Helcom : Working Programme

Working programme for the HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Group (HELCOM MONAS), 2009-2011

The main task of HELCOM MONAS is to coordinate and implement the monitoring and assessment activities of HELCOM, including the quality assurance and data related activities following the HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Strategy adopted by HELCOM 26/2005. HELCOM MONAS also has the responsibility to technically and scientifically support the implementation of the Baltic Sea Action Plan and to scrutinize the implementation of the valid HELCOM Recommendations under MONAS.

The tables below outline the main tasks that stem from the HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Strategy, HELCOM Recommendations under HELCOM MONAS and those actions of the Baltic Sea Action Plan which have been addressed by the BSAP Implementation Group (IG) to HELCOM MONAS. The tables also present the deadline for a particular action as far as specified.

List of tables

Table 1. General tasks of HELCOM MONAS

Tasks of HELCOM MONAS related to the Baltic Sea Action Plan:

Table 2. Segment V Development of assessment tools and methodologies

Table 3. Segment VIII Implementation and review of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan

Table 4. Segment I Eutrophication

Table 5. Segment II Hazardous substances

Table 6. Segment III Biodiversity and nature conservation

Table 7. Segment IV Maritime activities

Table 8. Segment VI Awareness raising and capacity building

Table 1. General tasks of HELCOM MONAS

Task	Deadline	Task for HELCOM MONAS	Action by HELCOM MONAS	Product/Reporting
Implementation of the HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Strategy, including the Data and information Strategy of HELCOM	Open ended	To ensure that all activities under HELCOM MONAS are carried out according to the Strategy and support its implementation	Regular follow-up of the implementation in MONAS meetings, with particular focus on development of indicators and HELCOM monitoring programmes	Reporting to HOD
Implementation of Recommendation 26/3 Monitoring of radioactive substances	Open ended	To ensure the implementation of Recommendation 26/3 Monitoring of radioactive substances (see also the task under the BSAP)	Activities within HELCOM MORS-PRO project (see also the task under the BSAP)	Indicator fact sheets kept up to date, thematic assessments / Reporting to HOD
Implementation of Recommendation 26/2 Compilation of waterborne pollution load (PLC Water)	Open ended	To ensure the implementation of Recommendation	Follow-up and contribute to the PLC-5 project, review of annual nutrient load compilations	Indicator fact sheets kept up to date, integrated PLC assessment report to MONAS 12/2009 / Reporting to HOD
Implementation of Recommendation 24/1 Monitoring of airborne pollution load	Open ended	To ensure the implementation of Recommendation	To review and follow-up the work by EMEP in cooperation with PLC on airborne pollution	Indicator fact sheets kept up to date, integrated PLC assessment report to MONAS 12/2009 / Reporting to HOD
Implementation of Recommendation 19/3 concerning the Manual for the Marine Monitoring in the COMBINE programme of HELCOM	Open ended	To ensure the implementation of Recommendation	To keep the manual up-to-date by	Regular updates with necessary reporting to HOD
Implementation of Recommendation 13/1 Disposal of Dredged Spoils	Open ended	To ensure the implementation of Recommendation in cooperation with LAND	Reporting on disposal of dredged material at sea based on 2007 data, report to LAND 14/2008 and MONAS 12/2009
Implementation of Recommendation 12/9 Follow-up studies in connection with major oil spills	Open ended	To ensure the implementation of Recommendation	Coordination by MONAS as needed and reporting to MONAS	Reporting to Head of Delegation/HELCOM
Implementation of Recommendation 12/1 Procedures for granting permits for monitoring and research activities in the territorial waters and exclusive economic zones, fishing zones or continental shelves	Open ended	To ensure the implementation of Recommendation	Report to MONAS in case of abnormalities	Reporting to Head of Delegation/ HELCOM in case of abnormalities?
Implementation of Recommendation 10/1 Abnormal situations in the marine environment	Open ended	To ensure the implementation of Recommendation	Report to MONAS in case of abnormalities	Reporting to Head of Delegation/ HELCOM in case of abnormalities
HELCOM Head of Delegation 11/2003 LD21 decided that the recommendations in the Report on Chemical Munitions Dumped in the Baltic Sea by HELCOM CHEMU are still valid	Open ended	To coordinate future investigations of the chemical processes of warfare agents and their ecological effects	To annually review reports on dumped chemical ammunitions provided by the Lead Party Denmark	Reporting to HELCOM

Table 2. Tasks of HELCOM MONAS related to the Baltic Sea Action Plan, Segment V Development of assessment tools and methodologies

