HELSINKI COMMISSION HELCOM GEAR 4/2013 Helsinki, Finland ... Documents/GEAR 4-2013_3-1... · 0.1...

HELSINKI COMMISSION HELCOM GEAR 4/2013 Group for the Implementation of the Ecosystem Approach Fourth Meeting Helsinki, Finland, 13-14 June 2013

Note by Secretariat: FOR REASONS OF ECONOMY, THE DELEGATES ARE KINDLY REQUESTED TO BRING THEIR OWN COPIES OF THE DOCUMENTS TO THE MEETING of 2

Agenda Item 3 Activities of relevant HELCOM projects or processes

Document code: 3/1

Date: 21.5.2013

Submitted by: Secretariat

PROGRESS OF HELCOM MORE

The attached document contains the Minutes of the fifth expert workshop of the HELCOM project for the revision of monitoring programmes (HELCOM MORE 5/2013) held in Helsinki, Finland on 8-9 April 2013 (Attachment 1).

The draft HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Strategy that has been submitted to HELCOM HOD 41/2013 for adoption is contained in Attachment 3.

HELCOM MONAS 18/2013:

− considered the draft Work Plan for revising the HELCOM monitoring programme (work plan for MORE 2013-2014, Attachment 2) and discussed how to set up the expert work related to the revision of the monitoring programmes.

− took note that the framework developed by HELCOM MORE is a conceptual plan, based on various requirements and deadlines, but was of the opinion that the plan is extremely ambitious, especially taking into account the finite resources in the Contracting Parties.

− recognized that if countries cooperate to really implement a regional joint monitoring programme, they will actually facilitate the national work related to the requirements of the EU MSFD for those Contracting Parties that are also EU member states. The Meeting suggested that it might be possible to share the workload if different issues could be divided among the Contracting Parties, e.g. by nominating task leaders, and that the elaborated input by the “task leaders” would be presented to HELCOM MORE for consideration.

− supported the view by HELCOM MORE and GEAR that the HELCOM MORE project should be continued in 2014 to enable implementation of the work plan. The Meeting also felt that there is a need for a clear timeframe for the different tasks proposed in the work plan of HELCOM MORE.

− welcomed the offers of Estonia, Finland and Germany to take a lead in the future HELCOM MORE work and invited also other Contracting Parties to take on a more active role in the implementation of the work.

− endorsed the draft Work Plan for HELCOM MORE and recommended that it should be forwarded to HELCOM GEAR 4/2013 reflecting developments that have taken place by that time.

− discussed when to hold the next workshop of the HELCOM MORE project (HELCOM MORE 6/2013) and the offer of Estonia to hold it on 8-9 October 2013 in Tallinn, Estonia, back-to-back with a GES-REG meeting as originally planned by HELCOM MORE 5/2013.

HELCOM GEAR 4/2013, Document 3/1

of 2

− suggested that it would be useful to hold a MORE meeting back-to-back with HELCOM MONAS 19/2013 and invited the Secretariat to investigate the possibility to arrange such a MORE workshop with the Chair of HELCOM MORE and the host of HELCOM MONAS 19/2013 on 18 November 2013 (cf. paragraph 7.4).

The Meeting is invited to:

− take note of the outcome of the HELCOM MORE 5/2013 workshop (Attachment 1), as well as of the draft Monitoring and Assessment Strategy submitted for endorsement to HELCOM HOD 41/2013 (Attachment 2),

− consider the draft work plan for 2013-14 first developed by HELCOM GEAR 3/2013 and further developed by HELCOM MORE 5/2013 and amend it as necessary,

− take note of the proposal to hold the next workshop of the project, HELCOM MORE 6/2013, on 8-9 October 2013 in Tallinn, Estonia, as well as a MORE/MONAS back-to-back workshop on 18 November 2013.

HELSINKI COMMISSION HELCOM MORE 5/2013

Project for the revision of the HELCOM Monitoring Fifth Meeting Helsinki, Finland, 8-9 April

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TABLE OF CONTENTS MINUTES OF THE FIFTH MEETING OF PROJECT FOR THE REVISION OF THE HELCOM

MONITORING (HELCOM MORE) .............................................................. 2 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 2 Agenda Item 1 Adoption of the agenda .............................................................................. 2 Agenda Item 2 Information by the Secretariat and Contracting Parties .............................. 2 Agenda Item 3 Overview of the current monitoring activities .............................................. 3 Agenda Item 4 Review of the HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Strategy .................. 3 Agenda Item 5 Streamlining of HELCOM manuals and guidelines ..................................... 4 Agenda Item 6 Coordination of monitoring activities ........................................................... 4 Agenda Item 7 Any other business..................................................................................... 6 Agenda Item 8 Outcome of the meeting ............................................................................. 6 Annex 1 List of Participants Annex 2 DRAFT Work Plan for revising the HELCOM monitoring programme – work

plan for MORE 2013-2014

MINUTES OF HELCOM MORE 5/2013

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MINUTES OF THE FIFTH MEETING OF PROJECT FOR THE REVISION OF THE HELCOM MONITORING

(HELCOM MORE)

INTRODUCTION

0.1 With reference to the minutes of the Third meeting of HELCOM GEAR 3/2013, the Fifth expert workshop of the HELCOM project for the revision of monitoring programmes (HELCOM MORE 5/2013) was held at the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) in Helsinki, Finland on 8-9 April 2013.

0.2 The purpose of this Meeting was to discuss the overview of the current monitoring activities, the review of the HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Strategy and the future work on HELCOM MORE, including streamlining of HELCOM manuals and guidelines and the coordination of monitoring activities.

0.3 The Meeting was attended by representatives from all Contracting Parties, except the EU and Russia. The List of Participants is contained in Annex 1.

0.4 The Meeting was welcomed to the Finnish Environment Institute by Mr. Juha-Markku Leppänen.

0.5 The Meeting was chaired by Mr. Urmas Lips, Estonia. Ms. Maria Laamanen, HELCOM Professional Secretary, assisted by Mr. Manuel Frias, HELCOM MORE Project Coordinator, acted as secretary of the Meeting.

Agenda Item 1 Adoption of the agenda

Documents: 1/1

1.1 The Meeting adopted the agenda as contained in document 1/1.

Agenda Item 2 Information by the Secretariat and Contracting Parties

Documents: 2/1, 2/2, 2/3

2.1 The Meeting took note of the information by the Secretariat on the draft Declaration of the HELCOM 2013 Ministerial Meeting and of the paragraph reflecting the adoption by ministers of the revised Monitoring and Assessment Strategy. The Meeting agreed to come back to the paragraph in the end of the Meeting to check if changes to the paragraphs related to the monitoring programme revision are needed (cf. paragraph 6.9).

2.2 The Meeting took note of the Draft document on MSFD monitoring programmes – V 0.3 – concept and principle (document 2/1) and pointed out that the concepts, principles as well as the timetables reflected in the document seem coherent with the HELCOM MORE activities so far. The Meeting agreed to consider the information in the document when considering future work of HELCOM MORE.

2.3 The Meeting took note of the Reporting on monitoring programmes under MSFD article 11 and the option of decentralised approach for reporting of information on monitoring programmes by the EU members (document 2/2). The Meeting was of the opinion that the decentralised option could be involved and carried out using HELCOM as the Baltic node for this activity.

2.4 The meeting took note of the minutes of the GEAR 3/2013 meeting (document 2/3) and that HELCOM GEAR 3/2013 had agreed on the next steps needed for regional coordination on monitoring programmes as contained in Annex 2 of document 2/3 “Next steps for regional coordination”. The Meeting stressed that it will be important to plan and define details of the next steps of monitoring revision as tasked by HELCOM GEAR 3/2013.


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Agenda Item 3 Overview of the current monitoring activities

Documents: 3/1, 3/2

3.1 The Meeting took note of the overview of the reported monitoring activities 2013 (document 3/1) and noted that it now contains information reported by all Contracting Parties although from Russia only some parameters have been reported.

3.2 The Meeting was of the opinion that the overview of the reported monitoring activities 2013 (document 3/1) fulfils the task of HELCOM MORE to develop an overview of monitoring. The Meeting agreed that it has a status of a working document, noted that it will be made publicly available on the HELCOM Meeting Portal after the Meeting and pointed out it should not be published separately.

3.3 The Meeting asked the Secretariat to forward the overview document to HELCOM MONAS 18/2013 for information and invited Russia and also other Contracting Parties to consider filling the gaps concerning the information on their monitoring. The Meeting was of the opinion that any updates by the Contracting Parties should only be reflected in the map service (cf. paragraph 3.4).

3.4 The Meeting took note of the preliminary version of a map service where users can view detailed information of the reported monitoring stations (document 3/2). The Meeting found the map service useful for showing the monitoring network and coordinating the monitoring activities between the countries and thanked the Project Coordinator for developing it.

3.5 The Meeting agreed that the Map Service could be used for national work as well as for coordinating the monitoring network between the countries in the Baltic Sea.

3.6 The Meeting stressed that in the future it will be important to find out how to report the monitoring activities without the tedious procedure of filling in excel sheets.

Agenda Item 4 Review of the HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Strategy

Documents: 4/1

4.1 The Meeting considered the commented and revised Monitoring and Assessment Strategy which HELCOM GEAR 3/2013 had welcomed as a well-developed document (document 4/1). HELCOM GEAR 3/2013 had also considered the document as being close to finalised with a request to HELCOM MORE and MONAS only to consider and resolve the remaining open points.

4.2 The Meeting took note of the comment delivered by the EC to the Secretariat regarding the lack of concreteness and the need to reflect in the Strategy the decentralised reporting to the EC under Article 11 of the MSFD. The Meeting agreed on a further amended paragraph 1.12 “The general principles of the Strategy will be translated into concrete specifications and requirements through the revision of the HELCOM monitoring programmes, guidelines and manuals starting in 2013. This will follow European processes such as the MSFD CIS for those Contracting Parties that are also EU member states.” The paragraph now better reflects how the Strategy will be put into practice.

4.3 The Meeting scrutinised the still open points in the Strategy, amended the points in the text of the Strategy and agreed on the Strategy as contained in document 4/1, Rev. 1. The Meeting took note that sub-divisions in Attachment 4 will be slightly amended as proposed by the countries, e.g. the Eastern Baltic Proper Polish coastal waters will be added as coastal area, the Belts will be added to the area name for Danish coastal waters to read “Belts Danish Coastal waters” and some amendments of Polish WFD related water types will be made according to information to be sent by Poland to the Project Coordinator. In addition, the dividing line in Estonian waters between the Northern Baltic Proper and the Gulf of Riga will be presented on the map and also the dividing line between Arkona basin and the Sound will be changed as a result of a discussion between Denmark and Sweden. In addition, the


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coastal waters should be reflected in colour also to highlight that Limfjorden is part of the Kattegat.

Agenda Item 5 Streamlining of HELCOM manuals and guidelines

Document: 5/1

5.1 The Meeting took note of the information on the coverage of CORESET/CORE EUTRO and MSFD parameters in HELCOM manuals and guidelines and agreed to make use of this information when considering how to start the work on updating the HELCOM manuals and guidelines (cf. Agenda Item 6).

