HELCOM RECOMMENDATION 10/1

Adopted 14 February 1989, having regard to Article 13, Paragraph b) of the Helsinki Convention

ABNORMAL SITUATIONS IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT

THE COMMISSION,

NOTING with concern the extensive growth of algae in certain areas of the Baltic Sea Area, especially in the Belt Sea and the Kattegat in May and June 1988 which could be symptoms of ecological imbalance,

RECALLING Recommendation 6/14 concerning establishing of a pollution reporting system for pollution incidents,

RECALLING ALSO that the pollution reporting system, inter alia, contains procedures for early warning of pollution threats,

BEING CONVINCED that the procedures for early warning of pollution threats could also be utilized for early warning of abnormal environmental situations,

RECOGNIZING that nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) introduced into the sea contribute to the excessive fertilization and eutrophication of parts of the Baltic Sea Area,

RECOGNIZING ALSO the firm determination to aim at a substantive reduction of nutrients in the order of 50% as soon as possible but not later than 1995 in the "Declaration on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area", adopted on 15 February 1988 in Helsinki by the Ministers responsible for the environmental protection in the Baltic Sea States,

NOTING the general improvements of the Baltic Monitoring Programme for the Third Stage to start in 1989, including fixed sampling depths for primary production measurements,

NOTING, HOWEVER, that sampling based on appropriate vertical and horizontal scanning methods of the water may be required to detect and monitor algal blooms,

DESIRING to protect the economic activities related to marine fish farming and tourism,

RECOMMENDS that the Contracting Parties to the Helsinki Convention should:

a)      utilize the early warning system established according to HELCOM Recommendation 6/14 also for early warning of abnormal environmental situations;

b)      use appropriate methods for detecting and monitoring algal blooms;

c)      consider a special study programme concerning risks to human bathers;

d)    intensify research to improve knowledge on algal blooms,

RECOMMENDS FURTHER that the Contracting Parties should report on their national action taken in accordance with this Recommendation to the meetings of the Committees.