Preserving biodiversity - HELCOM in action
The most threatened habitats and species are dependent on legal protection. In 1995, 62 marine and coastal areas were designated as Baltic Sea Protected Areas (BSPAs) by HELCOM Recommendation 15/5 “System of Coastal and Marine Protected Areas. To date the HELCOM member states have designated a total of 90 BSPAs. Millions of seabirds use these areas as staging posts during migration, and more than 30 species breed in them. But very few of the designated areas have been fully incorporated into the system yet, even though many are also otherwise protected in theory. Progress is also needed with the designation of additional offshore areas for enhanced protection.
The HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan
Since a multitude of human activities have impacts on biodiversity and the biodiversity serves as a holistic controlling element for the performance of the whole Baltic Sea Action Plan - the goal “favourable conservation status of the Baltic Sea biodiversity” cannot be reached without a broad consideration of human activities and needs for strong actions in other segments. Reduced eutrophication will decrease algal blooms, suffocating growth of filamentous littoral algae and anoxic bottoms, and making possible the natural distribution and occurrence of natural marine landscapes, habitats, and plant and animal species. Minimised concentrations of hazardous substances in the biota are a prerequisite for a healthy wildlife, i.e. viable populations in the Baltic Sea. Enhancing the safety of navigation will decrease the probability of environmental stress caused by minor and severe oil spills. Actions aiming at prevention of pollution from ships as well as the prevention of introduction of alien species are needed to reach favourable conservation status.
In order to reach the targets and objectives associated with the favourable conservation status of Baltic Sea biodiversity, HELCOM is working to:
develop principles for broad-scale, cross-sectoral, marine spatial planning principles based on the Ecosystem Approach
improve the protection efficacy of the BSPA network
increase knowledge on and protection of Baltic Sea marine habitats, communities and species
increase cooperation between the competent fisheries and nature protection authorities of the HELCOM Contracting States, as well as the Baltic Regional Advisory Council (RAC) and the European Community
Many specific measures and actions have been identified for improving the conservation status of Baltic Sea biodiversity. See the BSAP for details on these actions and measures.
ProjectsHELCOM BIO project is currently working on a thematic assessment of the status of biological diversity in the Baltic Sea, and is expected to be competed in the end of 2008. The HELCOM SCALE project is developing broad-scale marine spatial planning principles for the Baltic Sea area, in order to identify common guidelines for seeking spatial solutions to conflicting interests in the use and protection of marine resources and areas.
The HELCOM FISH project will improve knowledge about occurrence, distribution, population and threat and/or decline on coastal fish and lamprey species including all andromous species, providing information that can be used as expert proposals for restoration programmes and measures for the most threatened and/or declining coastal fish species. The HELCOM FISH project will provide input to another HELCOM project which is working to update and elaborate on HELCOM Red Lists of species as well as habitats and biotopes.
With the increase of maritime traffic in the Baltic Sea, alien species are also a very real problem, with the recent invasion by the American comb jelly (Mnemiopsis leidyi) being a clear example. In an effort to address the issue, the HELCOM Contracting Parties have agreed to work towards ratification of the 2004 International Convention for Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention) preferably by 2010, but in all cases not later than 2013. A HELCOM roadmap towards ratification and harmonised implementation of the BWM Convention was adopted in November 2007. As part of this road map, HELCOM is developing a HELCOM List of non-indigenous and cryptogenic species in the Baltic Sea as well as a list of HELCOM Target Species.
Earlier HELCOM work in the field of nature protection and biodiversity has contributed to the steady increase over recent decades in the breeding success rates of top predators such as the white-tailed eagle and the three Baltic seal species. These species, however, still face health problems, with sterility levels high among young ringed seals.
HELCOM has also been involved in efforts to restore the sturgeon in the wild. And together with the International Baltic Sea Fisheries Commission, IBSFC (which no longer exists) a joint Baltic Salmon Action Plan was set up to protect the Baltic wild salmon (Salmo salar) from reduction in its genetic diversity – caused by artificial breeding.