Agenda Item 6 Coordination of monitoring activities

Documents: 6/1, 6/2

6.1 The Meeting took note of the information by the Contracting Parties on their national work in revising the monitoring programmes:

Estonia: So far one internal discussion but no start of the activity yet. Tri-lateral discussion with Finland and Sweden on how to work with shared monitoring stations and to coordinate the monitoring activities has been carried out. An agreement with Finland and Russia to have an intercalibration on monitoring in the Gulf of Finland with the aim to better coordinate the monitoring with neighbours. In addition there are many project-based activities. In terms of the timetable, by 2014 there has to be a ready program but by 2014 there will not be monitoring for all parameters and indicators reported to EC. When drafting the new monitoring program Estonia will take into account the HELCOM core set of indicators.

Finland: There is an expert group with specific expert teams to develop monitoring according to the MSFD. One of the teams works on ICT related aspects. Litter and noise will be considered. Expert teams plan an optimised monitoring program for their topics with cost estimates during spring 2013 and after that they will be joined together in summer 2014. The optimal joint proposal will be presented to decision-makers with the view that the whole package will be ready by the end of 2013. Finland follows the DIKE reporting sheet development and takes into account the current monitoring guideline system of Germany. Finland is in favour of the joint/decentralised reporting and HELCOM MORE should take a position to fully proceed jointly.

Germany: A draft of the summary document for the monitoring programme, which outlines the main principles and concepts, together with the list of indicators is expected to be finalised at expert level by end of April. It will go through national administrative consultation process and is expected to be agreed in July 2013. The summary document will go to a six-months public consultation on 15 October 2013. Work on the review of monitoring strategies and of their documentation in the online Monitoring Manual is starting. Regional coordination on monitoring networks and consultation with neighbours on monitoring cooperation is envisaged to start after summer.

Denmark: The report on targets and indicators has been finalised. For monitoring, a timetable has been set out including national consultation, international coordination with Sweden and Germany, and stakeholder participation. The actual work is at a starting phase.

Sweden: The work so far has been extremely slow. There have been meetings and consultations with Finland and Estonia. Sweden is strongly bound to its existing programme and cannot foresee significant changes to the program which seem reasonably good. The map services help Sweden in planning and in eventual changes to the programme. Foresee that revised programme will be ready late this


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year and most likely with only few changes to present. Follows the MORE project with the view to pick up useful things which facilitate monitoring.

Lithuania: In Lithuania, there is a project started in 2011 for MSFD implementation. From the beginning of 2013 experts have been involved and currently work is being done on a gap analysis of monitoring programme and analysis of data from stations. The budget is limited and involvement of new parameters needs good arguments and prioritisation is being carried out. Now three groups of indicators: existing indicators, new indicators that have lacking monitoring and indicators with no data and monitoring in Lithuania that still require research. It is expected that in the end of May the first monitoring programme will be presented for public consultation in the end of 2013 updated monitoring will be presented.

Latvia: One informal discussion has been carried out between the ministry and the Institute of Aquatic Ecology to consider how to manage with the requirements stemming from DIKE. The institute does not have a contract with the ministry of the environment yet.

Poland: The consultation of revised monitoring programme will in May 2013. Since last meeting a programme has been developed for Indicator 3 Commercial fish and for 1 and 4. Programme has been proposed for 6 and 7, for 8 and 9 previous work will be used. Indicators 10 and 11 are still under development. Initial assessments were finished and prepared last year and CORESET and DIKE work were taken into account in this work. Programme is core indicator oriented - according to reporting art. 11, 19 (3) MFSD.

6.2 The Meeting took note of the presentation by HELCOM CORESET Project Manager Mr. Samuli Korpinen on the gaps in monitoring for the proposed core set of indicators (presentation 1).

6.3 The Meeting took note of Future work of HELCOM MORE outlining from the Secretariat’s point of view how the work of HELCOM MORE could be organised taking into account the monitoring needs of the core set of indicators as well as ongoing and planned activities within HELCOM (document 6/2). The Meeting commented that the timetables proposed in the document were too ambitious and national monitoring needs and activities should be the starting point of the revision, however taking the core set indicator data and monitoring needs into account.

6.4 The Meeting took note of Structure and design of the HELCOM monitoring programmes by Germany and Finland and as presented by Ms. Andrea Weiss, Germany (document 6/1 and presentation 2).

6.5 The Meeting drafted and agreed on a draft work plan for revising the HELCOM monitoring programme during 2013-14 as contained in Annex 2 and outlining how to arrange the work for tasks defined by HELCOM GEAR 3/2013: a. Joint documentation of monitoring, b. Coordinated monitoring network, c. Coordinated monitoring progeamme and d. Further development of monitoring guidelines.

6.6 The Meeting invited HELCOM MONAS 18/2013 to consider the draft work plan for 2013-14 and the continuation of HELCOM MORE project until the end of 2014, bearing in mind that also HELCOM GEAR 3/2013 had reflected on the need to continue HELCOM MORE project in 2014.

6.7 The Meeting reflected on the need to review the HELCOM Recommendation 19/3 the manual for the marine monitoring in the COMBINE Programme of HELCOM after the preceding tasks contained in the work plan have been completed.

6.8 The Meeting emphasized that the work to be done in HELCOM to review the monitoring programmes as outlined in Annex 2 will require expert work under HELCOM MONAS as well as coordination of the work by HELCOM MORE and MONAS. The Meeting was of the opinion that HELCOM MONAS 18/2013 should consider and make to HELCOM HOD 41/2013 a proposal for how to set up the expert work related to the revision of the monitoring


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programmes (e.g. the ToR for the Expert Group of Hazardous Substances HAZES in document 6/2).

6.9 The Meeting reconsidered the draft Declaration of the HELCOM 2013 Ministerial Meeting and agreed to propose to HELCOM HOD the following text to the paragraph 1 (K) Marine knowledge, monitoring and assessment “ADOPT the revised HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Strategy implying a six-year monitoring and assessment cycle and AGREE to start implementing it immediately, implying as the first step a review and updating of the monitoring programme and related guidelines and manuals by 2014 and, streamlining of the activities so that they serve also other international and national frameworks…”.

Agenda Item 7 Any other business

Documents: None

7.1 The Meeting agreed to hold the next workshop of the project, HELCOM MORE 6/2013, on 8-9 October 2013 and thanked Estonia for its willingness to host the workshop in Tallinn.

7.2 The Meeting thanked Lithuania for its willingness to consider hosting the next workshop of HELCOM MORE in Klaipeda.

7.3 The Meeting did not consider any other business.

Agenda Item 8 Outcome of the meeting

Documents: None

8.1 The Meeting adopted the draft minutes of the Meeting as contained in document 8/1. The Minutes of the Meeting, together with the documents and presentations of the Meeting will be made available in the HELCOM Meeting Portal once finalised by the Secretariat and the Chair.


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Annex 1

PARTICIPANTS

CHAIRMAN

Mr. Urmas Lips

Marine Systems Institute at Tallinn University of Technology

Akademia tee 15a

EE-12618 Tallinn

Dir.Phone: +372 6204304

Fax: 3726204301

Email: [email protected]

DENMARK

Mr. Jens Hansen

DCE – Danish Centre for Environment and Energy

Aarhus University

Institute of Bioscience

Vejlsøvej 25

DK-8600 Silkeborg

Dir.Phone: +45 (871) 58 805

Fax:


FINLAND

Mr. Pekka Alenius

Finnish Meteorological Institute

Marine Research

P.O. Box 503

FI-00101 Helsinki

Dir.Phone: +358 504392887

Fax:


Mr. Jan-Erik Bruun

Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE)

Center of Marine Research

PL 140

FI-00251 Helsinki

Dir.Phone: +358 405662890

Fax: +358 20 610 1335


Ms. Maiju Lehtiniemi


P.O. Box 140

FI-00251 Helsinki

Dir.Phone: +358407255085

Fax:


Mr. Juha-Markku Leppänen


Marine Research Centre

P.O. Box 140

FI-00251 Helsinki

Dir.Phone: +358 503259652

Fax:


Petra Roiha

Finnish Meteorological Institute

Marine Research

P.O. Box 503

Helsinki

Dir.Phone: +358 (29) 539 6506

Fax:


GERMANY

Ms. Andrea Weiss

MSFD – Secretariat Function for the Federal Ministry of the Environment

Federal Environment Agency

Wörlitzer Platz 1

D-06844 Dessau-Rosslau

Dir.Phone: +49 34021032302

Fax: +49 34021042302


LITHUANIA

Ms. Aiste Kubiliute

Marine Research Department

Environmental Protection Agency

Water Management and programmes division

Taikos av. 26

lt-91149 Klaipeda

Dir.Phone: +370 46410456

Fax: +370 46410460



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LATVIA

Ms. Diana Stendzeniece

Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology Dir.Phone:

Fax:

Email: diana [email protected]

POLAND

Ms. Magdalena Kaminska

Waszyngtona Str., 42

Institute of Meterology and Water Management

Maritime Branch

Gdynia

Dir.Phone: 48 58 6288255

Fax: 48 58 6288163


SWEDEN

Ms. Gunilla Ejdung

Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management

Box 11 930

SE-404 39 Göteborg

Dir.Phone: +46 (10) 698 62 88

Fax:


Mr. Sverker Evans

Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management

P.O. Box 11 930

SE-404 39 Göteborg

Dir.Phone: +46 (10) 698 61 58

Fax:


HELCOM SECRETARIAT

Mr. Manuel Frias Vega

Project Coordinator

Helsinki Commission

Katajanokanlaituri 6 B

FI-00160 Helsinki

Dir.Phone: +358 468509209

Fax: +358 207412645

Email: manuel.frias [email protected]

Mr. Joni Kaitaranta

Data Administrator

Helsinki Commission


FI-00160 Helsinki

Dir.Phone: +358 468509206

Fax: +358 207412645


Mr. Samuli Korpinen

Project Manager (CORESET)

Helsinki Commission


FI-00160 Helsinki

Dir.Phone: +358 400329157

Fax: +358 207412645


Ms. Maria Laamanen

Professional Secretary

Helsinki Commission


FI-00160 Helsinki

Dir.Phone: +358 468509198

Fax: +358 207412645


Ms Monika Stankiewicz Helsinki Commission


FI-00160 Helsinki

Dir.Phone: ++358 40 840 2471

Fax: +358 207412645



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Annex 2

DRAFT Work Plan for revising the HELCOM monitoring programme – work plan for MORE 2013-2014

BACKGROUND

The terms of reference for MORE endorsed by HOD 36/2011 address the need to review

and revise the HELCOM monitoring programmes. With the revision of the HELCOM

Monitoring and Assessment Strategy a number of common principles and concepts have

been set out which will form one basis for the review and revision process. One aim of the

review of the HELCOM monitoring programme is to support regionally coordinated

monitoring in fulfilling the requirements HELCOM EU Member States under the MSFD. The

HELCOM monitoring programme will need to be reviewed and revised in order

to structure and document the HELCOM monitoring in such a way that it supports

Contracting Parties needs

to integrate all joint coordinated monitoring activities into one monitoring manual,

including new and evolving monitoring activities

to adapt to and execute the agreed principles and concepts of the revised Strategy

to scientifically review existing monitoring strategies and guidelines

MORE work should influence ongoing EU processes and take account of and follow relevant

EU and national activities and their timing. It is acknowledged that the revision and

development of monitoring strategies and guidelines will only be completed after 2014.

