2010 decided to establish an ad hoc HELCOM Expert Group to
update and review existing information on dumped chemical munitions in
the Baltic Sea. The aim of HELCOM MUNI is to compile all kinds of
additional information on dumping activities, to check whether the
general conclusions of the HELCOM CHEMUreport elaborated in 1994 are
still valid and whether all recommendations as set out in this report
are implemented.
The 3rd HELCOM MUNI meeting (HELCOM MUNI 3/2011) took place in Latvia,
Riga from 22 to 24 November 2011. The aim of the meeting was to
discuss the draft of the updated report. The meeting requested
Lithuania and Russia to provide clarifications to their study
reservations concerning recovery of dumped chemical munitions in the
Baltic Sea to the secretariat no later than by the HELCOM HOD 36/2011
meeting and welcomed the information that Finland had lifted its study
reservations.
HELCOM HOD 36/2011 picked up on the issue of the report on dumped
chemical munitions in the Baltic Sea and took note of the revised
structure and timeline for preparation. Denmark declared that it was
no longer willing to collect and compile HELCOM annual reports on
incidents related to dumped chemical munitions. The meeting invited
HELCOM RESPONSE to consider the need for updating the HELCOM Combating
Manual, Volume II with a chapter on precautionary measures related to
possible contamination by chemical warfare agents, once the HELCOM
MUNI Report would be finalised.
The 4th meeting of the group (HELCOM MUNI 4/2012) was held in
Kaliningrad, Russia from 14to 16 May 2012. The main aim of the meeting
was to discuss and finalise the draft chapters of the updated report
on dumped chemical munitions in the Baltic Sea and discuss the further
roadmap. Moreover, the meeting discussed the further roadmap for the
finalization until autumn 2012. MUNI’s work with HELCOM RESPONSE on
the inclusion of precautionary measures related to possible
contamination by chemical warfare agents into HELCOM Combatting
Manual, Volume II was underlined during the meeting.
HELCOM HOD 37/2012 took note of the above outcomes and approved the
arrangement of the final meeting of HELCOM MUNI in Copenhagen,
Denmark, from 22 to 24 October 2012. The meeting also noted the
information by Poland on the corresponding activities within the
flagship project under the EU SBSR led by Poland, on the project
Chemical Munitions Search & Assess(CHEMSEA) as well as about the
Fourth International Dialogue on Underwater Munitions (IDUM) to be
held in Puerto Rico on 1-3 October 2012 and the linkages of this work
to HELCOM MUNI activities.
The Final meeting of MUNI will be held in Copenhagen from 22 to 24
October 2012.
6.8 MORS EG (HELCOM MONAS Expert Group on Monitoring of Radioactive
Substances in the Baltic Sea)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The Moscow Ministerial Meeting in 2010 decided that continuing the
monitoring of radioactive substances in the Baltic Sea is of vital
importance. Therefore the HELCOM MONAS Expert Group on Monitoring of
Radioactive Substances in the Baltic Sea (HELCOM MORS EG) was approved
in December 2010. The Group is based on expertise and knowledge of the
HELCOM MORS Group (since 1986) and will take over the responsibilities
from the HELCOM MORS-PRO Project 2008-2011. The overall objective of
MORS EG is to implement the Helsinki Convention on matters related to
monitoring and assessment of radioactive substances in the Baltic Sea.
MORS EG also supports HELCOM MONAS by annual reporting.
In particular, MORS EG coordinates basic monitoring programmes on
radioactive substances in the Baltic Sea carried out by the
contracting parties. Further it works on the compilation of annual
data on discharges of radioactivity from civil nuclear facilities,
aims to annually update the HELCOM Indicator Fact Sheets on
radioactive substances and keeps the guidelines on the monitoring of
radioactive substances in the Baltic Sea updated. The observation of
trends of export of radio nuclides from the Baltic Sea to the North
Sea also belongs to the responsibilities of the Expert Group.
The Expert Group aims to deliver an update of the radioactivity in the
Baltic Sea assessment with data covering the period up to 2010 as
background information for the 2013 HELCOM Ministerial Meeting.
The second meeting of the Expert Group took place from 22 to 25 May
2012 in Vilnius, Lithuania.
The 17th MONAS meeting took note of MORS’ latest activities. MORS
provided input to the MORE project and updated the annual indicator
fact sheets on radioactivity in sediments, fish and water as well as
on discharges from local nuclear installations. During the reporting
period, a draft core indicator on Caesium-137 on fish and water has
been elaborated. A draft thematic assessment of long-term changes in
radioactivity in the Baltic Sea for 2007-2010 was submitted to HELCOM
MONAS 17/2012.
MORS EG 3/2013 will be held from 7 to 9 May 2013 in Monaco.
7Forums
=======
7.1 AGRI/ENV (Agricultural/Environmental Forum)
-----------------------------------------------
Despite a variety of measures that have already been implemented one
of the largest sources of input of nitrogen and phosphorus into the
Baltic Sea is agriculture. Accordingly, there is a need to continue to
identify agricultural areas that are critical for the nutrient
pollution in the Baltic Sea. Risk assessments of nutrients leaching
from large animal farms are crucial.
Against this background, the Moscow Ministerial Meeting 2010 decided
to establish the Agricultural/Environmental forum which falls under
the responsibility of the HELCOM LAND group. The forum is a platform
for all stakeholders to meet, discuss and jointly take forward actions
and to assess the progress made as well as outstanding difficulties in
reaching targets of the BSAP. Also, the forum aims to facilitate the
coordination of actions implemented within the framework of the EU
Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region with regard to the aims of the
BSAP. The forum will also address the issue of reviewing the status of
existing Baltic Sea Joint Comprehensive Environmental Action Programme
(JCP) agricultural hot spots as well as the designation of new
point-source agricultural hot spots (see section 6.2).
The third meeting of HELCOM Agriculture and Environment Forum (HELCOM
AGRI/ENV 3/2012) was convened on 7 and 8 May 2012 in Warsaw, Poland.
The Forum considered that background documents and policy proposals
for efficient application of buffer zones and wetlands, as well as
nutrient balanced fertilization, including nutrient balances, manure
management and nutrient recycling could be developed as inputs to the
2013 HELCOM Ministerial Meeting. Furthermore, the meeting considered
and discussed projects and reports on the implementation of
agriculture-related measures stemming from the BSAP, including work on
nutrient recycling or the assessment of water quality, as well as the
funding for BSAP-related projects and activities.
