Transcript Coalition Clean Baltic - Joining forces for the Baltic

”HELCOM achievements
and coming challenges
– NGO views”
-
– International Co-operation for the Baltic
Sea Environment: Past, Present and
Future, 22 March 2004 Riga, Latvia
Mr Gunnar Norén
Executive Secretary to
Coalition Clean Baltic
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HELCOM’s historical
development
1970s
- Ban on DDT and PCBs
1980s
- Development of HELCOM recommendations. Mainly for
point source pollution (industries, wastewater treatment etc)
and Shipping/Combating
- Development of a Baltic environmental monitoring and
assessment system
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1990s
- Launching the Baltic Sea Joint Comprehensive
Environmental Action Programme (1992) A powerful
programme for a 20-year period.
- Main activity - investments on Point source pollution but
also activities on
-
Policies, Laws and Regulations
- Institutional Strengthening and Human Resource
Development
- Management Programmes for Coastal Lagoons
and Wetlands
- Applied Research
- Public Awareness and Environmental Education
- Many successes and concrete actions implemented
through the JCP
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HELCOM achievements on
Openness and Transparency
Early 1990s – only Commission meeting open for
observers
Mid 1990s – Committees and Working Groups opened
for observers
2002 – also Heads of Delegation group opened for
observers
Now all HELCOM official meetings open for observers
HELCOM can serve as a good example for other
International Conventions ( e g OSPAR, IBSFC )
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HELCOM recommendations experiences




great number of Recommendations
problem to get an overview of actions decided on
reporting is lacking
implementation halt -not taken seriously.
Many HELCOM recommendations have not been
succesful to solve the environmental problem
addressed, e g eutrophication
Effectiveness of many HELCOM recommendations
cannot be easily evaluated
Effectiveness of many HELCOM recommendations can
be questioned
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Example
EUTROPHICATION OF THE
BALTIC SEA
Critical views
– HELCOM recommendations have not solved the
eutrophication problem within 30 years
- Prognosis that this instrument, HELCOM
recommendations, will solve the problem in the future
is low
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NGO conclusions
* Strengthen the enforcement of existing HELCOM
recommendations
* Clearly state and describe why Contracting Parties
not implemented recommendations
* Critical evaluation needed, use the “Name-ShameBlame” approach
* Critical evaluation of the instruments used by
HELCOM
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* HELCOM main focus to develop new HELCOM
recommendations should be changed
* HELCOM should have an awaiting attitude to produce
new recommendations
* Future focus on Action-oriented measures
* Develop more effective instruments for Baltic
environmental protection, such as concrete Action
Programmes, incl time-table, resource allocation etc
Action Programmes demand active participation from
all countries
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Important future challenges for HELCOM
* Ability to effectively address
 diffuse sources (PLC-4 : P-diffuse sources
53%; N-diffuse sources 59%)
 pollution from “economic sectors” to the Baltic
Sea environment
* Challenge to find interest and succesful co-operation
with sectors like Agriculture,
Fisheries , Transport
A success for new cooperations is crucial for
restoration of the Baltic Sea
Environment
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* Ability to focus Helcom work on some “Top Priorities”
such as Europhication and Environmental impact of
Fisheries
* If rich and developed countries in northern Europe
cannot co-operate within sectors and solve its
environmental problem, we cannot expect success in
other regions
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Proposals for future
HELCOM actions
* Development of concrete HELCOM Action Programmes,
incl time-table, resource allocation etc (use experience from
JCP) 3 – 5 year action programmes.
