HELCOM VIEWS ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL STATE OF THE BALTIC SEA. Taking action to combat eutrophication in the Baltic

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1 HELCOM VIEWS ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL STATE OF THE BALTIC SEA Taking action to combat eutrophication in the Baltic Arturas Daubaras Chairman of the Helsinki Commission at CCB Annual Conference May 2005, Svetlogorsk, Kaliningrad

2 Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) International co-operation for the protection of the marine environment of the Baltic Sea area since 1974 Governing body of the Helsinki Convention 1992: new Convention on the Protection of the Baltic Marine Environment

3 HELCOM - Mouthpiece of the Baltic Need for regional specific measures HELCOM has experience in channelling regional needs in various international organisations, i.e. IMO In the future, facilitate communication from non-eu states within the catchment area to the EU Contribution to the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive

4 HELCOM s priority areas of work Based on the eco-system approach: Joint monitoring and assessment Nature conservation and biodiversity Eutrophication Hazardous substances relevant for the Baltic Sea Maritime safety and shipping, including response activities

5 Oxygen concentrations in bottom waters in 2002

6 Nutrient concentrations in spring

7 Overall results from the Fourth Pollution Load Compilation Nitrogen Phosphorus Point sources Point sources Background Background load 10% 20% 27% 31% Diffuse Sources 59% Diffuse sources 53% Discharges from different sectors

8 P total Point source discharge P total Diffuse source losses P total Natural background losses Phosphorus SWEDEN 6850 t FINLAND 6790 t RUSSIA 2540 t DENMARK 1490 t ESTONIA 1370 t LATVIA 1470 t LITHUANIA 780 t GERMANY 1200 t POLAND t National Land Survey of Finland 144/MYY/03 Finnish Environment Institute SYKE, FINLAND 2003

9 Progress in cutting nutrient loads Good progress in industries and municipalities will continue Less progress in agriculture Long time lag before reduction measures can be seen in losses Losses expected to increase after EU enlargement

10 Airborne nitrogen loads Poland 13 % Sw eden 6 % Russia 3 % Ships 6 % Lithuania 1 % Latvia 1 % Finland 3 % Estonia 1 % Distant sources 38 % Germany 20 % Denmark 8 %

11 Transboundary loads Transboundary pollution significant 7-8 % of total nutrient load comes from non-contracting Parties Heavy metal load even more significant (5-15%) Airborne deposition also significant

12 Models and scenarios Aim of the Project: To link catchment load and airborne deposition models with effect models To show effects of implemented agricultural policies To indicate the most cost-effective measures of most important pollution sources To give input to EU CAP review

13 Baltic Sea Regional Project HELCOM managing USD 5.5 million GEF project Reduce pollution from farms Local Implementation Units established Training and education Grants and favourable financing

14 Baltic Sea Action Plan Action plans to be elaborated for each eco-region (Stakeholder Conference on the development of the European Marine Strategy) HELCOM process to develop Ecological Objectives for the Baltic - cornerstones in developing the Baltic Sea Action Plan Involvement of all stakeholders important

15 For more information Please contact: Helsinki Commission Secretariat Katajanokanlaituri 6 B FI Helsinki Finland