Logistical questions pertained to the 4th meeting of the HELCOM
Agriculture and Environment Forum (HELCOM AGRI/ENV 4/2012); nutrient
balanced fertilization, including the issue of nutrient balances,
manure management (including standard manure nutrient content) and
nutrient recycling were identified as preliminary topics.
The meeting also suggested that the next meeting could be arranged on
25 and 26 October 2012 back-to-back with the “A Greener Agriculture
for a Bluer Baltic Sea” Conference in Copenhagen.
7.2 FISH/ENV(Fisheries and Environment Forum)
---------------------------------------------
Since its inception over three years ago, the HELCOM Fisheries and
Environment Forum has acted as a regional platform to discuss and
facilitate information exchange and dialogue on current fisheries and
environment issues between relevant authorities and stakeholders. The
Forum contributes to a cross-sectorial integration of environmental
and fisheries policies in the Baltic.
The seventh Baltic Fisheries/Environmental Forum meeting (HELCOM
FISH/ENV 7/2012) was held in Helsinki, Finland, on 24 and 25 January
2012.
ICES provided the Forum with information on the second joint
ICES/HELCOM Workshop on Flatfish in the Baltic Sea (WKFLABA) that took
place from 19 to 23 March 2012. The meeting made clear that
cooperation with ICES as decided at the previous HELCOM FISH/ENV
meeting has continued. Fields of cooperation are in regard to the
implementation of the good environmental status (GES) as postulated in
the BSAP and the EU MSFD as well as on other activities related to the
protection of the Baltic Sea marine ecosystem and its biological
diversity with a focus on commercial fish. The 32nd meeting of the
Helsinki Commission approved a roadmap towards cooperation between
HELCOM and ECES for the above mentioned fields.
The 7th FISH/ENV meeting requested the contracting parties to submit
the reporting for the recommendation 32-33/1 on the conservation of
Baltic salmon and sea trout populations by the restoration of their
river habitats and management of river fisheries by 1 March 2012.
Another topic was the funding phase II of the SALAR project in 2012
and beyond. The Forum regretted the information by the EU that it will
not be possible to finance the project in 2012 and unlikely in
upcoming years, either, due to increasing requests for project funding
and also having in mind that riverine habitat restoration is not
directly the competence of the EU and that it could be financed by the
upcoming European Maritime and Fisheries Fund instead (see section
8.11 “SALAR”).
Furthermore, the draft indicator-based assessment of coastal fish
community status in the Baltic Sea (2005-2009) was discussed. The
meeting agreed on the tacit approval of the draft Indicator-based
assessment for publication by 1 February 2012, asking the contracting
parties for final input. Previously, HELCOM HOD 36/2011 had agreed on
tacit approval for publication in the Baltic Sea Environment
Proceedings series, depending on whether possible comments by the 7th
meeting of HELCOM FISH/ENV Forum could be integrated into the report
without need for additional approval rounds.
With a view to the BSAP Index of Actions (see section 5), the
contracting parties were invited to provide national reports on
implementation of fisheries-related action of the BSAP in the form of
BSAP Index of Actions available on HELCOM meeting portal by 1 March
2012.
Finally, the meeting agreed to arrange the 8th meeting of the HELCOM
Baltic Fisheries/Environmental Forum (HELCOM FISH/ENV FORUM 8/2012)
during fall 2012.
8Projects
=========
8.1 BALTFIMPA (Managing Fisheries in Baltic Marine Protected Areas)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Marine biological diversity is vitally important for human well-being
since it underpins the wide range of ecosystem services on which life
and sea based livelihoods depend. The impact of fishing on marine
ecosystems mainly concerns the commercially important fish stocks, but
can also affect the benthic invertebrate and fish communities, marine
mammals, seabirds, and the abiotic environment and therefore the
objectives of marine protected areas.
The main objective of the project is to assist the contracting parties
to comply with their obligations to fulfil their conservation
objectives of marine protected areas in the Baltic Sea by managing
fisheries, when applicable, and as requested by the 2007 HELCOM Baltic
Sea Action Plan and the HELCOM Moscow Ministerial Declaration.
At the regional level, the project will deliver:
*
A generic tool to support and guide decision making, which
describes and classifies the effects of different types of fishing
modalities and gear on different types of habitats and protected
species within the marine protected areas in the area of the
Helsinki Convention and lists sustainable/selective fishing gear.
*
Technical assistance to the Marine Protected Areas (MPA) cases
that join the project.
*
Experiences shared and a modality of work or procedure that can be
replicated by HELCOM states in new MPA cases, including in case of
needed transboundary management measures
Each MPA pilot case joining the project shall deliver:
*
A mapping and description of fishing activities within or in the
vicinity of the MPA.
*
An assessment of fishing activities which are in conflict to the
conservation objectives of the MPA.
*
Advice on how to increase the effectiveness of the MPA to deliver
conservation objectives by means of fisheries management and the
use of sustainable/selective fishing gear.
*
An ex-ante assessment of the consequence of interventions or
various fisheries management scenarios in the MPA.
The kick-off meeting of the BALTFIMPA project (HELCOM BALTFIMPA
1/2012) was held in Helsinki, Finland, on 23 and 24 January 2012,
which initiated the one-year inception phase of the project and
considered the project proposal and structure, nominated MPA cases to
the project, and considered the outcomes and activities of the
inception phase.
The 33rd ordinary Helsinki Commission Meeting (HELCOM 33/2012)
welcomed the activities of the inception phase of the BALTFIMPA
Project and agreed on the proposal for a larger scale BALTFIMPA
Project, keeping in mind flexibility to accommodate into possible
future funding sources. The meeting requested the secretariat as well
as the contracting parties to maintain their efforts in identifying
potential funding sources for the larger scale BALTFIMPA Project.
The 37th meeting of the Heads of Delegation (HOD 37/2012) agreed to
make use of the updated description of BALTFIMPA for the development
of the BALTFIMPA project application to LIFE+ and requested the
Steering Committee as well as the secretariat to start working on the
application, including the identification of potential project
partners for submission to LIFE+ by 26 September 2012.
The project is a flagship project under Project Area 2 of the EU
Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region.