Task/Reference to the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan	Deadline	Task for HELCOM MONAS	Action by HELCOM MONAS	Product/Reporting
HELCOM Recommendation 28E/14 - More reliable estimation and assessment of nutrient load from diffuse sources; - Combine and develop joint catchment models to link the nutrient input with ecosystem modelling on the effects in the marine environment	Open ended	To implement the Rec. by e.g. developing harmonised principles for quantifying losses and inputs from diffuse sources	HELCOM DIFFUSE project established; Application for a project addressing nutrient inputs from diffuse sources	Technical guidelines/ Reporting to the Commission
Development of a common HELCOM eutrophication assessment tool inter alia by promoting the HELCOM Project to elaborate the thematic assessment on eutrophication (EUTRO-PRO)	2008	To develop the indicator-based assessment tool and use it for an assessment of eutrophication of the Baltic Sea	Review of the draft integrated thematic assessment on eutrophication, including an application of the indicator-based assessment tool HEAT	EUTRO-PRO report, including the Indicator-based assessment tool HEAT/ HOD 27/2008, HELCOM 30/2009
Efficient use of analytical tools, such as models to support management decisions, cooperation and and optimisation in the development and use of ecosystem models to optimise limited resources for the scientific community. Lead party: [Germany] Further develop information provision from ecosystem models to develop targets for good ecological status, indicators for assessing ecological status and re-evaluate future allowable nutrient inputs Need for a Lead party: [Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Finland]	Open ended	To enhance the use of models and the work on modelling	HELCOM MONAS 12/2008 to consider ecosystem modelling	Reporting to the Baltic Sea Action Plan Implementation Group
Monitor and assess the occurrence and inputs, as well as uses and sources of hazardous substances thereby producing a thematic assessment on hazardous substances	2010	To monitor and assess the occurrence and inputs of hazardous substances, and to produce a thematic assessment on hazardous substances	To carry on monitoring and to organize the production of the thematic assessment making use of existing information and the results of HELCOM SCREENING	Thematic assessment on hazardous substances/ HELCOM Ministerial Meeting in 2010
To further develop common HELCOM approach and assessment tools for assessing the status of biodiversity and nature conservation and to continuously monitor the conservation status and to periodically evaluate whether the targets of the Action Plan have been met using indicator-based assessments	2009	From HELCOM MONAS point of view to ensure a high quality HELCOM assessment which is in line with HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Strategy	To take note of the report on progress of producing the assessment by the Project Manager of HELCOM BIO	Integrated thematic assessment of biodiversity and nature conservation/ HELCOM 30/2009

Table 3. Tasks of HELCOM MONAS related to the Baltic Sea Action Plan, Segment VIII Implementation and review of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan

Task/Reference to the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan	Deadline	Task for HELCOM MONAS	Action by HELCOM MONAS	Product/Reporting
Monitor and evaluate the status of implementation of the Baltic Sea Action Plan by making use of the indicators agreed upon as well as HELCOM thematic assessments, annual HELCOM indicator fact sheets and other information available	2010	To coordinate monitoring and assessment activities in order to provide the necessary information and expert input, especially BSAP indicators, HELCOM indicator fact sheets, HELCOM thematic assessments and synthesizing information	To develop a HELCOM core set of indicators with targets suitable for use in indicator-based assessments and with fact sheets providing necessary background information and to elaborate a holistic assessment of the status of and pressures to the Baltic Sea building on the thematic assessments	A HELCOM set of indictors, a holistic assessment of the status of and pressures to the Baltic Sea/ HELCOM Ministerial Meeting 2010
Evaluate the effectiveness of the national programmes and to review the progress towards the ecological objectives	2013	To provide the necessary assessment and expert input for the HELCOM BSAP IG as above to enable the review of progress	See above	Necessary assessment reports/ HELCOM Ministerial Meeting 2013
Adjust/update indicators and targets in order to ensure their relevance for reaching the objectives	After 2013	To be built on the work above	To be built on the work above	To be built on the work above

Table 4. Tasks of HELCOM MONAS related to the Baltic Sea Action Plan, Segment I Eutrophication

Task/Reference to the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan	Deadline	Task for HELCOM MONAS	Action by HELCOM MONAS	Product/Reporting
Periodical review and revision of all the figures related to targets, maximum allowable inputs and nutrient reduction requirements, using a harmonised approach and updated info	From 2008	To carry technical and scientific responsibility of the review and revision	To support and monitor the work carried out by PLC/BNI/EMEP to provide the basis for the review	Updated Baltic Sea Action Plan figures/ HELCOM 30/2009
Application of assessments of the inputs and effects of airborne nitrogen to the Baltic Sea in the revision of the emission targets for nitrogen under CLRTAP Lead party: Germany	Time table to be clarified by Germany	To support and review the application process and to ensure that the marine environment is taken into account sufficiently	To support and review the application process which should be mainly based on EMEP and EUTRO-PRO reports	See below
Joint input to strengthen the emission targets for nitrogen under the EU NEC Directive, Lead party: Germany[Sweden]	Time table to be clarified by Germany	To provide the basis or a draft for joint input	To review the draft joint HELCOM input to the revision process produced by Germany with the assistance of the Secretariat	Draft for the draft joint HELCOM EU member state’s input to the revision process/ Reporting to the Baltic Sea Action Plan IG
Joint input to strengthen the emission targets for nitrogen under the Gothenburg protocol under CLRTAP Lead party: Germany [Sweden/Russia]	Time table to be clarified by Germany	To provide the basis or a draft for joint input	To review the draft joint HELCOM input to the revision process produced by Germany with the assistance of the Secretariat	Draft for the draft joint HELCOM input to the revision process/ Reporting to the Baltic Sea Action Plan IG