Relevant EU activities include in the short term among others:

Issue Who When

Endorsement of Monitoring

Concepts and Principles

EU Marine Directors May 2013

Endorsement of Art. 11

MSFD reporting requirements

EU Marine Directors May 2013

Development of

decentralized reporting

approach

Drafting Group under WG

DIKE

First step: June 2013

Workshop geographic scales

and aggregation in

assessments (part of EU

Common understanding doc)

WG GES September 2013

Draft guidance on MSFD

monitoring

JRC October 2013

Technical translation of

reporting requirements into

xml schemata

WG DIKE June / October 2013

Final: December 2013

GEAR 3/2013 set out the priorities for the revision of the HELCOM monitoring programme in

the remaining time of the current MORE project and beyond in the four steps (a to d under

tasks and work plan) below. To avoid confusion with EU terminology and linking with the


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terminology of the COMBINE manual, the term “HELCOM monitoring manual” is used in the

following to refer to the document that compiles and integrates all HELCOM monitoring

activities. If the BALMON project is granted, the monitoring manual should be updated as

needed to reflect results.

Definitions (to be drafted by HELCOM MORE 6/2013)

“manual”

monitoring programme

monitoring strategy

monitoring guidelines

monitoring network

COOPERATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY

MORE will work closely with MONAS and its expert groups on technical thematic monitoring

aspects and in cooperation with the BALMON project (if successful) which will contribute to

specific aspects of the monitoring programme. MORE will frame and guide the revision of the

HELCOM monitoring programmes through setting out cross-cutting requirements and will be

responsible fordeveloping a web-based HELCOM monitoring manual. MORE is responsible

to MONAS which will have particular interest in the technical aspects of the monitoring

manual (see tasks b, c and d below) and to GEAR as the general supervising body with

particular interest in policy and conceptual aspects (see task a below). There is a need to

clarify the relationship of MORE and MONAS and its expert groups in order to enhance

efficiency of the processes:

MORE coordinates the development of a HELCOM monitoring manual. This involves

the conceptual and strategic design and the organisation of the manual. This includes

responsibility for the technical implementation of the web-based monitoring manual

and support of EU MS reporting requirements. MORE should be accountable to

GEAR on those aspects and to HELCOM MONAS on scientific-technical aspects

related to these issues.

MORE will draft the frame of the monitoring manual (key elements of the monitoring

programme, cf. Part A Combine Manual) which applies to all monitoring themes. In

doing so, MORE will translate the HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Strategy into

concrete cross-cutting requirements for the design of monitoring strategies. This

should be done in a cooperative process with MONAS (and its technical expert

groups). To live up to the ambitious time table, MORE task managers will ensure that

best national expertise is used in the drafting process. MONAS (and its technical

expert groups) will be included in the drafting process through written procedures.

Contracting Parties will be requested to coordinate nationally their delegations to

MORE, MONAS and its technical expert groups so that one national position will be

submitted.

MORE will define the work and deadlines required from MONAS and its thematic

expert groups to contribute in due time and quality to the HELCOM monitoring

manual. MONAS will oversee the technical and scientific implementation of the

monitoring requirements through the development of monitoring strategies and

guidelines. MORE will steer the process and compile the thematic contributions into

one monitoring manual and take oversight of the various elements to ensure that they

fit together and are consistent.


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There is a need for MONAS to consider how thematic expert work on monitoring can be

carried out in a resource-efficient manner and to consider the need for expert groups to

support this work.

TASKS AND WORK PLAN

1. Joint documentation of monitoring

Timing: Action to start immediately and be followed as a priority in 2013. It is expected that

the concept and basic agreements are in place by the end of 2013 so that a web-based

manual can be implemented in the first half of 2014.

As a priority, MORE will work on joint documentation for monitoring which can be utilized by

all HELCOM countries. This requires:

a. to explore options to use a web-based manual and fact sheet approach at regional

level in order to support decentralised reporting by Contracting Parties of jointly

prepared documentation of monitoring programmes under Art. 11(3) MSFD and

develop a proposal for HOD, including financial and organizational implications and

detailed arrangements to ensure implementation in line with the timing, substantive

and technical requirements of the EU. Actions:

- to prepare a proposal how a web-based manual could look like at regional

level and how it could be implemented. Task managers: Germany, Finland,

any other CP

Draft proposal to be sent to delegations of MORE and MONAS by 10

May 2013 for commenting,

CPs to send their comments to the MORE project manager by 31 May,

A consolidated version will be submitted to GEAR 4/2013 for further

consideration with a request whether this could be recommended to

HOD,

- to present the proposal to the technical group meeting of DIKE in June 2013,

- to consolidate the proposal in light of the outcome of the technical group

meeting of DIKE and circulate to MORE and MONAS delegations for

commenting,

- the aim is to have the documentation ready by July 2014.

b. to develop the structure of the HELCOM monitoring manual in such a way that the

monitoring strategies can be used for national purposes, including for reporting on

Art. 11 MSFD

- to put forward to the meeting of the JRC-led guidance document on 22 April

2013 the compilation of HELCOM manuals and guidelines as sources and

material for the drafting process

- to use for those CPs that are also EU Member States the annotated guidance

outline by JRC and the forthcoming structure of MSFD electronic reporting as

the basis for structuring the revised HELCOM manual

- draft proposal for the revision of the COMBINE manual, including an

annotated structure, that integrates all relevant monitoring activities for the

BSAP. Task managers: Estonia, Finland, Germany, Secretariat, and any other

CPs.


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Draft proposal to be sent to MORE delegations by 31 August 2013 for

commenting

MORE delegations to comment by 15 September 2013.

A consolidated draft proposal will be prepared for MORE 6/2013.

c. to develop a proposal for the coverage of parameters and monitoring concepts to

meet assessment needs and the requirements of the BSAP/MSFD and for the

integration of existing HELCOM monitoring programmes into one manual. This

includes clarification of monitoring commitments of Contracting Parties in relation to

differing monitoring requirements and purposes. This involves:

- to invite Contracting Parties to provide information on the outline of their

national MSFD monitoring program and information on principle concepts

such as spatial scales, temporal trends and monitoring concepts (e.g. WFD

philosophy). For this purpose,

CPs send their ideas for relevant questions to be included into a

questionnaire to the project manager Manuel Frias by 19 April 2013.

On that basis, the project manager will prepare and circulate a

questionnaire to MORE delegations by 30 April.

CPs will send their responses to the questionnaire to the project

manager by 31 May 2013.

Baltic Sea representatives to the JRC-led guidance process will make

use of any common grounds resulting from CP replies in the process

of drafting the JRC-guidance.

- to invite Contracting Parties to send information on the list of their national

indicators 31 August 2013, indicating the HELCOM core, candidate and

supplementary indicators used and indicating state of development,

prioritization of their operationalisation and development needs for sampling

and analysis methods. The project manager will circulate a simple table format

to assist the collection of this information and will compile the information and

prepare a synthesis for MORE 6/2013.

- to develop a proposal for structuring the monitoring manual at sub-

programme/indicator level for MORE 6/2013. Task managers: Estonia,

Finland, Germany, Secretariat, and any other CP.

- MORE 6/2013 to start developing specifications for the tasks of thematic

experts under MONAS to contribute to the HELCOM monitoring programme,

based on a proposal by Estonia, Finland, Germany, Secretariat, and any other

CP.

2. Coordinated monitoring network

Timing: Action started, followed in autumn 2013 and continues. It is expected that the

network is successfully revised for the existing parameters and partly expanded for new

parameters by October 2014.

MORE will support Contracting Parties in the coordination of their monitoring networks

through web-based documentation of the station information that Contracting Parties

submitted to MORE on their current monitoring activities.

The activity will involve


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a. bi- and multilateral cooperation on monitoring stations, sharing of infrastructure, joint

monitoring initiatives, and specialized work-sharing to optimize the monitoring network:

- MORE to provide a platform in 2013 for Contracting Parties to cooperate on and

coordinate monitoring activities, and

- to oversee arrangements for joint data products from other observation platforms

(e.g. Copernicus, formerly GMES) and for ground truth monitoring, based on

MONAS expert proposals,

b. integrating new monitoring requirements into the existing network (e.g. litter and noise).

3. Coordinated monitoring programme

Timing: Work has started – to be continued in 2013 and with particular emphasis in 2014. It

is expected that monitoring strategies will not be ready for all indicators by October 2014 as

some of the indicators still need further development. Prioritisation of the work is required.

The aim is to achieve regionally coherent monitoring and sampling strategies across the

Baltic Sea region that are at the same time compatible with the monitoring requirements of

other national, EU and international frameworks. MORE will review and revise in cooperation

with MONAS and its thematic expert groups HELCOM monitoring. MORE will translate the

HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Strategies into concrete monitoring requirements

applicable to all themes. MONAS will oversee the technical and scientific review and revision

of existing as well as the development of new monitoring strategies. The revision will take

account among others of the forthcoming JRC guidance document on monitoring and other

relevant EU guidance. The activity involves

to draft the framing text of the manual, based on the consolidated annotated structure

presented to MORE 6/2013 (see point a). The drafting will make use as much as

possible of the COMBINE manual (cf. Part A) and other relevant monitoring

programmes. The aim is to present a draft by end of 2013.

in 2013 MONAS and its expert groups review the regional coherence and adequacy of spatial and temporal resolution of existing monitoring in the light of assessment needs at different scales. This will be supported by the overview of existing monitoring undertaken by MORE.

to initiate, as required, the revision or development by MONAS and its expert groups

of monitoring strategies, based on the specification of tasks and on the proposed

structure by MORE:

o to identify in 2013 needs for collective use of data products from other

observation platforms (e.g. Copernicus, formerly GMES) and for ground truth

monitoring,

o to review monitoring strategies and revise/update as necessary for existing

monitoring by July 2014,

o to prioritise work on developing monitoring strategies for new monitoring

requirements in 2014,

to compile the thematic contributions from MONAS and its expert groups into one

monitoring manual and take overview of the different components of the manual to

ensure that all parts are consistent and take advantage of opportunities for monitoring

synergies. Support will be needed e.g. through a project manager to undertake this

work.


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4. Further development of monitoring guidelines

Timing: Action to start in 2014. It is expected that most (revised) guidelines will deliver only in 2015 and beyond. The aim is to ensure consistent monitoring and that data sets are comparable and quality assured across the Baltic Sea region. Monitoring guidelines set out in detail the technical guidance on standards for monitoring and quality assurance procedures. MORE will work with MONAS and its thematic expert groups and other experts to review and revise the guidelines, taking into account ISO/CEN standards. The activity involves work by MONAS:

to take stock of existing guidelines, identify gaps and identify needs to improve

consistent monitoring in 2014,

to check whether existing guidelines still reflect the state-of-the-art or need updating

in 2014,

to improve harmonised use of existing methods and standards start in 2014, and

to develop guidelines for new monitoring aspects, taking into account work of, and

where feasible sharing work with, other organizations, in particular regional seas

conventions, such as OSPAR, and ICES as well as the technical sub-groups under

the MSFD working on noise and litter start in 2014.