8.2 BALTHAZAR (Baltic Hazardous and Agricultural Releases Reduction)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The BALTHAZAR project focuses on reducing agricultural nutrient
loading and the risk of hazardous waste in St. Petersburg, Leningrad
and the Kaliningrad Oblasts. The aim of the project is to tackle
pollution from large farms and hazardous waste collection sites and
management processes.
The first phase of the BALTHAZAR project has been running since
February 2009 and was finalised in June 2012 with the aim to identify
the principal agricultural and hazardous waste pollution sources and
to implement restoring actions. In this first phase, Russian and EU
experts collected information on these two main elements of the
project. Consultants were contracted to carry out the risk assessment
and developed pilot project proposals. Five pilots were thus
successfully finalised by the end of May 2011.
The BALTHAZAR project continued in a second phase with an emphasis on
further pilot projects and joint and complementary actions with other
projects within the HELCOM framework, such as COHIBA, as well as
capacity building in environmental monitoring in cooperation with the
Russian-Swedish RUSNIP project and has been finalised in June 2012.
The goal in this phase was the sampling and analysing of 11 HELCOM
target substances in selected WWTPs as well as in river and coastal
waters and sediments in order to complement the studies of
concentrations in waste site leachates performed in Phase I. The aim
was also to perform some toxicity screening and investigations in
order to contribute with similar information collected in other Baltic
Sea countries during COHIBA. Two pilots have been developed within the
second phase: further development of treatment of mercury-containing
waste in Kaliningrad as well as manure management in both Leningrad
and Kaliningrad Oblast with the aim to prepare manure handling plants
for 6 pilot farms and elaborate suitable best practice solutions.
HOD 36/2011 considered the results achieved in Phase I of the
BALTHAZAR project and acknowledged the importance of the project
activities in the implementation of the HELCOM BSAP in Russia, e.g. by
performing screening activities in order to enable a complete picture
of the whole Baltic Sea region as a complement of the activities in
the COHIBA-project and enhancing the production of environmental data
for HELCOM assessments. The meeting emphasised once more that access
to available data was crucial for the project to achieve the planned
results and urged all data producers in the project to make all data
available within their mandate.
HELCOM 33/2012 welcomed the report on interim results of BALTHAZAR.
HOD 37/2012 welcomed the good output of the BALTHAZAR project that has
been achieved in cooperation with Russian authorities, EU and Russian
experts as well as other stakeholders and related initiatives. These
are amongst others the “Sustainable Manure Management in Animal Farms
in the Leningrad Region”, jointly initiated by NEFCO, NDEP and the
Finnish Ministry of the Environment, and the German-Russian project on
the treatment of Mercury containing waste in Kaliningrad, carried out
within the frame of the Advisory Assistance Programme of the German
Federal Ministry for the Environment and the Federal Environment
Agency. The meeting stressed the importance of a close cooperation
with the Swedish-Russian RUSNIP project, also for the planning of the
up-coming BASE project.
The work in Phase II has in general been completed as reported from
the Project Steering Group (PSG). However, reports are still at
finalisation stage and activities are to be completed in June 2012.
The reports will be finalised by correspondence between the HELCOM
Project Implementation Unit (PIU) and the Russian partner; the
finalised reports will be presented to the HOD.
A final BALTHAZAR Project Steering group meeting (PSG) was held on 8
June 2012 in St Petersburg, Russia.
After finalising the BALTHAZAR project in June 2012, the BASE project
will utilise the experience and results of the BALTHAZAR project as
approved by HOD 33/2010. HELCOM and EU have signed a contract for this
new joint cooperation project comprising a budget of 2.5 million€(see
section 8.2 and 8.3).
Monitoring Activities in the Luga River
During the regular monitoring activities in the Luga River, a sampling
carried out in late November 2011 revealed high loads of phosphorus to
the Baltic Sea downstream from the town of Kingisepp, North-West
Russia, thus emphasizing a potentially significant source. The
BALTHAZAR Project Management requested a second round of sampling to
be carried out in order to have stronger confirmation of the
assumptions. Short information on the second round results were
received on 2 December 2011, followed by some further verification of
the results on high nutrient concentrations on 7 December 2011. The
BALTHAZAR Project Steering Group meeting in January 2012 supported
plans to continue this investigation immediately together with
responsible authorities and other project stakeholders to get an
overall picture of nutrient inputs in the Luga River.
During HELCOM33/2012, MCC EuroChem, Russia, owner of the phosphorite
facility in Kingisepp, informed on the situation in the industrial
area as well as on measures to improve the situation, starting from
further investigation of the source and further on rectifying
potential sources of higher load found in the vicinity of the
industrial area. The meeting stressed the need for continued,
long-term monitoring of the pollution load in cooperation with HELCOM
in quick succession, in order to assess the situation in more detail
and to properly address the source of pollution as soon as possible.
Further it emphasised a need for a more comprehensive investigation in
additional creeks and brooks surrounding the industrial area.
HELCOM LAND noted that the new information and preliminary data on
exceptionally high phosphorous/nutrient loads in Luga River for 2011
and spring 2012 so far showed low concentrations in the Luga River
with only little variation as well as in Verkhovsky brook.
As requested by HELCOM 33/2012, the BALTHAZAR project reported on the
progress and on the sampling activities and submitted a final draft
report on the monitoring activities from the PSG meeting on 8 June
2012 in St Petersburg at HOD37/2012. Also, the Russian delegation gave
information about the activities in the Luga area. Following this
information, the exact source is still unclear. EuroChem stated that
the flow of phosphorus-containing surface waters from their site at
Verkhovsky brook was blocked by building a dam in January 2012.
Additionally, a treatment system consisting of dams, sluice gates,
pumping station, pipeline and a lime treatment facility was
constructed and taken into use on 17 March 2012.EuroChem signed a
Memorandum of Understanding to jointly select and assign an
independent European expert organisation to assess the current
phosphorus treatment system.
8.3 BASE
--------
HELCOM and EU have signed a contract for a new joint cooperation
project – the BASE-PROJECT - with funding from EU utilising the
experience and results of the activities by the BALTHAZAR-Project
(Phases I and II). The project activities are planned to start after
finalization of BALTHAZAR, in June 2012, with a budget of 2.5
million€.
