HELCOM RECOMMENDATION 9/10 

Adopted 17 February 1988, having regard to Article 13, Paragraph b) of the Helsinki Convention

RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING ANTIFOULING PAINTS CONTAINING ORGANOTIN COMPOUNDS 

THE COMMISSION,

RECALLING Article 6 of the Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area, 1974 (Helsinki Convention), in which the Contracting Parties undertake to control and minimize land-based pollution of the marine environment of the Baltic Sea Area, and in particular to control and strictly limit pollution by noxious substances and materials in accordance with Annex II of the Helsinki Convention,

RECALLING ALSO that Annex II of the Helsinki Convention defines organostannic pesticides as noxious substances for the purposes of Article 6 of the Convention,

RECALLING FURTHER Article 8 of the Helsinki Convention, in which the Contracting Parties undertake to abate harmful effects on the marine environment of the Baltic Sea Area arising from pleasure craft activities,

NOTING that the use of organotin compounds, and in particular tributyl tin compounds, as an anti-foulant in paints for use on boats, ships, underwater structures and fish net cages is causing pollution in some inshore areas of the Baltic Sea Area,

NOTING FURTHER the evidence that these compounds have harmful effects on fisheries and marine life,

DESIRING to reduce the amounts of toxic organotin compounds entering the marine environment of the Baltic Sea Area,

RECOMMENDS that the Governments of the Contracting Parties to the Helsinki Convention:

a)         take, as soon as possible, but not later than 1991, effective measures to eliminate such pollution;

b)         include in the measures taken, as a first step, a ban on the retail sale or use of organotin paints for pleasure boats or fish net cages;

c)         consider the need for restrictions on other uses of organotin compounds in anti-fouling paints, for example on sea-going vessels and underwater structures;

RECOMMENDS FURTHER that the Contracting Parties report on measures taken in accordance with this Recommendation, and on organic tin concentrations in the marine environment in areas where organic tin compounds may still be entering the marine environment of the Baltic Sea Area, one year after the adoption of this Recommendation and thereafter every five years.