5. Review of Recommendation 19/3 the manual for the marine monitoring in the

COMBINE Programme of HELCOM

Following the review and revision of the HELCOM monitoring programme, implications for

the HELCOM Recommendation 19/3 need to be considered and, if appropriate, amendments

proposed. There have been no changes of the Recommendation since 1998 and there is

benefit to review the Recommendation also with a view to reflecting the HELCOM Monitoring

and Assessment Strategy.


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Attachment 2 This document presents an amended Annex 2 of the Outcome of the fifth expert workshop of the HELCOM project for the revision of monitoring programmes (HELCOM MORE 5/2013), i.e. an amended Draft Work Plan for revising the HELCOM monitoring programme – work plan for MORE 2013-2014 (Annex 2 to the Minutes). The amendments resulted from a brief e-mail commenting round after the HELCOM MORE 5/2013 workshop which was finalized after submission of the document to the Meeting. They include the completing of definitions of monitoring related concept for this version.

This document should be considered instead of the original Annex 2 of the MORE 5/2013 outcome.


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DRAFT Work Plan for revising the HELCOM monitoring programme – work plan for MORE 2013-2014

Background The terms of reference for MORE endorsed by HOD 36/2011 address the need to review and revise the HELCOM monitoring programmes. With the revision of the HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Strategy a number of common principles and concepts have been set out which will form a basis for the review and revision process. One aim of the review of the HELCOM monitoring programme is to support regionally coordinated monitoring for HELCOM assessment needs and for fulfilling the requirements HELCOM EU Member States under the MSFD. The HELCOM monitoring programme will need to be reviewed and revised in order

• to structure and document the HELCOM monitoring in such a way that it supports Contracting Parties’ needs,

• to integrate all joint coordinated monitoring activities into one monitoring manual, including new and evolving monitoring activities,

• to adapt to and execute the agreed principles and concepts of the revised Strategy, and

• to scientifically review existing monitoring strategies and guidelines.

MORE work should influence ongoing EU processes and take account of and follow relevant EU and national activities and their timing as far as relevant for those Contracting Parties being also EU member states. It is acknowledged that the revision and development of monitoring strategies and guidelines will only be completed after 2014. Relevant EU activities include in the short term among others:

Issue Who When

Endorsement of Monitoring Concepts and Principles EU Marine Directors

May 2013

Endorsement of Art. 11 MSFD reporting requirements EU Marine Directors

May 2013

Development of decentralized reporting approach Drafting Group under WG DIKE

First step: June 2013

Workshop geographic scales and aggregation in assessments (part of EU Common understanding doc)

WG GES September 2013

Draft guidance on MSFD monitoring JRC October 2013

Technical translation of reporting requirements into xml schemata

WG DIKE June / October 2013

Final: December 2013


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GEAR 3/2013 set out the priorities for the revision of the HELCOM monitoring programme in the remaining time of the current MORE project and beyond in the five steps under Tasks and work plan section below. If the BALMON project is granted, the monitoring manual should be updated as needed to reflect results.

Definitions

• Monitoring programme refers to all substantive arrangements for carrying out monitoring. It includes general guidance with cross-cutting concepts, commitments and requirements for monitoring (cf. Part A of the COMBINE Manual), monitoring strategies, monitoring guidelines, and data reporting and handling arrangements.

• Monitoring manual refers to the documentation and presentation of the HELCOM monitoring programme that compiles and integrates all HELCOM monitoring activities.

• Monitoring strategy refers to arrangements on what is monitored where, when, how often, in which matrix and how. In principle, monitoring strategies are set out at parameter level. For documentation, strategies can be combined and presented at indicator or theme level.

• Monitoring network is used to refer to the combination of sampling station network and other observation techniques and platforms as a basis for establishing joint and cooperative monitoring activities at (sub-)regional level.

• Monitoring guidelines refer to detailed technical guidance on methods and standards for sampling, analysis and quality control/assurance. They complement and specify the monitoring strategies.

Cooperation and Accountability HELCOM MORE will work closely with HELCOM MONAS (and its expert groups) on technical thematic monitoring aspects and in cooperation with the BALMON project (if successful) which will contribute to specific aspects of the monitoring programme. MORE will frame and guide the revision of the HELCOM monitoring programme through setting out cross-cutting requirements and will have the task to develop a web-based HELCOM monitoring manual.

HELCOM MORE is responsible to HELCOM MONAS which will have particular interest in the technical aspects of the monitoring programme (see tasks 2, 3 and 4 below) and to HELCOM GEAR as the general coordinating body with particular interest in policy, timing of activities and conceptual aspects (see task 1 below).

There is a need for MONAS to consider how the thematic expert work on monitoring can be carried out in a resource-efficient manner and to consider the need for expert groups and work arrangement to support this work. There is a need to clarify the relationship of MORE and MONAS expert groups in order to enhance efficiency of the processes:

• MORE coordinates the development of a HELCOM monitoring manual. This involves the conceptual and strategic design and the organisation of the manual. This includes responsibility for the technical implementation of the web-based monitoring manual and support of EU Member States’ reporting requirements. MORE should be accountable to GEAR on those aspects and to HELCOM MONAS on scientific-technical aspects related to these issues.

• MORE will draft the frame of the monitoring manual (key elements of the monitoring programme, cf. Part A Combine Manual) which applies to all monitoring themes. In doing so, MORE will translate the HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Strategy into


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concrete cross-cutting guidance for the design of monitoring strategies. This should be done in a cooperative process with MONAS expert groups. To live up to the ambitious time table, MORE task managers will ensure that best national expertise is used in the drafting process. MONAS (and its expert groups) will be included in the drafting process through written procedures. Contracting Parties will be requested to coordinate nationally their delegations to MORE and MONAS (and its expert groups) so that one national position will be submitted.

• MORE will define the work and deadlines required from MONAS expert groups to contribute in due time and quality to the HELCOM monitoring manual. MONAS will oversee the technical and scientific implementation of the monitoring requirements through the development of monitoring strategies and guidelines. MORE will steer the process and compile the thematic contributions into one monitoring manual and take oversight of the various elements to ensure that they fit together and are consistent.

Tasks and Work Plan

1. Joint documentation of monitoring

Timing: Action to start immediately and be followed as a priority in 2013. It is expected that the concept and basic agreements are in place by the end of 2013 so that a web-based manual can be implemented in the first half of 2014, ready for supporting HELCOM EU Member States in reporting their monitoring programmes in October 2014.

As a priority, MORE will work on joint documentation for monitoring which can be utilized by all HELCOM countries. This requires:

a. to explore options to use a web-based manual and fact sheet approach at regional level in order to support decentralised reporting by Contracting Parties of jointly prepared documentation of monitoring programmes under Art. 11(3) MSFD and develop a proposal for GEAR and HOD, including financial and organizational implications and detailed arrangements to ensure implementation in line with the timing, substantive and technical requirements of the EU for those Contracting Parties that are also EU member states. Actions:

- to prepare a proposal how a web-based manual could look like at regional level and how it could be implemented. Task managers: Germany, Finland [and Estonia as part of the GES-REG project], and any other CP

draft proposal to be sent to delegations of MORE and MONAS by 10 May 2013 for commenting,

CPs to send their comments to the task managers by 28 May 2013,

task managers to consolidate proposal for GEAR 4/2013 to be held on 13-14 June 2013 for further consideration with a request whether this could be recommended to HOD,

- to present the proposal to the technical group meeting of DIKE in June 2013,

- to consolidate the proposal in light of the outcome of the technical group meeting of DIKE and circulate to MORE and MONAS delegations for commenting,

- the aim is to have the documentation ready by July 2014.

b. to develop the structure of the HELCOM monitoring manual in such a way that the documentation of monitoring strategies can be used for national purposes, including for reporting on Art. 11 MSFD:


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- to put forward to the meeting of the JRC-led guidance document on 22 April 2013 the compilation of HELCOM manuals and guidelines as sources and material for the drafting process,

- to use for those CPs that are also EU Member States the annotated guidance outline by JRC and the forthcoming structure of MSFD electronic reporting for Art. 11 MSFD as the basis for structuring the revised HELCOM monitoring programme and manual,

- draft proposal for the revision of the HELCOM monitoring programme, including an annotated structure, that integrates all relevant monitoring activities for the BSAP/MSFD. Task managers: Estonia, Finland, Germany, Secretariat, and any other CPs.

Draft proposal to be sent to MORE delegations by 31 August 2013 for commenting

MORE delegations to comment by 15 September 2013.

A consolidated draft proposal will be prepared for MORE 6/2013.

c. to develop a proposal for the coverage of parameters and monitoring concepts to meet assessment needs and the requirements of the BSAP/MSFD and for the integration of existing HELCOM monitoring programmes into one manual. This includes clarification of monitoring commitments of Contracting Parties in relation to differing monitoring requirements and purposes. This involves

- to invite Contracting Parties to provide information on the outline of their national MSFD monitoring programme and information on principle concepts such as spatial scales, temporal trends and monitoring concepts (e.g. WFD philosophy). For this purpose,

CPs to send their ideas for relevant questions to be answered to the MORE Project Manager Manuel Frias by 19 April 2013.

On that basis, the Project Manager will prepare and circulate a questionnaire to MORE delegations by 30 April 2013.

CPs will send their responses to the questionnaire to the Project Manager by 31 May 2013.

Baltic Sea representatives to the JRC-led guidance process will make use of any common grounds resulting from CPs’ replies in the process of drafting the JRC-guidance.

- to invite Contracting Parties to send information on the list of their national indicators by 31 August 2013, indicating the HELCOM core, candidate and supplementary indicators used, and with information on the state of development, prioritization of their operationalisation and development needs for sampling and analysis methods. The Project Manager will circulate a simple table format to assist the collection of this information and will compile the information and prepare a synthesis for MORE 6/2013.

- to develop a proposal for structuring the monitoring manual at sub-programme/indicator level for MORE 6/2013. Task managers: Estonia, Finland, Germany, Secretariat, and any other CP.

- MORE 6/2013 to start developing specifications for the tasks of (expert groups under) MONAS to contribute to the HELCOM monitoring programme, based on a proposal prepared by Estonia, Finland, Germany, Secretariat, and any other CP.


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2. Coordinated monitoring network

Timing: Action started, followed in autumn 2013 and continues. It is expected that the network is successfully revised for the existing parameters and partly expanded for new parameters by October 2014.

MORE will support Contracting Parties in the coordination of their monitoring networks through web-based documentation of the station information that Contracting Parties submitted to MORE on their current monitoring activities.