The new project will go beyond the existing cooperation topics within
BALTHAZAR and will address three priority areas of the HELCOM BSAP:
eutrophication, hazardous substances, and biodiversity and nature
protection, as well as monitoring activities to support and measure
the implementation progress within the above-mentioned segments.
According to the broadened scope with new activity it was considered
necessary to implement efficient and practical project procedures
through a PSG. At HOD 37/2012, the Terms of Reference of the BASE
Project Steering Group have been determined. The activities will give
a good opportunity to harmonize methods for assessments throughout the
Baltic Sea region and implementations of pilot activities in Russia,
taking into account both Russian and EU best practices and
requirements. This will be ensured by the involvement of both EU and
Russian expertise in the different tasks. The progress of activities
will be regularly reported to the PSG and the HELCOM Heads of
Delegation for follow-up and to ensure the relevance of the planned
activities to both the related HELCOM work and programmes in Russia.
The activities will also be presented to several HELCOM working groups
as to HELCOM MONAS, HELCOM LAND and HELCOM HABITAT in order to ensure
coordination and consistency with HELCOM expert work at regional
level.
HOD 37/2012 also agreed that especially for biodiversity some specific
activities have already been considered and should be further
elaborated, such as support for the Curonian Spit National Park
administration. Further the recommendations of the SALAR project and
the HELCOM BSAP should be promoted to make sure they are taken into
consideration at the development of a salmon management plan for
salmonid rivers in the North-West Russia. Finally the participation of
Russian partners in the development of core set biodiversity and
hazardous substances indicators should be enhanced.
8.4 BRISK/BRISK-RU (Sub-regional risk of spill of oil and hazardous
substances in the Baltic Sea)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The BRISK/BRISK-RU project is of special significance as the Baltic
Sea is one of the most heavily trafficked seas in the world,
accounting for around 9% of the total cargo and 11% of the oil
transportation in world traffic. There are about 2,000 ships in the
Baltic marine area at any given moment. Each year around 120-140
shipping accidents are happening there and in 2010 18 per cent more
ship accidents were reported in 2010 compared to 2009 in the Baltic
Sea.
The BRISK Project aims at improving the preparedness of the Baltic Sea
countries to respond to major spills of oil and hazardous substances
caused by shipping activities. The project has been running for three
years starting in 2009 until 2012. On 8 December 2011, the final
Conference of BRISK/BRISK-RU took place in Helsinki. As a flagship
project of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region it is co-financed
by the EU within the Baltic Sea Programme 2007-2013. BRISK-RU ensures
the participation of the Russian Federation in the joint
implementation of the BSAP and is funded by the Nordic Council of
Ministers. Both projects have the same partners and are conducted
within the framework of the HELCOM RESPONSE group to implement the
national commitments under the BSAP.
The first project phase has been dedicated to assess the risk and main
reasons of pollution caused by shipping activities. The second phase
verified the sufficiency of existing response capacities in order to
manage oil and hazardous substances spills. The projects also
identified possible ways to reduce the risk of spills including their
impact and damage of the environment. Major results of the Baltic-wide
risk assessment of pollution by oil and hazardous substances were
presented at a seminar on 18 May 2011 in Sopot, Poland, back-to-back
with the European Maritime Day (19 and 20 May 2011, Gdansk).
HOD 36/2011 re-iterated the importance of the BRISK/BRISK-RU Projects
for improving response capabilities in the Baltic Sea. Sweden reported
that a substantial risk reduction was already achieved and new risk
control measures should be incorporated, such as traffic separation
schemes. The European Union informed on developments of a new EU
regulation on offshore activities, including liability in relation to
safety and environmental aspects of offshore exploration and
production in EU marine waters.
A final report of the HELCOM BRISK and BRISK-RU projects was presented
at HOD37/2012. The report comprises model results for risk of spills
of oil and hazardous substances, suggestions for investment plans for
each sub-region and an overview of the existing bilateral and
trilateral agreements for joint response actions across national
borders that have been signed during the course of the project.
The project reveals amongst other aspects that the risk for spilled
oil, oil on the coast and environmental damage is determined for each
sub-region. Sub-regional meetings were organized by the countries to
discuss the results from the sub-regional perspective; sub-regional
working groups thus developed investment plans as well as the
following recommendations:
*
Vessel traffic systems for the entire tanker route between Skaw
and Primorsk/Ust Luga,
*
the Development and deployment of devices for increased visibility
during night,
*
the Traffic & Scheduling System (TSS) in Kattegat is expected to
have a positive and cost-efficient effect on the navigational
safety,
*
general measures like double hull for small tanker and for bunker
tanks in new vessels will help to decrease spills,
*
increased recovery capacity in ice conditions for the Gulf of
Bothnia,
*
Increase their capacities in shallow water areas.
As per information by Finland at HELCOM RESPONSE 15/2012 and agreed on
HOD37/2012, BRISK/BRISK-RU projects will be handled on extension stage
with Finland as the lead partner and HELCOM involvement. The project
is to be applied to the Baltic Sea Region Programme for financing. The
extension stage of BRISK/BRISK-RU will have a focus on investments
whereas no new risk assessment activities are envisaged.
8.5 COHIBA (Control of hazardous Substances in the Baltic Sea Regions)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Control of Hazardous Substances in the Baltic Sea Regions (COHIBA)
project had the overall goal to support the Baltic Sea countries in
jointly implementing the Baltic Sea Action Plan with regard to
hazardous substances. The project had been tasked with collecting
initial data sets to determine the current levels of toxicity, their
source on a country-to-country basis, and additionally to formulate
policy recommendations based on the findings to be implemented on a
cross-national basis.
The project began in 2009 and was officially finalised on 25 January
2012, while the work on final progress and financial reporting was
completed on 25 April 2012. The final report was published in June
2012
The project has been a flagship project under Priority Area 3 of the
EU Strategy for BSR and was carried out under the co-funding approved
in the 2007-2013 EU’s Baltic Sea Region Programme.
