April 2013
CCB proposals and comments to the first draft for the
HELCOM Ministerial Declaration, October 2013
The First Draft of the HELCOM Ministerial Declaration was presented by HELCOM
secretariat and discussed at the HELCOM HOD and Commission meeting 4-6 March 2013 in
Helsinki.
CCB see a need to strengthen and complement the declaration to safeguard that the
HELCOM BSAP goals can be reached. To guarantee such implementation of the BSAP
more precise and detailed actions need to be developed in some areas of the BSAP.
Hereby CCB submit proposals of special importance for the HELCOM ministerial declaration
October 2013, related to nutrient pollution, biodiversity and ecosystem-based fisheries and
marine litter, with reference to the numbered paragraphs under each section in the Draft
declaration, document 2/3 to the HOD 40th meeting, 4 March 2013.
Biodiversity and ecosystem-based fisheries
Insert in 1 (B)
NOTE that the goals of the Baltic Sea Action Plan of 2007 has not been reached in several
areas related to fisheries. We agree to reconfirm those goals and above all underline to
uphold, in line with the international commitment adopted by World Sustainable Development
Summit hold in Johannesburg in 2002, the commitment to reaching a fishing mortality below
Maximum Sustainable Yield by 2015.
Insert in 7 (B) or 17 (B)
CONCERNED about the ecologically intolerable amount of by-catch of other fishes, birds
and marine mammals,
Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB), Östra Ågatan 53, SE-753 22 Uppsala, Sweden Tel: +46 18 71 11 55 E-mail: secretariat@ccb.se /
gunnar.noren@ccb.se www.ccb.se Org. number: 802015-1281 CCB is a member of The World Conservation Union (IUCN)
Coalition Clean Baltic is a network of environmental NGOs sponsored by:
 Danish Society for Nature Conservation  Ecohome  Estonian Green Movement  Finnish Association for Nature Conservation  Finnish
Society for Nature & Environment  Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland, BUND  Environmental Protection Club of Latvia, VAK
 Latvian Green Movement  Lithuanian Green Movement  Lithuanian Fund for Nature  Environment Information Centre, Vilnius,
Lithuania  Polish Ecological Club, PKE  Green Federation - GAJA, Szczecin, Poland  Friends of the Baltic, St Petersburg, Russia 
Ecodefense, Kaliningrad, Russia  Neva River Clearwater, St Petersburg, Russia  Green World, St Petersburg, Russia  The Guide
Environmental Group, Kaliningrad, Russia  Greens of Karelia, Petrozavodsk, Russia  Friends of the Earth, Sweden  Swedish Society for
Nature Conservation  Swedish-Polish Association for Environmental Protection WWF Sweden  The Western Center of the Ukrainian
Branch of the World Laboratory
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Cod
Insert in 24 (B).
CONCERNED about the high proportion of juvenile cod caught in Baltic cod trawl fisheries,
disturbing the development of a natural cod stock structure.
To secure the cod stocks in the Baltic Sea to full recovery by 2021, the Contracting Parties
DECIDE to
-
Ensure that the coming Baltic multispecies management plan is aligned with the
targets agreed from the BSAP of 2007 and for good environmental status
Baltic Salmonids
DECIDE on further measures to safeguard wild Baltic salmon and sea trout stocks, including
Insert as action in point 23 (B)
-
by 2014 develop at least one comprehensive salmon river management plan in each
of HELCOM countries with weak salmon populations, and also develop such plans for
at least one potential rivers for salmon reintroduction in both Finland and Poland, with
priority to Baltic Main Basin and Gulf of Finland (ICES assessment units 4,5 and 6)
and implement such plans until 2016.
Clarifiy and amend 23 (B) indent 1
-common practices for breeding, rearing and releasing salmon and sea trout as
introduction in potential salmonid rivers
Eel
Insert in 25 (B)
CONCERNED that the development and implementation of national programmes for the
conservation of eel stocks has not progressed in accordance with the goals of the Baltic Sea
Action Plan, and further steps must now be taken. The human induced mortality on eels must
be reduced close to zero in line with ICES repeated advice from 2011 and 2012. Eel cannot
be considered for targeted fishery any longer since it is highly endangered.
Underlining the need To revise and improve the national management plans for eel,
including development of programs for the conservation of eel stocks to secure a future of
the eel stock. For EU Member States these plans should be developed in accordance with
the Council Regulation (EC) 1100/2007.
DECIDE
- To start phasing out targeted eel fisheries in the sea, with primary focus on the eel
fishery in the migratory routes of eel, with no further delay and at latest by 2014
.
- By 2014 submit a proposal for inclusion of eel to the Habitat Directives annex 5 as an
endangered species, for those HELCOM CPs also being members of the EU
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Clarification needed in 26 (B)
-
By 2014 submit a proposal, to the CMP (Convention on Migratory Species) COP11
meeting in 2014, for inclusion of European eel in (not annex) appendix II of the Bonn
Convention and simultaneously start work on an agreement according to art. V of this
Convention, involving at least all signatory parties also being HELCOM CPs and also
aiming at adding an MoU with the Russian Federation.
Harbour Porpoise
NOTE the importance of new information on the distribution, density and hot spot areas for
Baltic harbor porpoises coming from the SAMBAH project in 2013
Insert either as a part of 10 (B) or in connection with 17 (B) – 21 (B)
DECIDE
- by 2015 develop comprehensive actions to mitigate negative impact from human
activities in Baltic Sea areas of special importance for the threatened Baltic harbour
porpoises
- to intensify designation of new protected areas for harbor porpoise and in these areas
implement management that particularly mitigates bycatch problems and underwater
noise
Fishery management in Baltic Sea Protected Areas
Insert in connection with 15 (B)
RECALLING the ministerial meeting in 2010, stating the need to develop and implement
management within marine protected areas by 2015, and that every new BSPA designation
should within five years be followed by the establishment of a management plan and/or
measures;
REQUEST the competent authorities to participate in the BALTFIMPA project to set clear
guidelines for assessing needed management measures and propose a comprehensive list
of options to protect habitats and species in the Baltic Sea marine protected areas.
DECIDE no later than 2014 to report the national progress on establishment and
implementation of fisheries management plans and by 2015 implement fishery management
that secures the objectives of the protected areas and, in cases of doubt, follow a
precautionary approach
Aquaculture
Insert in 27 (B)
RECOGNIZE the importance to define sustainable aquaculture and steer the development
of aquaculture in the BSR to minimize all of its environmental impacts
NOTE that upstream and recirculating land-based aquaculture systems have the best
possibilities to control negative environmental impact from aquaculture
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DECIDE
-
That aquaculture should primarily be land-based operations that can contain and
control the potential negative impacts
-
To strongly recommend the use of feed based on nutrients only from the Baltic Sea
region in aquaculture operations and a feed with a maximum of 1/3 fish based fat and
proteins to minimize further pressure of nutrient deposition to the Baltic Sea and
reduce fishing pressure on wild fish stocks
MARINE LITTER
Insert correct reference to MSFD targets and years of monitoring and operational programs
implementation 2015 and 2016.
Insert in connection to 30 (B)
AGREE
-to set a goal for reduction of marine litter in the Baltic Sea with 50 % within 10 years
Insert to 32 (B)
DECIDE
-set up an HELCOM task force specifically addressing the problems of litter in the Baltic Sea
including monitoring and mitigation, also for micro plastics
-by 2014 develop and test technology for removal of microplastics in municipal waste water
treatment plants and introduce pilot-scale techniques for such removal at least with one
Baltic Sea region city