Commission staff working document

The Baltic Sea Region has a unique ecosystem from the northern parts with nearly fresh water and up to six months of ice cover to the more saline Kattegat. Only a specific selection of species can survive in this brackish water, and the low number of macro species makes the ecosystem extra sensitive to changes in its physical and chemical composition which can effect the balance of the entire food webs. There are many threats to marine biodiversity. One of the major ones is euthrophication which is covered in the previous chapter and which has caused low oxygen content of the bottom water in parts of the Baltic Sea and created species-poor areas with low benthos biomass. Another one is the arrival of non-native invasive species (e.g. water flea and comb jellyfish), for example from the ballast water from ships, that compete with native species and sometimes cause changes to the whole ecosystem. Other threats are contaminants that affect growth, reproduction and resilience of fish, marine mammals and seabirds against diseases and stress. Climate change which is thought to reduce salinity and increase temperature in the Baltic Sea will also have an influence on the Baltic biodiversity in this regard.

Fisheries directly impact fish diversity in the Baltic Sea and have led to declines in some fish stocks, mainly eels and cod. The main reasons for this decline in stocks are the setting of too high Total Allowable Catches (TAC) at the European Council level (compared to the annual scientific advices given by the International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF)), overcapacity of the fleet and poor compliance with the rules with significant amounts of misreported or unreported catches particularly in the Eastern cod fishery. In addition, there are indications that the decline of cod, as the main top predator structuring the trophic chain in the Baltic Sea in the last decades, has caused a regime shift in the ecosystem. This has lead to a sprat dominated system with further consequences on other species through the alteration in the plankton community. Fisheries also affect other aquatic species, seabirds and marine mammals through by-catches, incidental catches and competition for food. On the Baltic bottom, towed gears can affect benthic habitats through alteration the physical structure of the sea floor, re-suspension of nutrients and hazardous substances and altering the benthic fauna.

On land, while many valuable habitats in Europe are maintained by extensive farming, agricultural practices can also have an adverse impact on natural resources (pollution of soil, water and air, fragmentation of habitats and loss of wildlife). EU policies, including the Common Agricultural Policy, are therefore increasingly aimed at addressing the risks of environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. Through the cross compliance conditions for direct aid to farmers and targeted rural development measures farmers are encouraged to play a positive role in the maintenance of the countryside and the environment.

Finally, protecting biodiversity and preventing pollution are key themes for the BONUS research programme (cf. priority area number 1. ‘To reduce nutrient inputs to the sea to acceptable levels’).

Hotspot (main problems):

The aquatic biodiversity in the Baltic is threatened by overfishing, by-catch and incidental catches of non target species, alien invasive species, destruction of habitats by many human activities (such as dredging and construction along shores and migratory obstacles in waterways), eutrophication and contaminants. The actions therefore have to be twofold: to minimise the adverse effects of human activities and to establish a network of ‘protected areas’.

The preservation of natural zones and of biodiversity is an objective of the European Union. In the Baltic Sea Region, this is particularly important as its environment is particularly sensitive and its value to the economy and wellbeing of the Communities is particularly high.

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  “Implement the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan”. This document contains a specific section on biodiversity and nature conservation, as well as a section and particular roadmap on maritime traffic addressing introduction of alien species via ships’ ballast water and sediments. This is closely related to implementation and development of EU policies, including the Common Fisheries Policy (where the Commission is responsible for taking the necessary policy initiatives).
  
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  “Reduce the negative effects of fishing on the Baltic ecosystem” In addition to implementing regulations and measures taken at EU level to minimise the impacts of fishing activities on marine ecosystems, such as the Pingers regulation¹² and certain technical measures, Member States can adopt national measures to minimise the effect of fishing on the marine ecosystems within their territorial waters and for fishing vessels flying their flag in line with, or more stringent than the existing Community legislation. This should be especially stressed for the protection of the critically endangered Baltic harbour porpoise population.
  

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  2.1. “Create marine protected areas”. The Birds¹³ and Habitats directives¹⁴ (Natura 2000 network), as well as HELCOM, 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 adopted and implemented management plans that correspond to the threats towards the species or habitat they are created to protect. The designation of the Natura 2000 network in the Baltic Sea should also be taken into account in the context of maritime spatial planning which can contribute to facilitating the coordination of human activities in the marine areas. Coordination is also needed with measures under the Common Fisheries Policy. (Lead: Germany; Deadline for progress review: to be determined) FAST TRACK
  
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  2.2. “Restrict the introduction of new alien species by ships” principally through the enforcement of the international Ballast Water Management Convention and by means such as onboard treatment and the installation of ballast water reception facilities in ports with important traffic flows from and towards outside the Baltic Sea. HELCOM countries agreed in the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) to ratify the Convention possibly by 2010, and by 2013 at the latest. A HELCOM Road Map has been agreed, focusing on the ballast water management for inner Baltic voyages. Furthermore, HELCOM/OSPAR¹⁵ 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 also promote further innovative approaches by industry and research institutes. (Lead: HELCOM, Sweden and Germany; Deadline for progress review: 31 December 2010)
  
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  2.3. “Establish measures to facilitate 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). Under the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) Operational Programmes, some EU Member States already contribute to this objective by applying measures aimed to protect aquatic fauna and flora, in particular the rehabilitation of inland waters, including the migration routes. The national eel management plans are also expected to contribute to the restocking of this species. (Lead: HELCOM and Germany; Deadline for progress review: to be determined)