COHIBA identified the most important sources and a released pattern of
11 selected largely unknown hazardous substances as being of specific
concern to the Baltic Sea and has defined limits that should be
implemented on effluents discharged. Based on these raw data, COHIBA
also provides input to the development of national implementation
programmes, serving also the requirements under the EU Water Framework
Directive and also provides input to the HELCOM integrated assessments
on hazardous substances as a basis for decision making. COHIBA also
delivered information on the development of cost-efficient measures to
minimise pollution
The 36th meeting of HELCOM Heads of Delegation discussed the
integration of the project outcomes into the process of implementation
of the Hazardous Substances Segment of the HELCOM BSAP, including the
list of deliverables. Sweden stressed the importance of the outcomes
of the COHIBA Project for implementation of the Hazardous substances
segment of the HELCOM BSAP and as well as for other frameworks, e.g.
the Priority Area 3 of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, and
specifically the need to support the regional network of experts
created by the COHIBA Project with wide and valuable competence in
hazardous substances.
The 33rd meeting of the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM 33/2012) took note
of the draft Final Summary Report of the COHIBA Project and welcomed
that results of the COHIBA Project will be disseminated to relevant
HELCOM working groups, as well as to a broader audience, i.e. within
the cluster collaboration initiative with other relevant environmental
projects co-funded by the EU BSR Programme 2007-2013.
At the 17th LAND meeting from 9 to 11 May 2012, the draft Final
Summary Report of the Project was presented and discussed. The focus
was on the findings and conclusions for HELCOM LAND as well as for the
2013 Ministerial Meeting.
The Project seeks for continuation of its activities in the form of
extension, addressing specific potential investment proposals, as well
as through a proposed environmental cluster initiative within the EU
BSR Programme 2007-2013.
The HOD 37/2012 welcomed the Final Summary COHIBA report.
8.6 FISH-PRO (Expert network on monitoring and protecting of coastal
fish and lamprey species)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
This project is the continuation of the HELCOM Project “Expert network
on monitoring and protecting of coastal fish and lamprey species
(HELCOM FISH Project)”, which ran from 2008-2010.
The expert network coordinates and develops the coastal fish
monitoring and assessment component of the COMBINE Programme. It works
mainly by correspondence and has one meeting per year. The expert
network aims at further developing a harmonised monitoring programme
for coastal fish, which also takes into account national and other
international programmes.
The experts are developing indicators and reference values, have
developed an indicator fact sheet on temporal changes in coastal fish
communities, and have updated the coastal fish monitoring guidelines
in the COMBINE manual. The latter work uses experiences related to
monitoring programmes under the EU Directives.
In 2006, the experts produced an assessment of coastal fish in the
Baltic Sea. The draft indicator-based assessment of coastal fish
community status in the Baltic Sea (2005-2009) was presented at the 7th
Baltic Fisheries/Environmental Forum meeting in Helsinki, Finland, on
24 and 25 January 2012.
The HELCOM FISH-PRO project has contributed to the revision of the
HELCOM Red List of threatened and declining species of lampreys and
fish as well as the biodiversity expert work of the HELCOM CORESET
project on the development of core indicators and GES targets. It will
investigate further possibilities to develop recommendations for
policy measures aiming at the improvement of the state of coastal fish
communities representing an important share in commercial fisheries in
some countries, as well as to further address impacts of seals and
cormorants in the future work of the project.
8.7 MORE (HELCOM monitoring programmes)
---------------------------------------
The 35th meeting of the Heads of Delegation (HOD 35/2011) agreed after
long discussion on the establishment of a separate project for the
revision of HELCOM monitoring programmes (HELCOM MORE). The project
intends to develop guidelines for an optimised, scientifically based
and cost-efficient joint HELCOM monitoring programme which provides
the necessary data for HELCOM’s Baltic-wide indicator-based assessment
activities. The importance of such an initiative due to the
requirements of global agreements, BSAP and European Policies was
mentioned at the 32nd meeting of the Helsinki Commission and HOD
35/2011. MORE should furthermore encourage the cooperation between
HELCOM and OSPAR (North-East Atlantic) and establish guidelines for
monitoring. With regard to the comments and a study reservation made
by Denmark the meeting agreed to take the final decision about the
project intersessionally.
HELCOM HOD 36/2011 agreed to execute the HELCOM MORE project and
welcomed the start of the HELCOM monitoring revision as soon as
possible.
The first meeting of the project, the HELCOM MORE Planning Workshop,
was held on 15 February 2012 in Gothenburg, Sweden. The meeting was
attended by all the contracting parties except the EC, Lithuania and
Russia and by an observer from ICES. The workshop carried out a
brainstorming session on the monitoring revision, discussed the
deliverables of the project and agreed on the preliminary time line of
the project as described in the attached outcome of the workshop.
The second workshop on 28 and 29 May 2012 (HELCOM MORE 2/2012) in
Helsinki agreed to work out an overview of the current monitoring in
the Baltic Sea, review of the HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment
Strategy and development of Strategic Guidelines.
8.8 PLC-5/5.5/6 (HELCOM pollution load compilation)
---------------------------------------------------
The HELCOM BSAP has the overall objective of reaching a Baltic Sea in
good environmental status by 2021 by addressing the issues of
eutrophication, hazardous substance, biodiversity and maritime
activities. As concerns reducing eutrophication and hence water and
airborne loads of nutrients, this can only be done if the sources and
magnitude of nutrient pollution are known. High quality, complete and
consistent HELCOM Pollution Load Compilation (PLC) data ensures that
progress of the HELCOM countries in reaching their BSAP nutrient
reduction targets can be followed.
The 36th meeting of HELCOM Heads of Delegation (HELCOM HOD 36/2011)
approved the project proposal for updating the Fifth Baltic Sea
Pollution Load Compilation for the 2013 HELCOM Ministerial Meeting
(HELCOM PLC-5.5).
HELCOM 33/2012 urged all Contracting States to provide their missing
PLCwater data for 2009 and 2010 as soon as possible but no later than
12 March, enabling the quick start-up of the new project.
The first Project Group meeting of the project “Review of Fifth Baltic
Sea Pollution Load Compilation for 2013 HELCOM Ministerial Meeting”
(HELCOM PLC-5.5 1/2012) was held on 2 and 3 May 2012 in Helsinki,
Finland. The main purpose of the project meeting was to consider the
status of PLC data reporting for 2009 and 2010 data and to discuss the
contents, including possible additional data needs, of the PLC-5.5
report, and how the PLC project group should be involved in
elaborating the report.
