Baltic region sees 10% drop in illegal oil discharges

The number of illegal oil discharges in the Baltic Sea decreased by more than 10% in 2008 according to a report published on Monday by the body in charge of protecting the Baltic marine environment, Helcom.

Aerial, satellite and sea surveillance detected 210 illegal discharges last year, one of the lowest annual figures in recent years. Observed discharges have decreased by 55% since 1999, according to the Finland-based organisation.

The decrease is due to an increase in surveillance and tighter rules aimed at protecting the region from oil spills http://www.endseurope.com/5656?referrer=bulletin&DCMP=EMC-ENDS-EUROPE-DAILY. Helcom also cites a requirement to deposit waste oils at port facilities. The European Commission wants to strengthen EU legislation on ship waste disposal at port facilities http://www.endseurope.com/20429?referrer=bulletin&DCMP=EMC-ENDS-EUROPE-DAILY.

In June MEPs backed an EU agreement to criminalise the most serious cases of maritime pollution http://www.endseurope.com/21268?referrer=bulletin&DCMP=EMC-ENDS-EUROPE-DAILY, replacing a weaker 2005 directive that did not require criminal penalties. But minor ship pollution would not be a criminal act http://www.endseurope.com/20682?referrer=bulletin&DCMP=EMC-ENDS-EUROPE-DAILY under the new rules.

Follow-up: Helcom press release

http://www.helcom.fi/press_office/news_helcom/en_GB/Oil_spills_report_2008/,

plus report http://www.helcom.fi/stc/files/shipping/spills2008.pdf.

ENDS Europe Daily is Europe's leading environmental news service. A free trial is available by clicking on the following link: http://www.endseuropedaily.com/web/helcom.