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”HELCOM achievements and coming challenges – NGO views”-

– International Co-operation for the Baltic Sea Environment: Past, Present and Future, 22 March 2004 Riga, Latvia

Mr Gunnar Norén Executive Secretary toCoalition Clean Baltic

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1970s

- Ban on DDT and PCBs

1980s

- Development of HELCOM recommendations. Mainly for point source pollution (industries, wastewater treatment etc) and Shipping/Combating

- Development of a Baltic environmental monitoring and assessment system

HELCOM’s historical development

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1990s

- Launching the Baltic Sea Joint Comprehensive Environmental Action Programme (1992) A powerful programme for a 20-year period.

- Main activity - investments on Point source pollution but also activities on

- Policies, Laws and Regulations- Institutional Strengthening and Human Resource Development- Management Programmes for Coastal Lagoons and Wetlands- Applied Research- Public Awareness and Environmental Education

- Many successes and concrete actions implemented through the JCP

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Early 1990s – only Commission meeting open for observers

Mid 1990s – Committees and Working Groups opened for observers

2002 – also Heads of Delegation group opened for observers

Now all HELCOM official meetings open for observers

HELCOM can serve as a good example for other International Conventions ( e g OSPAR, IBSFC )

HELCOM achievements on Openness and Transparency

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· great number of Recommendations· problem to get an overview of actions decided on· reporting is lacking · implementation halt -not taken seriously.

Many HELCOM recommendations have not been succesful to solve the environmental problem addressed, e g eutrophication

Effectiveness of many HELCOM recommendations cannot be easily evaluated

Effectiveness of many HELCOM recommendations can be questioned

HELCOM recommendations - experiences

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Critical views – HELCOM recommendations have not solved the eutrophication problem within 30 years

- Prognosis that this instrument, HELCOM recommendations, will solve the problem in the future is low

ExampleEUTROPHICATION OF THE BALTIC SEA

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* Strengthen the enforcement of existing HELCOM recommendations

* Clearly state and describe why Contracting Parties not implemented recommendations

* Critical evaluation needed, use the “Name-Shame-Blame” approach

* Critical evaluation of the instruments used by HELCOM

NGO conclusions

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* HELCOM main focus to develop new HELCOM recommendations should be changed

* HELCOM should have an awaiting attitude to produce new recommendations

* Future focus on Action-oriented measures

* Develop more effective instruments for Baltic environmental protection, such as concrete Action Programmes, incl time-table, resource allocation etc

Action Programmes demand active participation from all countries

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* Ability to effectively address · diffuse sources (PLC-4 : P-diffuse sources 53%; N-diffuse sources 59%)· pollution from “economic sectors” to the Baltic Sea environment

Important future challen-ges for HELCOM

with sectors like Agriculture, Fisheries , Transport

A success for new co-operations is crucial for restoration of the Baltic Sea Environment

* Challenge to find interest and succesful co-operation

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* Ability to focus Helcom work on some “Top Priorities” such as Europhication and Environmental impact of Fisheries

* If rich and developed countries in northern Europe cannot co-operate within sectors and solve its environmental problem, we cannot expect success in other regions

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* Development of concrete HELCOM Action Programmes, incl time-table, resource allocation etc (use experience from JCP) 3 – 5 year action programmes.One top priority must be Baltic Eutrophication

“HELCOM Eutrophication Action Programme”with components, such as

Proposals for future HELCOM actions

1. Agricultural nutrient run-off

- Assessment of Industrial Farms (Big animal farms, one of main sources from agriculture), and development of proposals for requirements

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- Support for non-intensive farming including low agri run-off

- Develop common Baltic views on requirements to cease impact that cause eutrophication from agriculture. Present such proposals for the review of the new CAP ( next review in 2006 )

2. Wastewater from small- and medium-sized municipalities and single family-homes

The aggregated impact of such nutrient load is considerably. In coastal municipalities, 80 % of nutrient load can arise from single family-homes

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- Develop Baltic guidelines/regulations for small- and medium-sized municipalities and single family-homes (sensitive areas close to coastal zones and rivers)

· Use experiences from Baltic region

· New regulations in Finland (2003) – new high standards for wastewater treatment from single family-homes

· Swedish municipalities require 50 % recycling of nutrients in single family-homes outside wastewater collecting system

· Develop requirements on nutrient reductions for settlements < 10 000 pe. Stronger demands than EC Urban Wastewater Directive

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UrintankBefintlig markbädd SlamavskiljareProvtagningsbrunn

Sampling Well

Sealed sand filter bed

Septic tank

Urine tank

Figure. Schematic description of urine diverting system

Figure. Example of a double-flushed urine diverting toilet. Ther are several different models available on the market.

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Environmental Impact of Baltic Fisheries

- Fish are key organisms in aquatic ecosystems “Ecological Key Role of Fish”

- Fisheries constitute the most important human impact on marine ecosystems. No other factor, such as nutrients and toxics, has had more far reaching impacts

- The most serious impact of fisheries is the massive killing of targeted fish species

- Baltic Cod stocks are outside “safe biological limits”

- The scientific advice from ICES on Baltic fish catch quotas is regularily exceeded

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- Half of the Baltic cod populations are killed in fisheries every year. Many of them without a chance to reproduce

- Serious mismanagement of Baltic common fish resources

- Bottom trawling ploughs vast sea-bed areas and harms bottom living species. Intensively trawled areas will be trawled up to four times per year or more

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CONCLUSIONThreats on Baltic marine ecosystem and “Ecological Key Role of Fish” is serious

POSSIBILITIES- New CFP ( December 2002 ) a new basic regulation for EU fisheries, “Regulation on conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources (2371/2002)”

· aims for sustainable use, more long-term resource management

· application of the precautionary approach

· sustainable exploitation, minimising the impacts of fishing on the marine ecosystem,

· progressive implementation of an ecosystem-based approach to management.