The HOD 37/2012 adopted the finalised PLC-5 Executive Summary and
agreed on its publication in the Baltic Sea Environment Proceedings
Series. Furthermore, the meeting considered the project proposal for
PLC-6, the overall task of which it is to prepare a comprehensive
assessment of the water- and airborne inputs and their sources to the
Baltic Sea during the period 1994-2014 with more detailed assessment
for 2014 by updating the 5th Pollution Load Compilation (PLC-5) and
the updated PLC report submitted to the 2013 HELCOM Ministerial
Meeting (PLC-5.5), including information on nutrient inputs via air
and water as well as their sources.
8.9 PURE (Project on Urban Reduction of Eutrophication)
-------------------------------------------------------
Municipalities play a key role in improving the state of the sea and
the possibilities of cutting down nutrient loading. So the main aim of
the Project on Urban Reduction of Eutrophication (PURE) is to prepare
and implement concrete, voluntary investments in municipalities in
order to reduce the phosphorus load to the Baltic Sea by 300-500 tons.
PURE was implemented in 2010 and will go on until 2012 under the
HELCOM LAND group. PURE is one of the flagship projects of the EU
Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and partly financed by the European
Regional Development Fund, the Baltic Sea Region Programme and the
European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument of the European
Union.
The project supports selected wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) by
transnational cooperation to reach a phosphorous content of 0.5 mg/l
in treated municipal wastewaters as stipulated in HELCOM
recommendation 28E/5. PURE maps existing good practices and develops
solutions for sustainable and effective sludge handling and phosphorus
recycling as phosphorus removed from the wastewaters stays in the
wastewater sludge.
In its initial phase, the project concentrated on technical audit
studies and phosphorus removal activities. Furthermore, a pilot
investment at Rīga Daugavgriva WWTP was implemented and a new database
for municipal water utilities for monitoring local level performance
and technology used in the Baltic Sea region was completed.
As confirmed in HOD36/2012 the contracting parties were invited to
name possible water utilities nominations to the HELCOM Green Baltic
Spots List. In cooperation with HELCOM, PURE is developing a concept
of a “green list” of water utilities that implements the best
practices in wastewater treatment as an incentive to environmentally
sound local actors serving to the HELCOM Green Baltic Spots List (see
also section 5.2).
During 2011 the project investments were progressing in different
phases of preparing, tendering and delivering of equipment. A
sustainable sludge management publication was started in February 2011
and has been carried out throughout the year. Also, a PURE Workshop on
Sustainable Sludge Handling was hosted by the project partner in
Lübeck on 7and8 September 2011, where political and economic aspects
affecting the sludge management strategies, as well as practical
technical solutions and future prospects in different circumstances
were presented and discussed.
At HELCOM HOD36/2011 as well as at HOD 37/2012, the overall outputs
and results were presented: Via investments in Riga, Jurmala and Brest
phosphorus loads have been reduced annually by 300-500 tons.
Furthermore, technical audit reports and investment plans for the
partner WWTPs in Brest, Gdansk, Jurmala, Kohtla-Järve and Szczecin had
been elaborated in 2010. A publication of good practices in phosphorus
removal and sustainable sludge handling at municipal WWTPs has been
launched and a compilation of data on waste water treatment level,
technologies and related nutrient inputs in the region for the use of
municipalities, WWTPs and authorities effected.
Once more, HOD37/2012 encouraged the participation of the contracting
parties in the project activities in order to contribute to the
implementation of the Eutrophication Segment of the HELCOM BSAP.
The Final conference of PURE will be organized on 16and17 October 2012
in Gdansk, Poland.
8.10 Red List
-------------
The HELCOM Red List Project was initiated in 2009 to produce a
comprehensive Red List of Baltic Sea species and to update the Red
Lists of Baltic Sea biotopes and biotope complexes for the HELCOM area
by 2013. The Red Lists are prepared according to the International
Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List criteria for the
following species groups: macrophytes, benthic invertebrates, water
birds, fish and lamprey species and marine mammals.
The BSAP requires the complete biotope classification system for the
Baltic Sea biotopes to be completed by 2011. The HELCOM RED LIST
project is developing the threat assessments which should be finalised
by 2013.
The 36th meeting of HELCOM Heads of Delegation (HOD 36/2011)
reaffirmed previous calls vis-à-vis the Contracting States to ensure
that a sufficient level of participation and data resources for the
project to allow for the delivery of the threat assessment products by
the time of the 2013 Ministerial Meeting. However, the meeting did
take note of the progress report of the HELCOM Red List project and
welcomed the progress made especially in creating checklists of Baltic
Sea macro-species and the provisional red list of Baltic breeding
birds. The meeting also welcomed that funding has been secured from
Sweden (500,000 SEK) and the Nordic Council of Ministers (600,000 DKK)
to support the work of the biotopes team of the HELCOM RED LIST
project, including for travels of national experts to biotope team’s
workshops.
HELCOM 33/2012 welcomed the progress report of the HELCOM Red List
Project and the publishing of the Checklist of Baltic Sea macro
species and the provisional Red list of Baltic Sea breeding birds.
Germany commented on the fact that biotope classification work
concerned updating of an already existing classification system and
that the use of IUCN criteria in the threat assessments of species
potentially resulted in inaccurate categorization of species and the
application of the criteria should be further considered by the next
HELCOM HABITAT meeting.
The 37th meeting of HELCOM Heads of Delegation (HOD 37/2012) welcomed
the Status Report of the HELCOM Red List project and Assessment of
cod. One issue was the finalisation of the aforementioned projects:
Red List of Baltic Breeding Birds, and Checklist of Baltic Sea
Macro-species. Secondly, Denmark, the EU, Finland, Germany, Latvia,
and Poland expressed their reservations regarding the categorisation
of cod as vulnerable. The meeting invited the contracting parties to
provide further input to the secretariat by mid-July 2012 and agreed
to reconsider the issue when the full red lists will be submitted to
the HODs for endorsement.
8.11 SALAR (Project on the state of salmon and sea trout populations
in rivers flowing to the Baltic Sea)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The project “Overview of the state of salmon (Salmo salar) and sea
trout (Salmo trutta) populations in rivers flowing to the Baltic Sea
(SI2.546540)” (HELCOM SALAR) (2010-2011) has been successfully
completed. The project delivered an inventory and classification of
the status of the salmon and sea trout rivers flowing to the Baltic
Sea, and produced a final report (BSEP 126).
