BSPC-StC-Nov-2024

HELCOM UpdateRüdiger StrempelBaltic Sea Parliamentary ConferenceStanding Committee MeetingTallinn, 4 November 2024Catchment area:4x area of the seaPopulation (catchment):85 millionBusy waterway: on average ~1500 ships a dayUnique but young andfragile ecosystemThe Baltic SeaMultitude of pressuresaffecting the BalticHELCOMstructureHELCOM tools:how we get things doneThe HelsinkiConventionInstrument of int. law,containingobjectives &obligations.Annexes: technicalguidelines andregulations.Recommendationson measures to addressareas of concern,implementable throughnational legislation. Intotal, about 260recommendations havebeen adopted so far.Action plans & projectsContain actions andmeasures with such asBaltic Sea Action Plan,Regional Action Plan onMarine Litter, and mostHELCOM projects.Monitoring &assessments•Indicators(pressures on andstate of theenvironment)•Thematicassessments•Holistic assessmentsThe HELCOM vision“A healthy Baltic Sea environment with diverse biologicalcomponents functioning in balance, resulting in a goodecological status and supporting a wide range ofsustainable economic and social activities.”HELCOM carries out holistic assessmentsevery six years to follow up on how well themeasures are functioning .The third HELCOM holistic assessment(HOLAS 3) focuses on the years 2016 -2021 .The State of the Baltic Sea (October, 2023) issynthesis report based on a wide range ofassessment products produced within HOLAS 3. State of the Baltic Sea 2023Third HELCOM holistic assessment 2016 -2021 (HOLAS)HOLAS 3: Little improvement in the state of the Baltic SeaThe Baltic Sea is under increasingimpacts from climate change andbiodiversity degradation catalysed byeutrophication, pollution, land useand resource extraction.Little to no improvement ofthe Baltic Sea environmentoccurred during theassessment period.Measures to reduce pressures on theBaltic Sea are working , when they areimplemented, and the agreements inthe updated Baltic Sea Action Planremain highly relevant.The effects of climate change areexpected to increase in the future,increasing the need for measures toenhance ecosystem resilience andmitigate their negative impacts.Transformative changes are neededin all socioeconomic sectorsinteracting with or affecting theBaltic Sea environment. Actions areneeded both to stop current negativetrends and to protect and restoreecosystems.Ecosystem knowledgeand policies for the BalticSea environment havedeveloped substantiallywithin the past six years.Baltic Sea Action Plan (2007, updated 2021)Vision and goals for the 2021 Baltic Sea Action PlanBSAP implementation... individual targetyears for theirimplementation, withthe last actions to beimplemented by 2030at the latest... been assigned to oneor several HELCOMbodies for monitoring,guiding and/orcontributing to theirimplementation... specific criteria bywhich theirachievement will bemeasuredAll 199 BSAP actions have...Implementation trackingProgress :HELCOM Explorer(First reporting of2021 BSAP takingplace in 2025)Effects:—HELCOM monitoring—HELCOM indicators—HELCOM assessmentsRelated processesNutrients:Nutrient recycling andinternal nutrientreserves. Tool: NutrientRecycling StrategyMarine litter: Significantreduction by 2025.Tool: Regional Action Planon Marine LitterUnderwater noise:Addressing effects ofnoise on marine animalspecies. Tool: RegionalAction Plan onUnderwater NoiseLand -sea interaction:Working with river basinmanagement authorities.Tool: Workshop withRBMAsClimate change:Understanding its effectsfor informed policies. Tool:Climate Change FactsheetMaritime spatial planning:applying ecosystem -basedmanagement. Tool: RegionalMSP Roadmap 2021 -2030HOLAS III (2016 -2021)PLC-8 (1995 -2021)Holistic assessment of stateand loads on the Baltic SeaHELCOM Science