Introduction to environmental sector within the

CBC: findings of the Baltic Scope project

Anda Ruskule

Jūrmala, 31 May, 2016

Objectives for environment

in MSP

Requirements of the sector

– maintenance of resilient

marine ecosystem and

services it provides

– achievement of good

environmental status (GES)

of marine waters;

Approaches for addressing environment in MSP

– Assessing and improving

coherence MPA network

– Integration of the MSFD

objectives in MSP

– Increasing knowledge and

understanding of interactions

between marine ecosystem

and human activities

Application of ecosystem based

approach

• Latvia:

– 7 MPAs designated, covering 33 % of territorial waters and 1 % in EEZ (in total 15% of

Latvian marine waters)

– claim from EC to designated sufficient area of Natura 2000 sites within EEZ

– 5 investigation areas for potential designation of MPAs proposed by the MSP

• Estonia:

– 45% of Natura 2000 sites are marine areas, however only few offshore sites

– PoM foresees review of the existing MPA network and establish new MPAs in EEZ

– preliminary investigations were carried out and two possible areas are considered as

potential MPAs for protection of reef habitats

• Sweden:

– MPA network includes 1 national park, 42 nature reserve and 315 Natura 2000 areas,

covering 7.7 % of the marine area

– the national goal is set to increase MPA network to10% of all marine areas by 2020

– County Administrative Boards have an important role in designation of MPAs

– one potential N2000 area suggested for protection of the Harbour Porpoise

Coherence of the MPA network in CBC: current situation & development perspectives

Areas proposed for enlargement of MPA

network in Sweden and Latvia:

MPA network in the CBC:

existing and potential protected areas

Implementation of MSFD:

– PoM has strong focuss on three descriptors - alien species (D2), eutrophication (D5)

and marine litter (D10);

– Spatial measures apply for descriptor - biological diversity (D1) including surveys

and assessment of the potential MPAs in Latvian EEZ

Implementation of EBA in MSP:

– link to the GES objectives and indicators established through assessment of possible

impacts of alternative scenarios, SEA process and proposals for monitoring of MSP

implementation

– Spatial impacts assessed in relation to different components of marine ecosystem

and provision of ecosystem services

» Impact matrix developed for assessment of sensitivity of species and habitats

against different sea uses, ensuring precautionary principle and mitigation of

negative impacts

Integration with MSFD objectives and implementation of EBA:current situation & development perspectives- LATVIA

Integration with MSFD objectives:

– the national MSFD processes coordinated with the MSP – both are carried out by

SwAM

– Important coordination topics are MPA development, data management, assessment

of pressures from human activities

– Achievement of GES is included in the Swedish Environmental objectives, which lays

the basis for MSP

Implementation of EBA in MSP:

– Mapping of marine green infrastructure and identification of areas with high

ecological values as an important step to develop the best knowledge and practice

– identification of ecosystem services as part of impact assessment

– a spatial cumulative assessment tool called Symphony to be used in MSP for

understanding the current and future pressures on the marine environment and

implementation of the precaution principle

Integration with MSFD objectives and implementation of EBA:current situation & development perspectives- SWEDEN

Integration with MSFD objectives:

– An integrated marine monitoring programme targeting the reporting

recommendations on MSFD Article 11 has been compiled and relevant indicators of

all descriptors have been established

– The MSFD indicators provide knowledge on the environmental status and indicate

environmental changes attributed to the MSP process as well as can guide the MSP

process in order to achieve effective spatial planning for sustainable development

Implementation of EBA in MSP:

– To date no official document exists that explicitly targets the ecosystem based

approach within the Estonian MSP. However, Estonian Planning Act states that one

of the functions of MSP is to determine the measures required for the protection of

marine environment

– MSP will set criteria and future research that is needed in order to make decisions on

marine use (including licencing) after the adoption of MSP, thus laying basis for

precaution principle

– MSP in Estonia will also include development of alternative scenarios; mitigation to

be ensured through SEA process

Integration with MSFD objectives and implementation of EBA:current situation & development perspectives- ESTONIA

1) Ensuring coherence of the MPA network in the CBC area:

• Mapping of areas of high ecologically value:

– developing a common approach for benthic habitat mapping

– defining common criteria for identification of areas of high ecological value

– collection of the relevant data sets and/or performing of necessary field surveys

• Assessing representativeness of habitat and species coverage within the existing

MPA network

– requires detailed knowledge on species and habitat distribution, which countries at

the moment are lacking

• Assessing connectivity of the existing MPA network within CBC and potential

areas for designation of MPAs:

– Identification of areas for ensuring connectivity - concept of “Blue corridors:

functional interconnection between the sites,

conditions for spreading of species.

identification of potential areas for MPA designations

Future needs &Recommendations for actions:

Standartised map on environmental values

Environmental values and MPA network

2) Increasing knowledge and understanding of interactions between

marine ecosystem and human activities :

• Identification of MSFD descriptors and indicators that can applied

for spatial assessment of impacts within MSP and related SEA and

EIA procedures

– Based on screening of the MSFD indicators in EE, LV and SE the following

descriptors and criteria proposed as the most relevant:

• descriptors biodiversity (D1) – habitat range, habitat quality, ecosystem

structure;

• sea floor integrity (D6) - physical damage and community state

• introduction of energy, including underwater noise (D11) - Distribution

in time and place of loud, low and mid frequency impulsive sounds and

continuous low frequency sound

Guidelines/criteria needed for impact assessment

procedures

Future needs &Recommendations for actions :

2) Increasing knowledge and understanding of interactions between marine ecosystem and

human activities :

• Development of common approaches for assessing collective pressure

of all human activities on marine environment:

– Identification of threats from particular activities to different ecological

features (e.g. habitats, birds, fish, mammals)

– Assessing cumulative pressures from different sea uses at local level;

– Assessing cumulative impacts from trans-boundary perspective taking into

account developments at the different parts of the Baltic Sea and their

overall impact to marine biodiversity

» A need for common/standardised methodology

» analytical tool – Symphony developed by SwAM for assessment of

cumulative effects in MSP could be used as possible example

Future needs &Recommendations for actions:

Example from the Harmony project showing the principle method

Future needs &Recommendations for actions:

2) Increasing knowledge and understanding of interactions between

marine ecosystem and human activities :

• Criteria for applying precautionary principle and setting

limitations/restrictions to sea use activities within the MSP:

general assessment of impacts of particular sea uses can be misleading,

because the actual level of impact would depend on extend of the activity

as well as particular technologies applied

Therefore along with elaboration of methods or tool for assessment of

cumulative pressures, more precise criteria or procedures for application of

the precaution principle shall be developed

Future needs &Recommendations for actions

Thank you!