Table 5. Tasks of HELCOM MONAS related to the Baltic Sea Action Plan, Segment II Hazardous substances

Task/Reference to the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan	Deadline	Task for HELCOM MONAS	Action by HELCOM MONAS	Product/Reporting
Screening of the occurrence of selected hazardous substances	2008-2009	To support and follow-up the work on screening and occurrence of selected hazardous substances	HELCOM Project on Screening of occurrences of hazardous substances in marine environment (co-funded by NCM)	Final report of the project/ HOD 29/2009?
Screening of sources of selected hazardous substances Lead Country: Finland	2009	To support and follow-up the work on screening of sources of selected hazardous substances	The Project on identification of sources of selected hazardous substances (COHIBA) with funding from EU	Final report in 2011/2012?
Introduction of Whole Effluent Approach Lead Country: Finland	2009	To support and follow-up the work on introducing the Whole Effluent Approach	See above (COHIBA)	Final report in 2011/2012?
Establishment of chemical product registers to be built upon e.g. the EU regulatory framework for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals, REACH (EC1907/2006)	2010	MONAS only to consider necessary implications to monitoring of this action, should be mainly an action for HELCOM LAND	Act as necessary e.g. concerning monitoring	Xx/xx
Development of biological effects monitoring Need for a Lead party: Finland	From 2008	To develop biological effects monitoring building on activities of BONUS project BEAST	To elaborate guidelines for biological effects monitoring, develop indicators and reference values and to regularly follow the progress of BEAST	Guidelines for biological effects monitoring?, indicator fact sheets?/Xxxx
Continuation of HELCOM’s work with regard to radioactivity, including monitoring of discharges, emissions from nuclear power plants as well as their effects in the marine environment in order to reach the targets for radioactivity	Open ended	To support and follow-up the work carried out in relation to monitoring radioactivity by MORS-PRO	To follow-up the work by MORS-PRO on annual updates to HELCOM Indicator Fact sheets and elaboration of an assessment report on radioactivity	Annually updated indicator fact sheets, an assessment report in 2009/ Head of Delegation 27/2008

Table 6. Tasks of HELCOM MONAS related to the Baltic Sea Action Plan, Segment III Biodiversity and nature conservation

Task/Reference to the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan	Deadline	Task for HELCOM MONAS	Action by HELCOM MONAS	Product/Reporting
Elaboration of broad-scale, cross-sectoral, marine spatial planning principles based on the ecosystem approach Need for a Lead party: [Germany]	2010, 2012	To follow-up the work	To review the outcome of HELCOM SCALE project in 2009, Workshop for planners and marine environment protection representatives to be organised in January 2009	HELCOM SCALE final report/ HELCOM 31/2010? Outcome of the MSP workshop/ BSAP IG
Production of an assessment of the conservation status of non-commercial fish species Lead party: Sweden [Estonia]	2011	To follow-up the work	HELCOM FISH project works on the issue, outcome in 2011	Assessment report/ HELCOM 32/2011?
Promotion of research on developing methods for assessing and reporting on impacts of fisheries on biodiversity	Open ended	Rather a task of HELCOM HABITAT, MONAS to be informed	None	None

Table 7. Tasks of HELCOM MONAS related to the Baltic Sea Action Plan, Segment IV Maritime activities

Task/Reference to the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan	Deadline	Task for HELCOM MONAS	Action by HELCOM MONAS	Product/Reporting
Ratification the Ballast Water Management Convention preceded with implementation of a road map, including:	2013	To support and follow-up of the activities	To continuously update and review the list of non-ingenious and target species in cooperation with HELCOM HABITAT and to adjust HELCOM monitoring programmes bearing in mind the need to obtain reliable data on non-indigenous species in the Baltic	List of non-indigenous, cryptogenic and harmful native species and a list of HELCOM Target Species/ Reporting to BSAP IG
1. Compile a list of non-indigenous, cryptogenic and harmful native species;	Regularly updated
2. Select and agree on a list of HELCOM Target Species;	Regularly updated
3. Conduct baseline surveys of prevailing environmental conditions in major ports 2008;	2008
4. Develop criteria for unacceptable high risk scenarios and acceptable low risk scenarios for Baltic Sea voyages	2009
5. To adjust HELCOM monitoring programmes to obtain reliable data on non-indigenous species in the Baltic	2010

Table 8. Tasks of HELCOM MONAS related to the Baltic Sea Action Plan, Segment VI Awareness raising and capacity building

Task/Reference to the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan	Deadline	Task for HELCOM MONAS	Action by HELCOM MONAS	Product/Reporting
Expand the HELCOM Geographic Information System (GIS) showing the progress towards a healthy Baltic Sea	Open ended	To support and follow-up the project carried out by the Secretariat	Project to be funded by the NCM for 2009-2010, Contracting Parties to inform the Secretariat of their contact points	Reports to MONAS and a final report of the project/ Baltic Sea Action Plan IG

Last updated: November 2008