The activity will involve

a. bi- and multilateral cooperation on monitoring stations and other observation techniques, sharing of infrastructure, joint monitoring initiatives, and specialized work-sharing to optimize the monitoring network

- MORE to provide a platform in 2013 for Contracting Parties to cooperate on and coordinate monitoring activities, and

- to oversee arrangements for joint data products from other observation platforms (e.g. Copernicus, formerly GMES) and for ground truth monitoring, based on MONAS expert proposals

b. integrating new monitoring requirements into the existing network (e.g. litter and noise).

3. Coordinated monitoring programme

Timing: Work has started – to be continued in 2013 and with particular emphasis in 2014. It is expected that monitoring strategies will not be ready for all indicators by October 2014 as some of the indicators still need further development. Prioritisation of the work is required.

The aim is to achieve regionally coherent monitoring across the Baltic Sea region that is at the same time compatible with the monitoring requirements of other national, EU and international frameworks. MORE will review and revise in cooperation with MONAS (and its expert groups) HELCOM monitoring. MORE will translate the HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Strategy into concrete monitoring requirements applicable to all themes. MONAS will oversee the technical and scientific review and revision of existing as well as the development of new monitoring strategies. The revision of the HELCOM monitoring programme will take account among others of the forthcoming JRC guidance document on monitoring and other relevant EU guidance which are of relevance for those CPs being also EU member states. The activity involves:

• MORE to draft the general guidance as part of the monitoring programme, based on the consolidated annotated structure presented to MORE 6/2013 (see point 1). The drafting will make use as much as possible of the COMBINE manual (cf. Part A) and other relevant HELCOM monitoring programmes. The aim is to present a draft by end of 2013.

• In 2013, MONAS (and its expert groups) review the regional coherence and adequacy of spatial and temporal resolution of existing monitoring in the light of assessment needs at different scales. This will be supported by the overview of existing monitoring undertaken by MORE.

• MONAS (and its expert groups) to start the review and, as required, the revision or the development of monitoring strategies, based on the specification of tasks and on the proposed structure by MORE:


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o in 2013, to identify needs for collective use of data products from other observation platforms (e.g. Copernicus, formerly GMES) and for ground truth monitoring.

o by July 2014, to review monitoring strategies for existing monitoring and revise/update them as necessary

o in 2014, to prioritise work on developing monitoring strategies for new monitoring requirements.

• MORE to compile the thematic contributions from MONAS (and its expert groups) into one monitoring programme and manual and take overview of the different components to ensure that all parts are consistent and take advantage of opportunities for monitoring synergies. Support will be needed e.g. through a project manager to undertake this work.

4. Further development of monitoring guidelines

Timing: Action to start in 2014. It is expected that most (revised) guidelines will deliver only in 2015 and beyond.

The aim is to ensure consistent monitoring and that data sets are comparable and quality assured across the Baltic Sea region. Monitoring guidelines set out in detail the technical guidance on standards for monitoring and quality assurance procedures. MORE will work with MONAS (and its expert groups) and other experts to review and revise the guidelines, taking into account ISO/CEN standards. The activity involves work by MONAS

• by July 2014, to take stock of existing guidelines, identify gaps and identify needs to improve consistent monitoring

• in 2014, to check whether existing guidelines still reflect the state-of-the-art or need updating

• to start in 2014 to improve harmonised use of existing methods and standards

• to start in 2014 to develop guidelines for new monitoring aspects, taking into account work of, and where feasible sharing work with, other organizations, in particular regional seas conventions, such as OSPAR, and ICES.

5. Review of HELCOM Recommendation 19/3 Manual for the marine monitoring in the COMBINE Programme

Following the review and revision of the HELCOM monitoring programme, implications for the HELCOM Recommendation 19/3 need to be considered and, if appropriate, amendments proposed. The Recommendation has not been changed since 1998 and therefore merits general reviewing with a view to reflecting the revision of the HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Strategy.


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Attachment 3

This attached document contains the reviewed and revised HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Strategy elaborated by the HELCOM Project for the revision of the HELCOM Monitoring (HELCOM MORE). The revised Strategy has been reviewed by:

− HELCOM MORE contacts after the HELCOM MORE 4/2013 meeting,

− HELCOM GEAR 3/2013,

− GEAR or MONAS contacts after the HELCOM GEAR 3/2013,

− HELCOM MORE 5/2013, and

− HELCOM MONAS 18/2013.

HELCOM MONAS 18/2013 welcomed the revised HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Strategy elaborated by the HELCOM MORE as a good and helpful document.

The meeting scrutinized and discussed the draft strategy, specifically the highlighted parts of the draft strategy. The meeting recommended that a table with open sea sub-basin names should be included in the strategy. The meeting took note of the comment by Poland that there is a need to reconsider the divisions of some of the Polish coastal areas and invited Contracting Parties to provide corrections and comments to their coastal assessment units to the Project Manager Mr. Manuel Frias ([email protected]) by 10 May 2013.

HELCOM MONAS 18/2013 endorsed the Monitoring and Assessment Strategy in principle and recommended that an updated version of the strategy (taking into account corrections and comments submitted by Contracting Parties) should be forwarded to HELCOM HOD 41/2013 for adoption.

After May 10 2013, number 25, as well as some other numbers that had not been visible due to labels overlap, have been made visible and the line dividing Szczecin lagoon has been strengthened. Changes, other than those on the map, made after MONAS 18/2013 have been highlighted.

The document has been submitted to HELCOM HOD 41/2013 with an invitation to the meeting to endorse the reviewed and revised HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Strategy and agree to forward it to the Copenhagen Ministerial Meeting for adoption and a decision to start implementing it immediately.

mailto:[email protected]


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DRAFT HELCOM MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT STRATEGY

1. Introduction 1.1 The framework for HELCOM monitoring and assessment activities is set out in Articles 16, 17, 18 and 24 of the Helsinki Convention.

1.2 The Baltic Sea is a marine region where the need for cooperation and coordination between countries is perhaps greater than in any other European Sea region. This stems from the small size and narrow shape of the sub-basins of the sea. Territorial waters or exclusive economic zones of two to nine countries meet in each larger Baltic Sea sub-basin.

1.3 HELCOM as the regional organisation for the protection of the Baltic Sea marine environment first started coordinating monitoring and assessment activities in the 1970s. Monitoring of physical, chemical and biological variables of the open sea started in 1979, monitoring of radioactive substances in the Baltic Sea started in 1984.

1.4 The first assessment report on the effects of pollution on the marine environment was published in 1980 and since 1987 periodical assessment of the status of the marine environment followed approximately every five years. Pollution Load Compilations have been an integral part of HELCOM’s assessment system since 1987.

1.5 During the 2000s HELCOM’s assessment system evolved from occasional production of theme-wise reports and periodical assessments of the state of the Baltic Sea to a more coordinated and time-wise managed system with Baltic Sea Environment Fact Sheet reports (previously Indicator Fact Sheets), thematic assessments and holistic assessments of the ecosystem health. This streamlining was supported by the adoption of HELCOM Data and Information Strategy in 2004 and HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Strategy in 2005.

1.6 The adoption of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) in 2007 put into practice the Ecosystem Approach to the management of human activities, emphasized the need to monitor and assess the change in the marine environment and progress towards the vision, goals and objectives on the state of the environment. The Declaration of the HELCOM 2010 Ministerial Meeting, further stressed the need to assess human pressures as well as the resulting impacts on the marine environment as a basis for identifying priority actions.

1.7 The 2010 HELCOM Ministerial Meeting decided to further develop the role of HELCOM as the main regional driving force of the implementation of the ecosystem approach to the management of human activities. It also decided to establish, for those HELCOM Contracting States being also EU-Member States, HELCOM as the coordinating platform for the regional implementation of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) in the Baltic Sea. To this end HELCOM 33/2012 established the HELCOM Group for implementation of the Ecosystem Approach (HELCOM GEAR) responsible for the regional coordination of the implementation of the BSAP and MSFD.

1.8 HELCOM has agreed (HELCOM Ministerial Declaration 2010) that the common understanding of the good environmental status of the Baltic Sea should be based on the agreed visions, goals and ecological objectives, and jointly developed quantitative targets and associated indicators as initiated with the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan and the relevant EU Directives and that the shared scientific understanding and the quantification of the good environmental status should be used in policy making at the international, regional and national levels, in order to ensure that adequate decisions and necessary measures pursuing the good environmental status of the Baltic Sea are taken.

1.9 The HELCOM Moscow 2010 Ministerial Meeting decided that the already initiated revision of the HELCOM monitoring programmes be finalized by 2013 and that it results in cost-effective joint monitoring, which fully supports the indicator-based assessment approach


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and monitoring of the implementation of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan, and is in line with other international monitoring and reporting requirements.

1.10 This HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Strategy consists of the main text of the Strategy and four Attachments which are an integral part of the Strategy. The attachments describe the HELCOM Joint Coordinated Monitoring System (Attachment 1), HELCOM Data and Information Strategy (Attachment 2), HELCOM Assessment System (Attachment 3) and HELCOM Subdivisions of the Baltic Sea (Attachment 4). 1.11 The HELCOM 2005 Monitoring and Assessment Strategy has been revised:

− to support regionally coordinated activities of the HELCOM Contracting Parties in respect of monitoring and assessment in implementing the BSAP and for those CPs being also EU member states the requirements of the EU MSFD,

− to adjust the cooperation on monitoring to the latest technical and scientific developments,

− to enlarge and strengthen the monitoring component of the Strategy, and

− to provide a hierarchy of possible sub-divisions of the Baltic Sea that should be used in monitoring and assessment purposes.

1.12 The general principles of the Strategy will be translated into concrete specifications and requirements through the revision of the HELCOM monitoring programmes, guidelines and manuals starting in 2013. This will follow European processes such as the MSFD CIS for those Contracting Parties that are also EU member states.

2. Objectives 2.1 The overall objectives of the HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Strategy are:

a) to lay out a system which enables showing how visions, goals and objectives set for the Baltic Sea marine environment are being met;

b) to plan a system that enables linking the quality of the environment to its management;

c) to facilitate the implementation of the ecosystem approach covering the whole Baltic Sea, including coastal and open waters;

d) to enable the provision of data and information that links pressures on land, from the atmosphere, in coastal areas and at sea to their impacts on the marine environment;

e) to describe the system for coordination of monitoring activities for Baltic Sea specific issues of concern;

f) to set out the structure and time frame for the production of region-specific assessments such as comprehensive thematic and holistic assessments and more concise and more timely indicator reports and other assessment products;

g) to create a system which enables raising also general public awareness of the Baltic Sea and HELCOM actions.

h) to design a system for producing targeted assessment products for region-specific management purposes by also making use of data and information produced by Contracting Parties for other fora1.

2.2 The HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Strategy focuses on objectives and strategies for monitoring and assessment of the whole Baltic Sea area in such a way as to bring added 1Inter alia EU Directives (Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Water Framework Directive, Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, Nitrates Directive, Habitats Directive, Birds Directive, Dangerous Substances Directive, IPPC Directive,), EEA, IAEA, ICES, OECD, UNEP.


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value to corresponding national and other international activities and to allow the production of environmental assessments covering the whole Baltic Sea.

