Protecting Baltic Sea Biodiversity for a Sustainable Future

1. Actions to protect the biodiversity of the Baltic SeaNature protection segment of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan HELCOM BALTIC SEA ACTION PLAN STAKEHOLDER CONFERENCE 2007 6 TH OF MARCH

2. Healthy sea - diverse biological components functioning in balance Resource extraction including fisheries Bio-diversity Healthy Baltic Sea Maritime issues Excessive nutrients Hazardous substances Diverse biological components functioning in balance Good ecological status Wide range of sustainable economic and social activities

3. Nature Protection – towards Baltic Sea biodiversity in favourable status Favourable status of Baltic Sea biodiversity Baltic Sea unaffected by eutrophication Baltic Sea life undisturbed by hazardous substances Maritime activities carried out in an environmentally friendly way Natural landscapes and seascapes Clear water Healthy wildlife No illegal pollution Natural oxygen levels All fish safe to eat Safe maritime traffic without accidental pollution Thriving and balances communities of plants and animals Natural level of algal blooms Radioactivity at pre-Chernobyl level Efficient response capacity Viable populations of species Natural distribution and occurrence of plants and animals No introduction of alien species

4. Healthy sea with diverse biological components functioning in balance Good Ecological and Favourable Conservation Status Sustainable Economic and Socio-economic Activities Combating Eutrophication Closing Inputs of Hazardous Substances Improving Maritime Transport Protecting Landscapes, Habitats and Species

5. Natural landscapes and seascapes • maintaining and restoring natural marine, coastal and adjacent terrestrial landscapes in the whole Baltic Sea. • maintaining seafloor integrity at a level that functions of the ecosystems are safeguarded

6. Targets to have natural landscapes and seascapes • to have an ecologically coherent and well-managed network of coastal and offshore BSPAs, Natura 2000 areas and Emerald sites in the Baltic Sea • the short-term target is to have, when justified, a minimum of 10% of each Baltic Sea sub-region to be covered by BSPAs, Natura 2000 and Emerald sites • to have a broad scale spatial zoning template for the Baltic Sea area to enhance the protection of coastal and offshore areas, including the coastal strip, by reducing conflicting human activities

7. Current status

8. Actions to reach the targets Regionally • jointly develop a broad scale spatial zoning template for the Baltic Sea area • to agree on and make use of the HELCOM criteria to assess the ecological coherence of MPA network Nationally • designate already establish Natura 2000 and Emerald sites as BSPAs, as well as designate new sites as BSPAs (within EEZ) • designate, where appropriate, additional BSPAs with special attention to inclusion of new marine sites outside territorial waters, i.e. within EEZ • test the zoning approach and value whether the outcome can be applied for development of the HELCOM work on ICZM • Identification and mapping of marine landscapes will be an important action

9. Already done Existing network of MPAs, including Natura 2000, Emerald and other sites HELCOM has identified important new sites as a potential candidates for BSPAs Designated, proposed managed and expert opinion - HELCOM Baltic Sea Protected Areas

10. Thriving and balanced communities of plants and animals • reach and maintain the natural structure and distribution pattern of biological communities • no new introductions of alien species in order to prevent adverse alteration of the ecosystem • Initial focus should be directed to major habitat forming species from all sub-regions and biotopes of Baltic Sea, and their associated communities

11. Current status

12. Actions to reach the targets forthriving and balanced communities of plants and animals Regionally • update the list of threatened and declining habitats and biotopes, • establish cooperation with Black Sea Commission and Caspian Sea in order to prevent new introductions of non indigenous species • promote implementation of IMO Ballast Water Convention IMO BWC. Nationally • reduce the eutrophication and input of hazardous substances, • identify and map marine habitats formed by bladder wrack, eelgrass, blue mussel and stoneworts as well as threatened and declined habitats and biotopes identified by HELCOM, • ratify IMO BWC • minimise harmful impacts on the seafloor and marine biotopes/habitats caused by human activities such as mining, laying underwater cables and pipelines, sediment extraction or bottom trawling

13. What has been done already? • network of BSPAs Natura 2000 and Emerald sites aim at protecting habitats and biotopes • HELCOM has identified the Baltic biotopes and habitats that are threatened and declining, • Information on non-indigenous species has been well addressed including information on their vectors • Contracting Parties to HELCOM are planning steps for implementation of IMO Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments

14. Viable populations of species • focus on reaching and maintaining favourable status of key species • seals, harbour porpoise, white tailed eagle, salmon, cod and species that support them, as well as threatened and declining species • fish stocks are managed within safe biological limits

15. Current status

16. Actions to reach the targets for viable populations of species Regionally • address EC and other competent bodies to guarantee long term viability of commercial fish stocks through: • appropriate long-term management of Baltic Sea fisheries, • spatial and/or temporal closures for fisheries in order to protect important fish species and wintering birds • address EC and other competent bodies to implement a monitoring system for entangled and drowned marine mammals and water birds on the basis of obligatory bycatch reporting by fishermen develop/update and adopt complete regional HELCOM Red lists of Baltic species, • agree on strategy for stakeholder dialogue in order to avoid potential and mitigate existing conflicts between fisheries and protection of threatened and declining species (collaboration with Baltic RAC and other relevant bodies) • to finalise the general management principles for Baltic seals taking into account the safe biological limits • produce new inventory and classification of Baltic salmon rivers

17. Nationally re-introduction programmes for Baltic sturgeon in potential rivers, reintroduce salmon to 4 potential salmon rivers and to safeguard at least 10 wild weak salmon river populations National Management Plans for seals on a basis of recently adopted HELCOM Recommendation national management plans in order to ensure sustainable management of fish species whose regulation falls within national competence (in cooperation with the relevant fisheries authorities/bodies)

18. What has been done already? • HELCOM has adopted recommendations to protect harbour porpoises, seals and wild salmon • Jastarnia Plan for the protection of Harbour porpoise is supported by HELCOM • HELCOM ad hoc Seal Expert Group is currently quantifying Limit Reference Levels and Target Reference Levels for Baltic seal species, and is assisting in harmonisation of National Management Plans for seals

19. ... • HELCOM priority list of threatened and/or declining species and a complete Red list of fish and lamprey species • Joint efforts of International Baltic Sea Fishery Commission and HELCOM to protect salmon has resulted in an increase in wild salmon production • EC CFP opened for long-term approach to fisheries management, including the establishment of multi-annual recovery plans for stocks outside safe biological limits • Regional Advisory Councils established in order to ensure involvement of Stakeholders • HELCOM as an observer in the Baltic RAC

20. Finally the main issues • Spatial zoning of marine areas • Avoid conflicts between uses • Guarantee sustainable use of the resources • Network of well-managed protected areas • Safeguarding habitat-building species • Protection of threatened species • Stakeholder dialogue

21. Contents of the Nature Protection segment of HELCOMBSAP will be further amended and changed taking also into account comments and proposals from this Second Stakeholder Conference

22. THANK YOU !!!!