One top priority must be Baltic Eutrophication
“HELCOM Eutrophication Action Programme”
with components, such as
1. Agricultural nutrient run-off
- Assessment of Industrial
Farms (Big animal farms, one
of main sources from
agriculture), and development
of proposals for requirements
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- Support for non-intensive farming including low agri
run-off
- Develop common Baltic views on requirements to
cease impact that cause eutrophication from
agriculture. Present such proposals for the review of
the new CAP ( next review in 2006 )
2. Wastewater from small- and medium-sized
municipalities and single family-homes
The aggregated impact of
such nutrient load is
considerably. In coastal
municipalities, 80 % of
nutrient load can arise
from single family-homes
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- Develop Baltic guidelines/regulations for small- and
medium-sized municipalities and single family-homes
(sensitive areas close to coastal zones and rivers)
 Use experiences from Baltic region
 New regulations in Finland (2003) – new high
standards for wastewater treatment from single familyhomes
 Swedish municipalities require 50 % recycling of
nutrients in single family-homes outside wastewater
collecting system
 Develop requirements on nutrient reductions for
settlements < 10 000 pe. Stronger demands than EC
Urban Wastewater Directive
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Sampling
Well
Provtagningsbrunn
Sealed
sand filter
Befintlig markbädd
bed
Septic
Slamavskiljare
tank
Urintank
Urine tank
Figure. Schematic description of urine diverting
system
Figure. Example of a double-flushed
urine diverting toilet. Ther are several
different models available on the
market.
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Environmental Impact of Baltic Fisheries
- Fish are key organisms in aquatic ecosystems
“Ecological Key Role of Fish”
- Fisheries constitute the most important human
impact on marine ecosystems. No other factor, such as
nutrients and toxics, has had more far reaching
impacts
- The most serious impact of fisheries is the massive
killing of targeted fish species
- Baltic Cod stocks are outside “safe biological limits”
- The scientific advice from ICES on Baltic fish catch
quotas is regularily exceeded
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- Half of the Baltic cod populations are killed in fisheries
every year. Many of them without a chance to
reproduce
- Serious mismanagement of Baltic common fish
resources
- Bottom trawling ploughs vast sea-bed areas and
harms bottom living species. Intensively trawled areas
will be trawled up to four times per year or more
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CONCLUSION
Threats on Baltic marine ecosystem and “Ecological Key
Role of Fish” is serious
POSSIBILITIES
- New CFP ( December 2002 ) a new basic regulation
for EU fisheries, “Regulation on conservation and
sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources
(2371/2002)”
 aims for sustainable use, more long-term
resource management
 application of the precautionary approach
 sustainable exploitation, minimising the
impacts of fishing on the marine ecosystem,
 progressive implementation of an ecosystembased approach to management.
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- Bremen declaration HELCOM-OSPAR
- Eco-system based management
of the marine environment
HELCOM Action Programme on
Environmental Impact of Fisheries
- Environmental ministries focus also on fisheries
management (expert resources)
- Negotiations with Fisheries ministries on “Ecosystembased management of marine resources”
- Development of a common HELCOM position
- Develop system with environmental permits for
bottom-trawling, with an EIA as basis
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- Develop marine eco-system management goals
- Cod in viable populations in its natural
distribution area, up to Aaland Sea
- Arrange Baltic High-Level meetings on Fisheries –
marine resources – management
If environmental sector don’t take on the task – the
situation will likely not change
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Protection of wild Baltic Salmon
Wild Baltic salmon is threatened
- 80-85 % of all Baltic salmon are reared and released
from fish-farms
- only 15-20 % are naturally spawning salmon
- Most of the Baltic salmon is catched in open-sea
fisheries on mixed populations(catching both reared and
wild salmon).
 Each wild salmon river population represent a unique
genetic resource, invaluable for the countries sharing
the Baltic Sea
 Very severe situation for the wild salmon in the Gulf of
Finland
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 Improper
commercial
fishing policies,
and extensive
artificial salmon
stocking
programmes
threaten the
naturally
spawning Baltic
salmon.