This led to the adoption of HELCOM recommendation 32-33/1
“Conservation of Baltic Salmon (Salmo Salar) and Sea Trout (Salmo
Trutta) Populations by the Restoration of their River Habitats and
Management of River Fisheries”, complementing HELCOM recommendation
19/2 “Protection and Improvement of the Wild Salmon (Salmo Salar L.)
Populations in the Baltic Sea Area”.
The 32nd meeting of the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM 32/2011) agreed
that the second phase of the HELCOM SALAR project was needed to
elaborate restoration plans for river waters and habitats as well as
river fisheries management, together with the stakeholders, and asked
the secretariat to prepare a second phase project plan and apply for
funding for its realisation.
Based on the expert opinions, a proposal for the SALAR second phase
project was prepared, which was submitted to DG MARE to consider the
possibility for its financial support in the implementation of the
project.
However, the 33rd ordinary Helsinki Commission Meeting (HELCOM33/2012)
found that it will not be possible to continue financing phase II of
the SALAR Project in 2012 and unlikely in upcoming years from DG MARE
funds and invited the secretariat to investigate further the issue of
possible funding of the proposed phase II of SALAR.
8.12 TAGREV (Review of the ecological targets for eutrophication of
the HELCOM BSAP) and CORESET (Development of HELCOM core set
Indicators)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
TARGREV is a scientific research project dedicated to “The Review of
the ecological targets for eutrophication of the BSAP”. The project
started in June 2010 and delivered its draft final report in November
2011 that is foreseen to be finally adopted at the forthcoming HOD
meeting in autumn 2012. The main aim of the project is to strengthen
the scientific basis of eutrophication status targets of HELCOM and
make proposals for revised targets. The outcome of the project is
planned to be used both for the modelling activities of the review of
the Baltic Sea Action Plan as well as for HELCOM’s eutrophication
assessments.
The HELCOM CORESET project (Development of HELCOM core set indicators)
established a set of candidate indicators for hazardous substances and
biodiversity which will be further developed into a set of core
indicators after that date. The project is flagship project 3.4 of the
EU Strategy for the BSR. The work on the indicators was started by
making a work plan, including gap analysis between the HELCOM
indicators and EU MSFD’s descriptors for Good Environmental Status
(GES) and a plan for harmonising them as soon as possible.
JAB (CORESET/TARGREV Joint Advisory Board)
The CORESET/TARGREV Joint Advisory Board (JAB) is the coordinating
body for both projects that advises and reviews the work of both
projects and ensures that common Baltic Sea region-wide principles
will be applied as far as possible. The JAB functions as an
information exchange platform and includes inter alia the facilitation
of regional cooperation and coordination on the national initial
assessments of the EU. Furthermore, the supervising of the updating of
the HELCOM holistic integration of the indicators within the HELCOM
CORESET project falls under the responsibility of the JAB.
GEAR (Group for Implementation of Ecosystem Approach)
During HELCOM33/2012, the meeting agreed to establish a broadened
HELCOM coordination platform called HELCOM Group for Implementation of
Ecosystem Approach (GEAR). GEAR will incorporate core tasks of the
HELCOM Baltic Sea Implementation Group (BSAP IG) as well as those of
JAB. The newly created group will substitute HELCOM JAB. The
establishment of HELCOM GEAR is considered as a first step in order to
streamline the working structure of HELCOM and to initiate a
modernisation of HELCOM.
A first meeting of HELCOM GEAR was held in place of HELCOM JAB 7/2012
on 4 and 5 June 2012 in Berlin, Germany.
Project Development
The 5th meeting of HELCOM JAB held on 16 and 17 November 2011
emphasised the scientific expert advice nature of the report and
stressed the importance for the Baltic Nest Institute to initiate the
modelling of the preliminary maximum allowable inputs based on the
outcome of the TARGREV final draft report.
At HOD36/2011, the outcomes of the 4th and 5th JAB meetings, held on 4
October 2011 in Vilnius, Lithuania, and on 16 and 17 November 2011 in
Helsinki, Finland, respectively were presented. Also, the question of
a different structure of the JAB had been raised and the secretariat
stated that it will draw up a roadmap on such a group as proposed
could work. The meeting pointed out the importance of the finalisation
of the report of the project and invited the project to revise the
final report for the submission to HELCOM JAB 6/2012 and agreed to
consider the publishing of the revised report during HELCOM 33/2012.
The meeting of the Heads of Delegation HOD37/2012 in principle
approved the presented final report of the HELCOM TARGREV project for
publication with some additions concerning missing data and
regionalization of the targets. The report is aimed to serve as the
main supporting document in the review of the eutrophication status
targets which is the first step in the review of the BSAP nutrient
load reduction scheme.
Further sub-regionalisation of the targets has been discussed and the
secretariat informed that the TARGREV project will carry out the
regionalization according to the “HELCOM HOLAS” open sea sub-units.
Further information will be presented to the 13 September 2012 CORE
EUTRO workshop.
HELCOM HOD36/2011 approved for publishing in the Baltic Sea
Environment Proceedings the CORESET interim report “The development of
a set of core indicators”. The Interim Report includes the selection
of core indicators and descriptions of preliminary indicators
identified in the expert working groups.
CORESET held four expert workshops on biodiversity indicators and four
on hazardous substances indicators by January 2012. In 2012, the
biodiversity expert group of the project will focus on team meetings
developing core indicators for marine mammals, seabirds, fish, benthic
habitats and associated communities and pelagic habitats and
associated communities. The expert group for hazardous substances and
their effects will focus its work on the computing of core indicators
and publishing first reports on the HELCOM web site. CORESET aims at
delivering the core indicator web page with indicator reports as well
as the final report by the 2013 HELCOM Ministerial Meeting.
8.13 ZEN QAI (HELCOM Project Quality Assurance and Integration of
Zooplankton Monitoring in the Baltic Sea)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Upon the recommendation of MONAS 14/2011, HOD 35/2011 approved the
project for Quality Assurance and Integration of Zooplankton
Monitoring in the Baltic Sea (HELCOM ZEN QAI) for the period
2011-2013. The overarching aim of the project is to ensure and
maintain high quality standard of the international Baltic regional
zooplankton monitoring within the HELCOM COMBINE Programme and to
assure data comparability and their effective usage. This will be
achieved by organizing training courses/workshops; revising and
updating the COMBINE manual; maintaining intercalibrations; updating
taxonomic lists; evaluating applicability of zooplankton-based indices
as environmental indicators; and revising recommendations for
zooplankton biomass assessment.