2.3. The Strategy sets out how to provide monitoring and assessment information that can be used both for national and HELCOM purposes. It is designed to also enable production of data and information that can be used to fulfil other international requirements, in particular by those Contracting Parties that are also EU Member States in relation to:

− MSFD,

− WFD,

− Habitats and Birds Directives,

− the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR), and

− EU Integrated Maritime Policy.

2.4 The Strategy also aims to support ecosystem-based Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) in the Baltic Sea through enabling high-quality spatial data and assessment information for MSP purposes.

2.5 The Strategy also facilitates collaboration with other organizations in the field of environmental monitoring and assessment, e.g. the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), the European Environment Agency (EEA), the Barcelona Convention, OSPAR and Black Sea Commission, the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) and the European Air Pollution Monitoring Programme (EMEP) and UNEP Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment, including Socio-economic Aspects.

3. Common principles 3.1 The HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Strategy is based on common principles, such as:

a) data and information is gathered through joint monitoring activities, as described in the Joint Coordinated Monitoring System (Attachment 1) and shared in a manner which creates a compatible, shared regional pool of data utilisable by each Contracting Party as described in the HELCOM Data and Information Strategy (Attachment 2);

b) collection of data is based on agreed standards, guidelines and procedures to ensure comparability across the Baltic Sea Region;

c) it is recommended that sampling should be carried out using certified methods and analyses of the samples are carried out by laboratories that adhere to quality assurance procedures according to EN ISO/IEC 17025 (General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories), or ISO 9001 (Quality management systems – Requirements) or by laboratories performing close to these standards);

d) the data pool allows the production of indicator reports and assessment products which encompass the whole Baltic Sea as described in HELCOM Assessment Strategy (Attachment 3);

e) for the purposes of regional monitoring and assessments, the Baltic Sea can be sub-divided into sub-basins as depicted in HELCOM sub-divisions of the Baltic Sea (Attachment 4) and different hierarchical sub-division levels can be used depending on the needs: 1) the whole Baltic Sea, 2) dividing of the Baltic Sea into 17 sub-basins, 3) further dividing each of the 17 sub-basins into coastal areas (extending to 1 NM seaward from the baseline) and off-shore area (waters beyond 1 NM seaward from


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the baseline) and 4) further dividing the coastal areas into water bodies or types according to the WFD. Other sub-divisions can be agreed and used provided they remain within the boundaries and use the nomenclature of the described hierarchical system. The scale of sub-division to be chosen may differ depending on the monitoring and assessment purpose.

f) to maximise their use for national purposes, regional monitoring and assessment results are also presented in formats (e.g. point/station maps) that allow displaying them within national boundaries (EEZ, 12 nm) and showing hot spots. Such presentations are in addition to (sub)regional scale approaches as described in paragraph e) and take into account evolving national needs e.g. under the MSFD (such as grid-based approaches);

g) each Contracting Party is primarily responsible for monitoring of their catchments, territorial waters and exclusive economic zones and coordinated monitoring brings added value to the national monitoring;

h) the Baltic-wide data collection and joint assessment of the pressures and the resulting environmental state is designed and carried out so that they fit to and can be used for corresponding national obligations;

i) joint coordinated monitoring provides the necessary data for regular assessment of the state of the Baltic Sea and of human pressures and their impacts affecting the state, and enables evaluations of the extent to which measures are being effective, and enable the consideration of a need for action and evaluation of the degree of implementation of jointly agreed measures;

j) HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment is carried out in six-year monitoring and assessment cycles which are further specified by HELCOM GEAR.

3.2 The validity of this Strategy should be reviewed once in every six-year cycle and it should be updated and revised as necessary.

Figure 1. Flow-chart of the HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment System described in the HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Strategy.

Programmes


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4. National commitments, added-value and synergy 4.1 This HELCOM Strategy sets out the basis for how the HELCOM Contracting States commit themselves to design and carry out their national monitoring programmes and work together to produce and update joint assessments.

4.2 HELCOM joint coordinated monitoring and preparation of the various assessment products require that the Contracting Parties allocate adequate resources and commit to agreed schedules of activities.

4.3 Contracting States ensure that needed resources are available nationally, e.g., ships, laboratories, personnel, data management and analysis capacities and expertise, and make national commitments to implement this Strategy.

4.4 The national monitoring is coordinated within and between Contracting States in order to use resources in an efficient way. Shared monitoring stations and activities, information and data are steps towards this direction.

4.5 The aim is to use limited resources as efficiently as possible and to seek the added-value from HELCOM coordination and collaboration as a return to the Contracting Parties.

4.6 HELCOM offers a platform for the Contracting Parties to jointly plan and coordinate monitoring and assessment activities and to share resources to increase cost-efficiency and quality of data and assessment products as well as to fine-tune and optimise the activities to match national and international needs and obligations.

5. HELCOM Joint Coordinated Monitoring and Data and Information Strategy 5.1 The HELCOM Joint Coordinated Monitoring system described in Attachment 1 provides added value to the HELCOM Contracting Parties by creating a capability that is greater than the sum of national monitoring activities.

5.2 The system is to deliver data to:

a. identify relevant activities and quantify intensities and distribution of the anthropogenic pressures affecting the marine environment;

b. identify and quantify their impacts on the Baltic Sea ecosystem, and to distinguish between changes occurring due to anthropogenic and natural causes;

c. identify and quantify the changes in the environmental state as a result of regulatory actions;

d. act on emerging issues which have detrimental effects to the marine environment.

5.3 In the Baltic Sea, regional coordination of national monitoring activities brings added value. For a coherent approach, such monitoring can be arranged in thematic programmes that include:

-a well-defined purpose of monitoring, including the questions to be answered and the hypothesis to be tested;

-parameters to be measured, including supporting parameters required for assessment (e.g. for normalisation, explanation and validation);

-the temporal and spatial resolution of the sampling strategy, including the use of complementary observation technology and modelling;

-agreed methodologies and tools for sampling and analysis and combining data from different sources;

-agreed assessment methods and tools;

-agreed quality assurance procedures;


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-arrangements for data management (storing, handling, reporting, access, exchange).

5.4 The HELCOM monitoring system provides a Baltic-wide pool of data, which the Contracting Parties can use to enhance and improve their national programmes and assessment products.

5.5 The HELCOM Data and Information Strategy (Attachment 2) provides the principles for data management and access to the data held in the regional data pool as a result of joint coordinated monitoring and other data compilation activities.

6. HELCOM Assessment System 6.1 HELCOM Assessment System is described in Attachment 3 of this Strategy.

6.2 Assessment is both a process and its product. As a process, it is the procedure with agreed methodologies and tools to evaluate collected data and information. As a product, it is the synthesised, policy-relevant presentation of the findings of the assessment process.

6.3 Assessments take place at different levels, ranging from data on the measured parameter and indicator to thematic (e.g. BSAP segment, MSFD descriptors, WFD quality elements) and holistic assessments, involving increasingly complex assessment and aggregation procedures.

6.4 This Strategy promotes an operational assessment system, which yields regularly updated products, such as Core Indicator Reports describing the distance to the targets and descriptive Fact Sheets, leading to thematic assessments and regional holistic assessments that cover the whole Baltic Sea area.

6.5 The HELCOM assessment system will also cover socio-economic information needed for holistic assessments.

6.6 HELCOM’s overall objectives for assessments are:

a) Where objectives, targets and possible baselines set by HELCOM or other policies for the protection and conservation of the marine environment are equal or comparable, HELCOM assessments should address them in a compatible way;

b) Different assessments for different policy needs, covering (parts of) a sea region, should be consistent for that region;

c) Assessments should be scientifically sound and aimed at the broadest level of acceptability, so that they can be used by other organizations;

d) Information on the marine environment should, to the fullest extent possible, be shared to facilitate the production of assessments following what has been laid out in the HELCOM Data and Information Strategy;

e) Joint ownership of the assessment process and products is a prerequisite for their national acceptance in all Contracting Parties. Assessment processes and products need to be designed in a manner, which allows also their use by the Contracting Parties in fulfilling their national assessment obligations (including at smaller scales than the regional level).

7. Relations between HELCOM work and marine research activities 7.1 There should be continuous communication between research and the HELCOM monitoring and assessment work. Research agencies and institutes of Contracting Parties and observer organizations with research interests, that are not a regular part of HELCOM work, have an acknowledged role in this dialogue.

7.2 There is the need for marine research to study further inter alia:


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a) the basic processes and functional relationships in the marine environment, taking into account differences in temporal and spatial scales;

b) the causes of long-term changes identified with monitoring; c) linking activities within the catchment area to impacts in the marine environment; d) the impact mechanisms between human activities, anthropogenic pressures and

impacts on the ecosystem, including synergistic, cumulative and antagonistic impacts;

e) the climate driven changes to physical, chemical and biological features and the vulnerability of marine ecosystems and their interaction with human pressures;

f) socio-economics related to, and pressures acting on, the marine environment in order to improve the cost effectiveness of policies and measures, to provide valuations of benefits such as ecosystem services of the Baltic Sea and to estimate costs for degradation;

g) development of analytical methods and assessment tools, h) encourage scientific co-operation for development and testing of new monitoring

techniques, methods, sensors and devices and their integration with traditional ship-based data.

7.3 Optimization of monitoring system requires up-to-date scientific data and knowledge to be used in redesigning and adapting observation activities.

7.4 Integration of monitoring and research has potential for synergy gains. Contracting Parties will promote full use of available and emerging observation platforms to allow, when combined with adept planning and financing, reaching the required spatial coverage and temporal resolution of observations in a cost-efficient way.

8. Quality Assurance 8.1 Robust quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC), involving the use of international quality standards, are required to increase the reliability and comparability of data and confidence in assessments. Accreditation is recommended.

8.2 Environmental information is the product of chains of activities from programme design, execution and evaluation to assessment and reporting. Each activity needs to meet certain quality requirements. Thus, quality assurance requirements have to be set for each one of these activities. 8.3 The acquisition of reliable and comparable data is an essential component of any monitoring system to provide a sound basis for effective management. To obtain such data, the whole process (sampling, analysis methods and database) must proceed under a well-established QA programme. The quality assurance programme should ensure that the data are fit for the purpose, e.g. that they satisfy the detection limits and levels of accuracy compatible with the objectives of the monitoring programme.

8.4 HELCOM’s monitoring activities are based on commonly agreed and updated methodologies and procedures described in guidelines (e.g. HELCOM COMBINE Manual) and international and European standards where quality assurance constitutes an elementary part. The Contracting States are committed to follow these commonly adopted guidelines, standards, protocols, etc.

8.5 It is recommended that sampling should be carried out using certified methods and analyses of the samples are carried out by laboratories with introduced quality assurance procedures according to EN ISO/IEC 17025 (General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories) or ISO 9001 (Quality management systems - Requirements) or by laboratories performing close to these standards.


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8.6 All institutes/laboratories submitting data to HELCOM databases should participate in regular national and international intercalibration exercises and proficiency testing schemes arranged e.g. by national authorities and/or under QUASIMEME, ICES, or HELCOM. If certified reference materials are available, these should be used by all participating institutes or laboratories. The laboratories should ensure that performance criteria (uncertainty of measurement, limit of quantification) meet the requirements of the monitoring (e.g. assessment criteria).