 2/3 of all wild
Baltic salmon
river populations
are threatened
(26 river
populations )
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Actions needed to save naturally spawning Baltic
Salmon
- Safeguard all weak wild Baltic salmon river
populations, and the genetic diversity
- Maximize production of naturally spawning Baltic
salmon
- Restrict or phase-out salmon fisheries on mixed
salmon populations/wild Baltic salmon
- Limit the extensive artificial salmon stocking
programmes that threaten wild Baltic salmon
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Possible HELCOM tasks
Develop clear objectives to safeguard wild Baltic salmon
river populations
Develop a HELCOM Action Programme to safeguard wild
Baltic salmon river populations
Develop, together with IBSFC, a joint Salmon Action
Plan (SAP)
Provide resources
- to study and monitor wild
salmon river populations
- to restore weak wild salmon
river populations
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Wild Baltic salmon – a Baltic heritage to be
esteemed
Let the wild Baltic
salmon become a
symbol for a unique
and rich Baltic Sea
Baltic Region citizens
are obliged to restore
all wild Baltic salmon
populations.
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New big installations with potential
strong impact on Baltic Sea environment
New development – new threats
- New oil-terminals and harbours for hazardous and
radioactive material
- Industries for re-processing of radioactive metals
- New big industries – e g Al-plant in Kingisepp area,
Russia
- Offshore oil-extraction, e g D 6 oil-field outside
Kaliningrad
HELCOM needs to develop actions to balance upcoming
threats to Baltic Sea – a sensitive sea area in
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northern Europe
HELCOM actions needed:
- Guarantee that highest possible environmental
standards and safety measures can be secured for new
big installations
- To assess and describe planned projects with
potential strong environmental impact
- To organise a workshop to discuss new
innovative ways to solve problems mentioned
above.
- To raise these matters for high-level political
discussions within HELCOM (e.g. Ministerial
meetings).
D 6 oil-field now discussed within HELCOM – a test-case if the
Helsinki Convention can be used to mitigate environmental
impact of new big installations. A matter of most
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importance for HELCOM
Protection of Baltic Sea Coastal Areas
On-going exploitation of coastal land- and sea areas in
all Baltic Sea Region countries
- New installations of recreational centers
- New marinas in shallow areas can have strong impact
on coastal ecosystems (e.g. breeding and nursing areas
for fish species etc.)
- New housing areas in
coastal zones
- Private houses in
coastal zones
- Harbours, terminals
and industries
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Consumption of Baltic Sea coastal zones accelerates
The process is irreversible – lost natural areas/values
Proposals for HELCOM actions:
- Assess the implementation
of HELCOM recommendations
on coastal zone protection
- Organise a HELCOM
workshop that can give
advice for development of
new requirements to
safeguard Baltic coastal
natural values
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Alien Aquatic Species and Ballast Water
Threats from alien aquatic species have been discussed
within HELCOM for many years.
No concrete measures/recommendations to prevent
unintentional introductions have been decided on by
HELCOM
- Global Ballast Water Management
Programme/IMO has developed advice on stepwise actions for better control of ballast water
- Such actions has been adopted by some seaareas and many countries
- Unfortunately - NO such actions for better
control of ballast water has been adopted in
Baltic Sea
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Proposals for HELCOM action:
- Mandatory information on ballast water situation for
all ships arriving to all Baltic harbours ( simple fill in of
formats from GloBallast Programme)
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Helcom and Russia
EU and Russia
The role of Russia in HELCOM is crucial
- A strong component for environmental protection
(Baltic Sea) needed in coming agreement between EU
and Russia
- EU-support to Russia, should target fulfilment of
HELCOM requirements in Russia
- Provide info to monitoring, PLC,
implementation of HELCOM decisions
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CLOSING WORDS
Our role as Watchdog-observer for HELCOM
- critical views on HELCOM work
-contribute with proposals and ideas, for a more
efficient and succesful HELCOM
HELCOM is the only governmental body , with main
focus on protection of the Baltic Sea environment
- this gives HELCOM a historically extremly
important role
- HELCOM must, also for the future,
continue to play a very important role
for protection of Baltic Sea environment
- If not ?
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