Agenda:Future science needs fora healthy Baltic SeaSea-basedpressuresHELCOM and IMO•Due to its international nature, ships are mainlyregulated through the IMO•In addition to harmonizing implementation of IMOregulations, HELCOM has been proactive andsuccessful in amending these regulations throughjoint proposals negotiated within HELCOM•Major achievements:•MARPOL Annex IV Baltic Sea special areafor sewage discharges•MARPOL Annex VI Baltic Sea NOx emissioncontrol (NECA) area•The new regulations apply to all shipsentering the Baltic Sea, regardless of theships’ flag stateSelected maritime BSAP actions•MARPOL Annex II cargo tankwashing waters•MARPOL Annex V cargo residues•Nutrient loss from dry bulkfertilizer storage and handling inports•Ballast and biofouling•Sewage from cargo ships•Enforce MARPOL Annex IV special areaand ensure adequate PRF•Grey water and food waste•Roadmap to reduce input from EGCSdischarge waters•Response to pollution•New long -term risk analysis taking intoaccount changes in traffic, fuels, cargoesand new risks such as the “shadow fleet→ Improved preparedness and responsecapacity•Submerged munitions and wrecks•Submerged Assessment – WarfareMaterials in the Baltic Sea (published)•Submerged Assessment – Wrecks in theBaltic Sea (under development)•MUNIMAP , MUNI -RISK and MMinE -SwEEPER projects→BAT/BEP for managing munitions Related actions and activitiesFisheries•Developing common understanding description of ecosystem -based fisheries management, foreseeing jointworkshop on the topic with BALTFISH and BSAC•Finalizing Recommendation for BAT/BEP for sustainable aquaculture•Toolbox for by -catch mitigation measures•measures to reduce incidental environmental impacts from fishing including on seabed integrity•Revising Recommendation on salmon protection and conservation measures•Discussing complementary conservation measures for commercially targeted fish species such as herring andcod•Engaging with BSAC request to consider seal interactionsLithuania: 1 July 2024 –30 June 2026Priorities:(1) Strengthening HELCOM's role in the context ofgeopolitical challenges;(2) Seeking a balance between the Blue Economyand environmental protection;(3) Seeking dialogue with the public by involvingthem in decision -makingCurrent Chairmanship : LithuaniaMajor activities and events in 2024•Continued implementation of theBSAP•Preparations for the 4th holistic assessment ofthe Baltic Sea HOLAS 4•Baltic Stakeholder Conference 2024: PROTECTBALTIC, 29 Feb, Helsinki•UN Ocean Decade Conference, 10 -12 April,Barcelona.•Our Ocean Conference, 15 -17 April 2024,Athens•Helsinki Commission meeting , 24 April , Riga•Ministerial Meeting on theBaltic SeaEnvironment, hosted byLatvia ( HELCOM Chair),on 25 April , Riga•HELCOM 50th anniversary celebrations , 25 April ,Riga•Sustainable agriculture for a healthy Baltic Sea ,11 Oct, Helsinki•EUSBSR Annual Forum, 29 -31 Oct, Visby2024 Riga Ministerial Meeting•The focus of the Ministerial Meeting was onthe results of the third holistic assessment(HOLAS 3) of the Baltic Sea, and how these canbe used to strengthen implementation toreach the objectives and goals of Baltic SeaAction Plan (BSAP). •The Meeting reflected on the 50th anniversaryof the signing of the original Convention onthe Protection of the Marine Environment ofthe Baltic Sea Area.•The outcome of the meeting was MinisterialDeclaration of the 2024 Ministerial Meetingon the Baltic Sea Marine EnvironmentComing up in 2025•Baltic Stakeholder Conference 2025:Hazardous substances (online, dateTBD)•Helsinki Commission meeting, March2025, March•UN Ocean Conference, June 2025,Nice•EUSBSR Annual Forum, Oct 2025,GdanskFollow usx.com/HELCOMInfofacebook.com/helcominfolinkedin.com/company/helcominfoinstagram.com/helcominfoyoutube.com/@HELCOMhttps://helcom.fi