9. Data handling and sharing 9.1 The Data and Information Strategy of the Helsinki Commission is in Attachment 2. 9.2 In its Data and Information activities HELCOM enshrines basic principles such as:

a) ‘collect data once and use them for many purposes’, b) ‘data should be interoperable, accessible and free of restrictions on use’ and c) ‘data should be quality assured by the provider, quality controlled and quality flagged’.

9.3 HELCOM contracting parties should collect, manage and use data in line with their national and the international legislation.

9.4 Free and timely access to monitoring data is a prerequisite for an operational cooperative monitoring system, using harmonized standards and practices following the Aarhus Convention and recommendations and guidelines and standards reflected in the INSPIRE directive.

9.5 The HELCOM data consists of national contributions of the Contracting Parties and provides the Baltic-wide pool of data, which the Contracting Parties can freely use in their assessment products.

9.6 Contracting Parties should make available to the common data pool relevant data collected by research projects with the aim to support HELCOM or EU Directives implementation activities.

9.7 In order to gain synergy and efficiency, the HELCOM data activities should be harmonized with other international organizations and the European Union systems to the fullest extent possible.

9.8 Necessary quality-control and validation procedures have to be implemented and available HELCOM monitoring data have to have quality flags.

9.9 HELCOM data are handled by the HELCOM Secretariat or by external data centres, mainly thematic data centres, working in cooperation with national data providers and in contractual agreement with HELCOM.

9.10 All HELCOM assessment products are freely accessible and made available on the HELCOM website.


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Attachment 1 HELCOM Joint Coordinated Monitoring System 1. Principles 1.1 By high degree of coordination, cooperation, sharing and harmonisation Contracting Parties aim at a system where data is produced once and used many times. Mutual benefit is one of the driving forces of HELCOM joint monitoring system.

1.2 HELCOM joint monitoring is scientifically sound. It is also cost-efficient, dynamic, adaptive, operational and pragmatic.

1.3 The HELCOM Joint Monitoring System is also balanced and functional and leads to a higher degree of harmonization and increased quality of data and ensures optimizing and rationalizing of monitoring activities in the Baltic Sea region.

1.4 Monitoring activities are coordinated between the countries and, where possible, shared within the region. This is achieved through using:

a) increased joint initiatives such as surveys, campaigns, cruises and shared stations, b) use of remote sensing and autonomous measuring devices to complement ship

cruise data and thereby enhanced data coverage and shared data products, c) use of modelling to combine data and produce optimised data layers, d) sharing of infrastructure, and e) quality gains from specialization of countries and national institutes.

1.5 While recognizing the conservative nature of monitoring, this framework enhances and enables efficient adaptation of monitoring and observation activities to technological development.

1.6 The joint monitoring system supports an adaptive process which is fit for this purpose and helps Contracting Parties to jointly maximize the potential of their marine observation, sampling and surveying programmes.

1.7 The system is fully coordinated with corresponding data collection activities carried out by other organisations, such as EMEP, ICES and BOOS. For those Contracting Parties being also EU Member States these activities support the implementation of data and information collection frameworks at European level (e.g. EMODNET, GMES, SeaDataNet, WISE-Marine) as well as relevant EU directives such as the MSFD and WFD, as well as the EU Data Collection Framework.

1.8 The joint monitoring system also supports Contracting Parties’ capacity to identify emerging environmental challenges.

1.9 The joint monitoring system enables the channelling of information collected outside the environmental sector to the HELCOM data and assessment products. Integrating data into a regional data pool and assessment products from other monitoring and observation activities such as fisheries surveys, Automatic Identification System (AIS) for vessel traffic, Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) for fishing vessels and compliance monitoring related to licensing of companies’ operations is a vital part of the system.

1.10 Contracting Parties are primarily responsible for organising the monitoring for the on-going assessment of their catchments, territorial waters and exclusive economic zones. Coordination between the countries is a prerequisite for comparable data and assessments and for region-wide assessment products. In addition, there are clear cost-efficiency and improved quality benefits that can be achieved by pooling the efforts.

1.11 In order to have a sustainable marine data infrastructure the Contracting Parties ensure financial support to the process of collection, assembly, processing and dissemination of data.

1.12 HELCOM provides the platform for


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a) deciding which observations are needed to be made, b) how to make the observations, c) which platforms and methods to apply, d) deciding where and when to make the observations and by whom, e) choosing which data products to create, f) agreeing which external data to be integrated to the common regional pool and

assessment products, g) arranging financial support for collecting, assembling, processing and dissemination

of data with the objective to have a sustainable marine data infrastructure, and for h) applying for additional funding for developing and implementing the joint monitoring

activities laid out in this Strategy.

1.13 Good governance of the joint monitoring system requires HELCOM to dedicate a specific HELCOM subsidiary body for the implementation of this Strategy.

2. Focus of monitoring 2.1 HELCOM monitoring focuses on parameters, which are indicative of the state of the environment, the prevailing anthropogenic pressures and their impacts, the progress towards objectives and targets, and the effectiveness of measures. HELCOM monitoring is carried out in such a way that an assessment with adequate confidence and precision is achieved.

2.2 The requirement for HELCOM monitoring arises from the BSAP and the MSFD and can be induced from the commonly agreed and Baltic-Sea-wide applicable set of HELCOM core indicators. The regional joint coordinated monitoring programme is hence primarily serving, in an integrated manner, the methodological elements laid out by these core indicators.

2.3 The set of parameters monitored enables the production of regional assessment products described in Attachment 3 HELCOM assessment system.

2.4 The monitoring system consists of manageable components to enable assessment of a) biological diversity: population trends, distribution and condition of species and

changes in quality and quantity of habitats and biotopes, b) trends in arrival, quantities and impacts of non-indigenous species, c) trends in populations of all commercially exploited fish and shellfish and their age and

size structure, d) marine food webs, and to the extent that they are known, their occurrence at normal

abundance and diversity, and levels capable of ensuring the long-term abundance of the species and the retention of their full reproductive capacity,

e) human-induced eutrophication and its effects such as losses in biodiversity, ecosystem degradation, harmful algae blooms and oxygen deficiency in bottom waters,

f) sea-floor integrity, including benthic ecosystems, g) concentrations and biological effects of contaminants, including radioactive

substances, and h) quantities and properties of marine litter and levels of underwater noise.

2.5 In addition, the monitoring system enables assessing: a) physical loss of, or damage to, habitats, e.g. through smothering, sealing, siltation,

abrasion and selective extraction of living and non-living resources, b) inputs of heavy metals and synthetic hazardous substances, c) inputs of radioactive substances, d) inputs of nitrogen and phosphorus as well as organic matter, e) introduction of energy, including underwater noise, f) alteration of hydrological and hydrographical conditions through human activities,

including a change in salinity and temperature, as well as acidification, g) introductions of non-indigenous species,


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h) introduction of microbial pathogens, i) introduction of marine litter, and j) selective extraction of species, including incidental non-target catches (e.g. by

commercial and recreational fishing.)

2.6 The monitoring system is structured along themes/thematic programmes (e.g. biodiversity, hydromorphology, eutrophication, hazardous substances, litter, noise, non-indigenous species, physical loss and/or damage) in such a way that its structure meets national needs for easy reference and facilitates reporting obligations in particular those of the HELCOM EU member states that report under the MSFD.

3. Distribution of monitoring activities 3.1 The joint monitoring system covers the entire marine area of the Baltic Sea responding to the needs of the HELCOM BSAP and EU MSFD which both require a Baltic Sea-wide coordinated approach.

3.2 The use of sub-divisions of the Baltic Sea may be jointly agreed for the needs of a particular monitoring programme according to one of the hierarchical levels of the HELCOM sub-division (Attachment 4).

3.3 The set of parameters to be monitored can differ between sub-divisions depending on the natural conditions such as distribution of species as well as intensity and extent of pressures and impacts and monitoring purposes.

3.4 Cooperation and coordination of monitoring efforts are needed especially for the open sea areas in order to acquire representative data, covering the whole Baltic Sea and the spatial and temporal variability of the ecosystem.

3.5 For sampling in the open sea using research vessels, there is potential for cost-efficiency gains by temporal sharing of monitoring activities between the countries and, if possible, between thematic programmes. The countries bordering a sub-basin should coordinate their monitoring cruises and make arrangements for e.g. taking turns in sampling certain areas or sharing responsibilities of monitoring of certain parameters with the idea that monitoring methods are harmonised and all data will end up in a common pool and can be used by all. Effectively this means that each country will have available not only its own data but also data produced by eight other countries. See Attachment 2 for HELCOM Data and Information Strategy.

3.6 Sampling is designed to take into account temporal and spatial scales of management in addition to the spatial and temporal variability of the marine environment. Furthermore, assessment needs may drive the timing of sampling campaigns.

3.7 Spatial and temporal frequency of sampling can differ between sub-regions, and they can be related to the environmental state and pressures with the least intensive monitoring in cases where good environmental status has been reached and is to be maintained, with little foreseen risk of degradation. A common approach to differentiate monitoring efforts should be developed depending on:

- the intensity and extent of pressures and environmental problems with areas with environmental problems requiring more intensified monitoring,

- the risk of failing to achieve or maintain good environmental status, and

- the purpose of monitoring (in relation to good environmental status; environmental targets; characteristics, pressures and impacts; acute events; knowledge gaps and investigations).

3.8 Monitoring of emissions of pollutants on land is organised by the Contracting Parties. Monitoring of emissions supports modelling of emissions and depositions by EMEP with which HELCOM cooperates with regard to emissions and depositions of nutrients and hazardous substances.


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3.9 National authorities responsible for different sectors introducing pressures on the environment cooperate to provide HELCOM with data on those pressures and human activities driving them. In the long run, HELCOM aims to establish data streams on human pressures which enable regular updating of pressure overviews (e.g. Baltic Sea Pressure and Impact Indices) and socio-economic analyses.

4. Regional coordination and cooperation 4.1 Contracting Parties plan and implement their monitoring activities so that the activities form a complementary, mutually supportive and cost-effective monitoring system.

4.2 HELCOM provides the platform for coordination and cooperation and necessary bodies and expert groups are secured for coordination and cooperation.

5. High quality and cost-efficiency as the main drivers of joint monitoring 5.1 It is recommended that sampling should be carried out using certified methods and analyses of the samples are carried out by laboratories with introduced quality assurance procedures according to EN ISO/IEC 17025 (General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories) or ISO 9001 (Quality management systems - Requirements) or by laboratories performing close to these standards.

5.2 Sharing of responsibilities has potential to yield higher quality and economic gains with lower input of resources. Currently, all countries run their own monitoring programmes and produce data for national needs as well as joint assessments. This system is still too much of a patchwork with a certain level of harmonisation through e.g. HELCOM sampling and analytical guidelines and training in HELCOM expert groups. This distributed and detached system makes it necessary for all countries to maintain costly monitoring infrastructure and personnel in order to cover all issues.