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- Bremen declaration HELCOM-OSPAR

- Eco-system based management of the marine environment

HELCOM Action Programme on Environmental Impact of Fisheries

- Environmental ministries focus also on fisheries management (expert resources)

- Negotiations with Fisheries ministries on “Ecosystem-based management of marine resources”

- Development of a common HELCOM position

- Develop system with environmental permits for bottom-trawling, with an EIA as basis

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- Develop marine eco-system management goals

- Cod in viable populations in its natural distribution area, up to Aaland Sea

- Arrange Baltic High-Level meetings on Fisheries – marine resources – management

If environmental sector don’t take on the task – the situation will likely not change

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Protection of wild Baltic Salmon

Wild Baltic salmon is threatened

- 80-85 % of all Baltic salmon are reared and released from fish-farms

- only 15-20 % are naturally spawning salmon

- Most of the Baltic salmon is catched in open-sea fisheries on mixed populations(catching both reared and wild salmon).

Each wild salmon river population represent a unique genetic resource, invaluable for the countries sharing the Baltic Sea

Very severe situation for the wild salmon in the Gulf of Finland

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Improper commercial fishing policies, and extensive artificial salmon stocking programmes threaten the naturally spawning Baltic salmon.

2/3 of all wild Baltic salmon river populations are threatened (26 river populations )

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Actions needed to save naturally spawning Baltic Salmon

- Safeguard all weak wild Baltic salmon river populations, and the genetic diversity

- Maximize production of naturally spawning Baltic salmon - Restrict or phase-out salmon fisheries on mixed salmon populations/wild Baltic salmon

- Limit the extensive artificial salmon stocking programmes that threaten wild Baltic salmon

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Possible HELCOM tasks

Develop clear objectives to safeguard wild Baltic salmon river populations

Develop a HELCOM Action Programme to safeguard wild Baltic salmon river populations

Develop, together with IBSFC, a joint Salmon Action Plan (SAP)

Provide resources - to study and monitor wild salmon river populations- to restore weak wild salmon river populations

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Wild Baltic salmon – a Baltic heritage to be esteemed

Let the wild Baltic salmon become a symbol for a unique and rich Baltic Sea

Baltic Region citizens are obliged to restore all wild Baltic salmon populations.

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New big installations with potential strong impact on Baltic Sea environment

New development – new threats

- New oil-terminals and harbours for hazardous and radioactive material

- Industries for re-processing of radioactive metals

- New big industries – e g Al-plant in Kingisepp area, Russia

- Offshore oil-extraction, e g D 6 oil-field outside Kaliningrad

HELCOM needs to develop actions to balance upcoming threats to Baltic Sea – a sensitive sea area in northern Europe

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HELCOM actions needed:- Guarantee that highest possible environmental standards and safety measures can be secured for new big installations

- To assess and describe planned projects with potential strong environmental impact

- To organise a workshop to discuss new innovative ways to solve problems mentioned above.

- To raise these matters for high-level political discussions within HELCOM (e.g. Ministerial meetings). D 6 oil-field now discussed within HELCOM – a test-case if the Helsinki Convention can be used to mitigate environmental impact of new big installations. A matter of most importance for HELCOM

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Protection of Baltic Sea Coastal Areas

On-going exploitation of coastal land- and sea areas in all Baltic Sea Region countries

- New installations of recreational centers

- New marinas in shallow areas can have strong impact on coastal ecosystems (e.g. breeding and nursing areas for fish species etc.)

- New housing areas in coastal zones

- Private houses in coastal zones

- Harbours, terminals and industries

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Consumption of Baltic Sea coastal zones accelerates

The process is irreversible – lost natural areas/values

Proposals for HELCOM actions:

- Assess the implementation of HELCOM recommendations on coastal zone protection

- Organise a HELCOM workshop that can give advice for development of new requirements to safeguard Baltic coastal natural values

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Alien Aquatic Species and Ballast Water

Threats from alien aquatic species have been discussed within HELCOM for many years.

No concrete measures/recommendations to prevent unintentional introductions have been decided on by HELCOM

- Global Ballast Water Management Programme/IMO has developed advice on step-wise actions for better control of ballast water

- Such actions has been adopted by some sea-areas and many countries

- Unfortunately - NO such actions for better control of ballast water has been adopted in Baltic Sea

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Proposals for HELCOM action:

- Mandatory information on ballast water situation for all ships arriving to all Baltic harbours ( simple fill in of formats from GloBallast Programme)

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Helcom and RussiaEU and Russia

The role of Russia in HELCOM is crucial

- A strong component for environmental protection (Baltic Sea) needed in coming agreement between EU and Russia

- EU-support to Russia, should target fulfilment of HELCOM requirements in Russia

- Provide info to monitoring, PLC, implementation of HELCOM decisions

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CLOSING WORDS

Our role as Watchdog-observer for HELCOM

- critical views on HELCOM work

-contribute with proposals and ideas, for a more efficient and succesful HELCOM

HELCOM is the only governmental body , with main focus on protection of the Baltic Sea environment

- this gives HELCOM a historically extremly important role

- HELCOM must, also for the future, continue to play a very important role for protection of Baltic Sea environment

- If not ?