Biodiversity indicators of HELCOM and theirimplementation to the Russian waters of the Baltic

Sea (the Gulf of Finland)

Alexander Antsulevich (SPb State University),Samuli Korpinen (HELCOM Secretariat, Project CORESET)

BSAP of HELCOM

2021GES!!!

The core indicators should measure themarine environment

1. Complex; 2. Equal (similar, widely applicable)

HELCOM CORESET/Samuli Korpinen

What are the core indicators? Project HELCOM - CORESET

HELCOM 2010

The CORESET proposal for HELCOMbiodiversity core indicators

Proposed core indicators14. Population growth rates, abundance and distribution of marine

mammals15. Pregnancy rates of marine mammals16. Nutritional status of seals17. Number of drowned mammals and waterbirds in fishing gears18. White-tailed eagle productivity19. Abundance of waterbirds in the wintering season20. Abundance of waterbirds in the breeding season21. Number of waterbirds being oiled annually22. Abundance of key fish species23. Abundance of fish key functional groups24. Proportion of large fish in the community25. Abundance of sea trout spawners and parr26. Abundance of salmon spawners and smolt27. Zooplankton mean size and total abundance28. State of the soft-bottom macrofauna communities29. Lower depth distribution limit of macrophyte species30. Population structure of long-lived macrozoobenthic species31. Cumulative impact on benthic habitats32. Extent, distribution and condition of benthic biotopes33. Trends in arrival of new non-indigenous species Jürgen Reich

Vyborg

Gogland Isl.

Moshny Isl.Seskar Isl.

Primorsk

Sosnovy Bor

Zelenogorsk

St.-Petersburg

Ust-Luga

Kronshtadt

Beresovy Isl.

Kotka

Haapasaari Isl.

Bolshoy Tyters Isl.

Narva Bay

LugaBay

Not every indicator suitable for the Central Balticis applicable as well to the E part of the Gulf of Finland

EW S %o

R u s s i a

One beach seine catch (N coast of Neva Bay)Proportion of cyprinids (Carassius auratus) and piscivores (Percottus glehnii)

Photo of A.E.AntsulevichAlien!!!

Alien speciesarrivals pertime unit iscore indicator.GES is zero.(Gulf of Finland,Neva Bay)

Percottusglehnii

Proterorhinus marmoratus

Tube-nose goby

Alien species also changes and impacts the biodiversityTenellia adspersa

Eriocheir sinensis

Photos of A.E.Antsulevich

Luga Bay (the Gulf of Finland)

That is whyindicators are needed.

Thank Youfor

attention

Biodiversity indicators should be implemented for environmental assessment

Aboriginal species“Fisherman professional” is declining!

photos of A.E.Antsulevich

underwater habitats

No coast – no coastal fishand coastal vegetation