Actions and flagship projects

These specific sections on biodiversity and nature conservation, and on maritime traffic, which address the introduction of alien species via ships’ ballast water, sediments and hulls are closely related to the implementation and development of several EU policies, including the Common Fisheries Policy (where the Commission is responsible for taking the necessary policy initiatives), as well as to the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020.

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  Create marine protected areas. The Birds²⁵ and Habitats directives²⁶ (Natura2000 network), and the HELCOM BSPAs (Baltic Sea Protected Areas) and the MSFD and the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 call for Member States to complete the designation of a network of marine protected areas in the Baltic Sea. To be truly efficient these areas need to be ecologically coherent and representative and have adopted and implemented management plans that correspond to the threats the species or habitats they are created to protect. The designation of the marine protected areas network in the Baltic Sea should also be taken into account in the context of maritime spatial planning and ICZM which can contribute to facilitating the coordination of human activities in the marine areas. It also needs to be coordinate with measures under the Common Fisheries Policy. Lead: Finland. Deadline for progress review: 2015 for existing BSPAs and within five years for newly designated BSPAs.
  

The MSFD objective that populations of all commercially exploited fish and shellfish are within safe biological limits exhibiting a population age and size distribution that is indicative of a healthy stock, together with the objective to reach MSY by 2015, should be respected in order to achieve good environmental status in the Baltic by 2020. Further assessment of the environmentally negative impacts of fishing activities including unsustainable fishing practices is needed with the aim as a first step to consider the exclusion of the use of certain techniques in marine protected areas to achieve their conservation objectives. Member States need to implement regulations and measures taken at EU level to minimise the impact of fishing activities on marine ecosystems, such as the Pingers regulation²⁷ and certain technical measures. In addition, Member States can adopt national measures to minimise the effect of fishing on marine ecosystems within their territorial waters and for fishing vessels flying their flag in line with, or more stringent than the existing EU legislation. This should be especially stressed for the protection of the critically endangered Baltic harbour porpoise population. Also in the context of the ASCOBANS (Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas). The HELCOM Fisheries and Environment Forum, involving fisheries and environment authorities, provides a platform for proposing, sharing and implementing new solutions on sustainable fisheries and nature conservation.

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  Restrict the introduction of new alien species by ships – principally by enforcing the international Ballast Water Management Convention and by means such as onboard treatment and the installation of ballast water reception facilities in ports with significant traffic flows from and towards waters outside the Baltic Sea. HELCOM countries agreed in the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) to ratify the Convention ideally by 2010, and by 2013 at the latest. A HELCOM Road Map has been agreed, focusing on ballast water management for inner Baltic voyages. Furthermore, HELCOM/OSPAR²⁸ and HELCOM/OSPAR/Barcelona Convention guidelines on the voluntary interim application of ballast water exchange standards should be implemented. Actions should build on the new knowledge on the issue arising from ongoing research and should promote further innovative approaches by industry and research institutes. To a large extent, this achievement of these goals depends on the successful implementation of the Ballast Water Convention thus the process of ratification of the legally binding instrument should be supported as much as possible. Lead: HELCOM, Sweden and Germany. Deadline for progress review: 2013.
  
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  Establish measures to facilitate the migration and reproduction of migratory fish species, on the basis of a classification and inventory of rivers with historic and existing migratory fish species such as eel and salmon as agreed in the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP). The HELCOM Fisheries and Environment Forum in close cooperation with the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has started with inventory, classification of the historical and existing Baltic rivers with salmon and/or sea trout populations and suggestion of measures for restoration plans and active conservation of such populations (HELCOM SALAR Project) resulting in adoption of HELCOM Recommendation 32-33/1. Further continuation of this work is expected in SALAR II (follow-up) project to address specific river restoration cases. Multiannual plan for the Baltic salmon stock, when adopted, is expected to contribute to national restoration activities. National eel management plans were also developed by all HELCOM countries, including Russia and formed the basis for series of joint HELCOM/ICES workshops on transboundary eel management measures, that are expected to contribute to conservation of eel stocks as a contribution to a co-ordinated Baltic programme to ensure successful eel migrations from the Baltic Sea drainage basin to natural spawning grounds. Under the current European Fisheries Fund (EFF) Operational Programmes, some EU Member States already contribute to this objective by taking action to protect aquatic fauna and flora, in particular to rehabilitate inland waters, including the migration routes. The future European Maritime and Fisheries Fund will better accommodate the objectives of the Integrated Maritime Policy to support cross-cutting priorities such as marine knowledge, maritime spatial planning, integrated coastal zone management, integrated maritime surveillance, the protection of the marine environment and of biodiversity, and the adaptation to the adverse effects of climate change on coastal areas. Lead: HELCOM. Deadline for progress review: 2016.
  
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  Managing Fisheries in Baltic Marine Protected Areas (BALTFIMPA). The main objective of the BALTFIMPA project is to assist, on a regional level, the HELCOM Contracting States to comply with their obligations to fulfil conservation objectives of marine protected areas in the Baltic Sea by managing fisheries, when applicable. BALTFIMPA will thus focus on marine protected areas (Baltic Sea Protected Areas and Natura2000), analyse possible conflicts between fisheries and conservation objectives in MPAs, including protected species, and identify fisheries management measures accordingly. This will be accomplished by studying the impact of fisheries and then finding new solutions to mitigate it. Solutions can range from improved management of fisheries regulations to development of new types of fishing gear that are more sustainable for the environment. These solutions then need to be promoted and disseminated to all relevant stakeholders. Lead: HELCOM. Deadline for progress review: March 2013 (Inception Phase to be completed).