HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan – A regional programme of measures for the marine environment based on the Ecosystem Approach

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 60; no. 5; pp. 642 - 649
• Main Authors: Backer, Hermanni, Leppänen, Juha-Markku, Brusendorff, Anne Christine, Forsius, Kaj, Stankiewicz, Monika, Mehtonen, Jukka, Pyhälä, Minna, Laamanen, Maria, Paulomäki, Hanna, Vlasov, Nikolay, Haaranen, Tarja
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adaptive management; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Applied sciences; Baltic States; Biological and medical sciences; Ceilings; Coastal; Conservation of Natural Resources - legislation & jurisprudence; Conservation of Natural Resources - methods; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Ecosystem; Ecosystem based management; Ecosystems; European Union; European Union Marine Strategy Framework Directive; Exact sciences and technology; Fisheries - legislation & jurisprudence; Fisheries - methods; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Geography; Good environmental status; International Cooperation; Marine; Marine Biology - legislation & jurisprudence; Marine Biology - methods; Marine environments; Marine spatial planning; Monitors; Natural water pollution; Nutrients; Oceans and Seas; Offshore structures; Pilot Projects; Pollution; Regional; Regional seas; Seawaters, estuaries; Water treatment and pollution; Baltic Sea; Baltic States; European Union; ANE, Finland, Etelae-Suomi, Helsinki; ANE, Baltic Sea; European Union Marine Strategy Framework Directive; Regional seas; Marine spatial planning; Good environmental status; Adaptive management; Ecosystem based management; European Union Marine Strategy; Environmental policy; Adaptive system; Pollution prevention; Intergovernmental cooperation; Biodiversity; Environmental management; Eutrophication; Marine environment; European Union; Ecosystem; Water pollution; Seawater; Environmental protection; Framework Directive
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2009.11.016

The Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) Baltic Sea Action Plan, adopted by the coastal countries of the Baltic Sea and the European Community in November 2007, is a regional intergovernmental programme of measures for the protection and management of the marine environment explicitly based on the Ecosystem Approach. The Action Plan is structured around a set of Ecological Objectives used to define indicators and targets, including effect-based nutrient input ceilings, and to monitor implementation. The Action Plan strongly links Baltic marine environmental concerns to important socio-economic fields such as agriculture and fisheries and promotes cross-sectoral tools including marine spatial planning. Due to complementarities with the European Union (EU) Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the Action Plan is in essence a pilot for this process without neglecting the important role of the Russian Federation – the only Baltic coastal country not a member of the EU.