The 36th HOD welcomed the progress of work of ZEN QAI that contributed
to the activities of the HELCOM CORESET project by developing two
proposed core indicators on zooplankton.
Further workshops with the aim to present and consider the results
from the 2007 ring test; prepare the final report and evaluate data
availability for development of zooplankton-based indicators for
HELCOM CORESET activities are on-going.
Sylvia Bretschneider Christina Gestrin
President of the Parliament of Finland
Parliament of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
9Annex
======
10Glossary
==========
AIS Automatic Identification System
BALTHAZAR Baltic Hazardous and Agricultural Releases Reduction project
BALTFIMPA Managing fisheries in Baltic marine protected areas
BRISK/BRISK-RU Sub-regional risk of spill of oil and hazardous
substances in the Baltic Sea project
BSAP Baltic Sea Action Plan
BSPC Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference
BWMC Ballast Water Management Convention
CCB Coalition Clean Baltic
CEPCO Coordinated Extended Pollution Control Operation
CG Correspondence Group
COHIBA Control of hazardous Substances in the Baltic Sea region
project
CORESET Development of HELCOM core set Indicators project
DG ECHO Directorate-General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection
department of the European Commission
DG MARE Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the
European Commission
EIA Environmental Impact Assessment
EMSA European Maritime Safety Agency
ESPO European Sea Pro Organisation
EU MSFD EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive
EU SBSR EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region
GEAR Group for Implementation of the Ecosystem Approach
GES Strategic Coordination Group or the Working Group on Good
Environmental Status (EU)
HABITAT Nature Protection and Biodiversity Group
HOD Heads of Delegation
IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency
ICES International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
ICZM Integrated Coastal Zone Management
IDUM International Dialogue on Underwater Munitions
IMO International Maritime Organization
IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature
IWGAS Informal Working Group on Aerial Surveillance
JCP Baltic Sea Joint Comprehensive Environmental Action Programme
LIFE+ EU Financial Instrument for the Environment
LAND Land-based pollution group
MAI Maximum Allowable Inputs
MARITIME Maritime group
MARPOL International Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution
from Ships
MEPC Marine Environment Protection Committee of the IMO
MONAS Monitoring and Assessment Group
MORS Monitoring of radioactive substances in the Baltic Sea project
MSFD Maritime Strategy Framework Directive
MSP Maritime Spatial Planning
MUNI EG Ad Hoc expert Group on dumped chemical munitions project
MPA Marine Protected Area
NECA NOx Emission Control Area
NEFCO Nordic Environment Finance Corporation
NIB Nordic Investment Bank
NIP National Implementation Plan
OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the marine Environment of the
North-East Atlantic
PIU Project Implementation Unit
PLC Pollution Load Compilation project
PRF Port reception facility
PSG Project Steering Group
PURE Project on Urban reduction of eutrophication
RESPONSE Response group
SALAR Project on the state of salmon and sea trout populations in
riversflowing to the Baltic Sea
SCR Selective Catalytic Reduction
SYKE Finnish Environment Institute
TARGREV Review of the ecological targets for eutrophication of the
HELCOM BSAP project
TSS Traffic and Scheduling System
VASAB Vision and Strategies around the Baltic Sea
WDF Water Framework Directive
WWF World Wildlife Fund
WWTP Wastewater treatment plant
11Table of Contents
===================
1 Introduction 1
2 Cooperation between BSPC and HELCOM 3
3 Programme of the Danish Chairmanship 3
4 Participation at events/conferences/forums 4
5 Implementation of the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) 6
5.1 National Implementation Plans (NIPs) 6
5.2 Baltic Sea Action Plan Fund 7
6 Groups/Working Groups 7
6.1 HABITAT (Nature Protection and Biodiversity Group) 7
6.2 LAND (Land-based Pollution Group) 8
HELCOM “Hot Spots” under the JCP 9
Green Baltic Spots 9
6.3 MARITIME (Maritime Group) 10
Designation as NECA 12
6.4 MONAS (Monitoring and Assessment Group) 14
6.5 RESPONSE (Response Group) 16
Development Marine Port Ust-Luga 18
6.6 Joint HELCOM-VASAB Group 19
6.7 MUNI EG (HELCOM ad hoc Expert Group to update and review the
existing information on dumped chemical munitions in the Baltic Sea)
20
6.8 MORS EG (HELCOM MONAS Expert Group on Monitoring of Radioactive
Substances in the Baltic Sea) 21
7 Forums 22
7.1 AGRI/ENV (Agricultural/Environmental Forum) 22
7.2 FISH/ENV(Fisheries and Environment Forum) 23
8 Projects 24
8.1 BALTFIMPA (Managing Fisheries in Baltic Marine Protected Areas) 24
8.2 BALTHAZAR (Baltic Hazardous and Agricultural Releases Reduction)
25
Monitoring Activities in the Luga River 26
8.3 BASE 27
8.4 BRISK/BRISK-RU (Sub-regional risk of spill of oil and hazardous
substances in the Baltic Sea) 28
8.5 COHIBA (Control of hazardous Substances in the Baltic Sea Regions)
30
8.6 FISH-PRO (Expert network on monitoring and protecting of coastal
fish and lamprey species) 31
8.7 MORE (HELCOM monitoring programmes) 31
8.8 PLC-5/5.5/6 (HELCOM pollution load compilation) 32
8.9 PURE (Project on Urban Reduction of Eutrophication) 33
8.10 Red List 34
8.11 SALAR (Project on the state of salmon and sea trout populations
in rivers flowing to the Baltic Sea) 35
8.12 TAGREV (Review of the ecological targets for eutrophication of
the HELCOM BSAP) and CORESET (Development of HELCOM core set
Indicators) 36
JAB (CORESET/TARGREV Joint Advisory Board) 36
GEAR (Group for Implementation of Ecosystem Approach) 36
Project Development 36
8.13 ZEN QAI (HELCOM Project Quality Assurance and Integration of
Zooplankton Monitoring in the Baltic Sea) 37
9 Annex 39
10 Glossary 46
11 Table of Contents 48
1Glossary and Table of contents at the end of the report, page 44 and
46