HELCOM to consider a comprehensive system to evaluate progress in pollution reduction

Helsinki, 2 October (HELCOM Information Service) – HELCOM’s Monitoring and Assessment Group (HELCOM MONAS) will convene its regular meeting on 5-9 October in Schwerin, Germany, to present new information on sources and quantities of inputs of harmful substances into the Baltic Sea, as well their effects on the state of the marine environment.

As one of the topmost issues on the Agenda, the HELCOM countries will consider a proposal for a comprehensive assessment system to evaluate the progress of HELCOM countries towards the provisional nutrient reduction targets of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan. This overarching programme of strategic actions was adopted by HELCOM in 2007 to radically reduce pollution to the troubled Baltic marine environment and restore its good ecological status by 2021.

“This proposal will result in a comprehensive annual assessment of waterborne and airborne nutrient loads to the Baltic Sea and an assessment of long term trends,” says Anne Christine Brusendorff, HELCOM’s Executive Secretary. “This comprehensive approach would include not only the waterborne loads of nutrients transported by rivers and originating in coastal point sources but also the inputs of nitrogen originating from emissions by transportation and combustion sectors and agriculture.” The new comprehensive assessment system is considered as part of the preparations for the upcoming Ministerial Meeting of HELCOM in Moscow in May 2010 which will particularly consider the progress of nutrient load reductions by HELCOM countries while also scrutinizing the National Implementation Programmes for the eutrophication section of the Baltic Sea Action Plan.

The preparation of major assessments of the Baltic Sea to support the implementation of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan will also be high on the Agenda of the Meeting. Experts will consider progress in the elaboration of the holistic assessment of the status of the Baltic Sea marine environment, which will be presented at the Moscow Ministerial Meeting. As an important component of this holistic assessment, the Meeting will review the activities carried out so far to develop an integrated thematic assessment of hazardous substances in the Baltic Sea.

The HELCOM MONAS Group is expected to take a first look at a new set of core indicators for eutrophication that is under development. These core indicators are designed to provide up to date information on the eutrophication status of the Baltic Sea on the HELCOM web site. They will allow the decision-makers as well as experts and scientists to consider to what degree the eutrophication related ecological objectives of HELCOM are being achieved.

The Meeting will also review a set of new and updated Indicator Fact Sheets. The reports, around 30 in all, will particularly provide latest data on inputs of nutrients and hazardous substances, which are largely responsible for the ongoing degradation of the marine environment, shifts in the Baltic Sea summer phytoplankton communities, as well as information on illegal oil discharges at sea and radioactivity. One of the newest Indicator Fact Sheets to be considered at the Meeting is dedicated to marine acidification which is related to climate change, harbour porpoise and the population development of several bird species.

HELCOM indicators provide crucial advice for managing environmental problems. These indicators are compiled by dedicated research institutions around the Baltic Sea and approved by the HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Group. They are primarily based on variables in the HELCOM monitoring programmes. Each indicator provides only limited information on a specific issue, but when combined the indicators can show the conditions and trends of the whole ecosystem. The 2009 Indicator Fact Sheets will be released upon approval on the HELCOM web site at www.helcom.fi/environment2/ifs/en_GB/cover/. 

Additionally, experts from the HELCOM countries will review a number of working programmes and ongoing projects.

The Meeting will be conducted by Saara Bäck, Chair of HELCOM MONAS.

Note to Editors:

The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM), is an intergovernmental organisation of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Community working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region. 

HELCOM is the governing body of the "Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area," more usually known as the Helsinki Convention.

For more information, please contact:

Ms. Maria Laamanen

Professional Secretary

HELCOM

Tel: +358 (0)207 412 627

Fax: +358 (0)207 412 639

E-mail: maria.laamanen@helcom.fi 

Mr. Nikolay Vlasov

Information Secretary

HELCOM

Tel: +358 (0)207 412 635

Fax: +358 (0)207 412 639

E-mail: nikolay.vlasov@helcom.fi