5.3 There is potential to increase efficiency and harmonisation through:

a) joint surveys, cruises and campaigns: they enable full cooperation in practice, harmonization of practices, efficient exchange of knowledge and best practices as well as full use of monitoring infrastructure,

b) increasing automatisation of monitoring and running the programmes or devices cooperatively, and

c) increasing thematic specialisation: increased thematic specialization of the Contracting Parties or their institutes could increase cost-efficiency.

5.4 Potential for increased specialisation applies to biological, chemical and biochemical laboratory analyses. Special laboratory equipment and training of staff is usually required. For example:

a) Increased use of specialised laboratories for e.g. analyses of hazardous substances could be useful and help ensure high quality.

b) Analysis of biological samples could be carried out in specialised laboratories where both cost-efficiency and quality are the greatest.

5.5 There are also opportunities for lowering costs and increasing the quality of results by increasing specialisation cost-optimising the division of responsibilities within and between the countries in a transparent manner. Specialisation can lead to higher cost-efficiency through more efficient use of infrastructure and personnel, larger size and throughput of the analytical units. Cost-optimising the division of responsibilities within and between the countries could benefit from the differences in the costs of laboratory analytics between the countries which opens for opportunities for countries with higher costs.


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6. Using autonomous and other new observation techniques 6.1 Remote sensing and autonomous measuring devices already in use in environmental monitoring and operational oceanography, such as ferry-boxes, buoys, passive samplers, fixed platforms, and coastal radars are efficient means to increase spatial and temporal coverage of observations.

6.2 Automated measuring devices, sensors and other equipment are costly and usually need regular maintenance. Sharing of investments, maintenance and data is the way to increase cost-efficiency and reliability of the measurements. There is also a clear advantage to share the platforms between institutes responsible for meteorological, oceanographic and environmental observations.

6.3 Data collected by the already operational unattended systems, such as the Alg@line ferry-box network, could be used more efficiently by national institutes for the monitoring of their territorial and EEZ waters by increasing joint planning of sampling, sharing of laboratory analysis and the data exchange.

6.4 Joint production of remote sensing images and assessment products should be agreed and responsibilities should be divided between the partners, including delivery of ground truth data.

6.5 Observations made by the public, accompanied by appropriate QA procedures, could be used for HELCOM monitoring purposes.

7. Use of models 7.1 Mathematical models should be used to combine data from various sources to produce combined new data layers, to make hind casts to complement data sets and to produce scenarios e.g. to forecast effects of management actions. In addition, models could be used to spatially and temporally aggregate data.

8. Reducing uncertainty in informing policy making 8.1 Effective observation networks and optimised data collection will enhance data coverage and hence make assessments more robust. This can contribute to strengthening the knowledge basis for agreeing on measures to improve the state of the marine environment in the Baltic Sea region. The more robust knowledge basis has potential to increase certainty and cost-effectiveness of the measures.

8.2 To improve the understanding of climate change and enable assessment of the ability of the marine environment to cope, adapt to or recover from the effects of climate change, there is a need to maintain and acquire data and knowledge of climate risks in the Baltic Sea region and in the marine environment and to increase data collection that serves this purpose.

9. Maintenance of long-term data sets 9.1 Systematic, harmonised and continuous monitoring, which produces long-term data sets, is needed to better understand systemic changes and to project the future of the marine environment. HELCOM monitoring should be configured also to detect climate change and its impacts on the Baltic Sea marine ecosystem. Therefore, sites with relevant long-term data records will be sustained, whilst accommodating improved data collection techniques where appropriate. National long-term data series should be integrated to this region-wide framework.


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Attachment 2 HELCOM Data and Information Strategy 1. Principles 1.1 The HELCOM data and information activities should make possible reliable assessment as described in the HELCOM Assessment system. The HELCOM data and information activities should facilitate access of the general public to environmental information and this is done e.g. by making spatial data and information available in the HELCOM Map and Data Service on the HELCOM web page.

1.2 In order to avoid duplication of reporting by the HELCOM Contracting Parties the HELCOM data activities should be compatible with those of other international organizations such as ICES and data activities of the European Union, to the fullest extent possible.

1.3 Basic activities in the HELCOM data and information management system should include:

a) using agreed formats and up-to-date tools for data exchange;

b) implementing relevant quality control and validation procedures

c) making data and information available using harmonized standards and practices, following the Aarhus Convention and recommendations and guidelines and standards reflected in the INSPIRE directive,

d) presenting data and information in suitable ways for indicator reports as well as thematic and holistic assessments to support policy formulation and decision-making.

2. Collection of data 2.1 HELCOM data and information system rely on data derived from publicly funded monitoring programmes by the Contracting Parties but the Contracting Parties may also report data collected by private bodies, e.g. compliance monitoring related to environmental permitting.

2.2 HELCOM follows and influences relevant international marine-related monitoring and assessment programmes and data sharing and management initiatives at regional, European, and global levels and aims to avoid any duplication of data reporting and collection e.g. by facilitating the use of shared environmental information systems.

2.3 HELCOM contributes with its data and information system to availability of high-quality spatial information relevant to Maritime Spatial Planning on status of the marine environment, pressures and human activities.

3. Data handling 3.1 The HELCOM data will be handled by data centre(s), preferably thematic data centres, working in cooperation with national data providers and on contractual agreement with HELCOM. The data centres will be responsible for ensuring that

a) adequate data exchange formats, data handling and access procedures are prepared and updated, as necessary,

b) relevant quality control and validation procedures are in place including quality flagging of data,

c) adequate inventories and compilations are prepared of the data sets, and

d) HELCOM data product requirements are met.

http://www.helcom.fi/


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3.2 The role of national institutions as data providers, and capacity building at the national level should be given a priority attention.

4. Access to data and information 4.1 All HELCOM monitoring data should be openly accessible online via web services or downloading functionality using common standards and ensuring that relevant quality control and validation procedures are implemented.

4.2 Access to data contained in working documents presented to HELCOM or its subsidiary bodies can be restricted.


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Attachment 3 HELCOM Assessment System 1. System 1.1 Data from the joint monitoring programmes as well as the indicator reports and thematic assessments form a continuous chain towards holistic assessments. Modelling and scientific reports play an important complementary role in explaining and linking pressures, state and impacts and providing guidance for future responses. Scientific research is an additional important source of information for defining newly emerging concerns. 1.2 Generation of data through monitoring is the basis of HELCOM’s monitoring and assessment pyramid (Figure). The data is processed through various assessment steps from indicators to specific and holistic assessments and information is increasingly integrated towards the top of the pyramid. 1.3 The HELCOM assessment system operates in six-year cycles that are synchronized with other international requirements. During the assessment cycles Core Indicator reports and Baltic Sea Environment Fact Sheets are updated regularly, leading to periodically produced thematic reports and eventually holistic assessments. Thematic assessments cover the themes of the BSAP (biodiversity, eutrophication, hazardous substances and maritime activities) but also other themes as required also by relevant policies. Pollution Load Compilations, assessments of radionuclides, and assessments of the threat status of Baltic Sea species and biotopes/habitats and the related Species and Biotopes Information Sheets are also regularly updated. The assessment information will be forwarded to decision-makers (ranging from individual consumers to high level policy makers) to provide knowledge basis for taking action. 1.4 To link monitoring and data to assessments it is important:

• to agree and document rules for aggregating data in the various assessment contexts • to set out assessment procedures transparently at all relevant levels, from

parameters and indicators to themes and holistic assessments. E.g. parameters and indicators should be assigned assessment criteria/thresholds/targets and assessment processes for easy reference.

2. Main themes 2.1 HELCOM assessments, as well as the supporting monitoring, should be targeted at identified environmental concerns in the policy areas where HELCOM continues to act, especially eutrophication, hazardous substances (including artificial radionuclides), change of biodiversity (including fish) and habitat degradation, and problems arising from shipping and other uses at the land/water boundary and of the marine space (e.g. construction). In addition, the holistic assessments will provide overviews of anthropogenic pressures and human activities acting as drivers of those pressures and this information will support a socio-economic analysis. HELCOM will continue to act on newly emerging issues with detrimental effects to the marine environment.

HELCOM’s monitoring and assessment pyramid linking monitoring and data to holistic assessment


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3. Features 3.1 The assessments build on data produced within the HELCOM monitoring programmes and additional data, e.g. research data, provided by the Contracting Parties as well as data made available by other organisations e.g. on human activities or pressures.

3.2 HELCOM assessments should be timely, scientifically sound, reliable, and approved in consensus. The assessments should employ the ecosystem approach including anthropogenic pressures, and their effects on the marine environment including cumulative and synergetic effects. They build on the HELCOM set of core indicators which are commonly agreed as Baltic-Sea-wide assessment cornerstones addressing all important single elements of state, pressures and impacts.

3.3 In addition to assessments of environmental status and pressures, HELCOM compliance reporting such as the Baltic Sea Action Plan Index of Actions is adding information on activities and programmes of measures to improve or maintain the quality of the Baltic Sea environment. HELCOM should seek to gain synergy between reporting on the status of implementation of Baltic Sea Action Plan, Ministerial Declarations, HELCOM Recommendations and other international reporting requirements (such as the MSFD) and link their results to HELCOM’s status/impact assessments.

3.4 While HELCOM assessments should be Baltic specific, the information content as well as their timing should be harmonized with other reporting requirements, especially those obliging presentation of information for the Baltic Sea e.g. at the European level.

3.5 HELCOM assessments should be designed to support not only Baltic-wide analysis but to support also assessment requirements of the Contracting Parties at smaller scales.

3.6 HELCOM should strive to develop interactive web-based services to support assessment procedures.

4. Assessment products 4.1 HELCOM’s assessment products consist of:

a) HELCOM Core Indicator reports which address all central assessment elements required by the BSAP, allowing classification of the environmental state into status classes, and facilitating the implementation of the MSFD for those Contracting Parties that are also EU members;

b) Baltic Sea Environment Fact Sheets which are updated regularly to provide timely information on how the HELCOM objectives are met;

c) Thematic assessment products which cover various topical themes, e.g., inputs (e.g. Pollution Load Compilations), eutrophication, hazardous substances (including radioactive substances) and biodiversity are to be produced periodically. In addition, varying themes such as assessment of climate change in the Baltic Sea region and assessment of ecological coherence of the network of marine protected areas may be produced as necessary. Assessments of the threat status of Baltic Sea species and biotopes/habitats should also be regularly updated and be complemented by Biotopes Information Sheets on the threatened species and biotopes/habitats. The reports should consist of a technical/scientific (science for management) section, including assessment of confidence, a policy implications section, as well as a future outlook section.

d) Holistic assessments, which cover the status of the Baltic Sea, pressure and resulting impacts and effects including cumulative and synergetic effects, socio-economic aspects and link science and management as well as provide a basis for formulation of supplementary national and regional policies and measures.


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4.2 Data from coordinated monitoring programmes as well as Core Indicator reports complemented by Baltic Sea Environmental Fact Sheet information as well as thematic assessment products form a continuous chain towards holistic assessments where modelling and scientific reports play an important complementary role in explaining and linking pressures, state and impacts and providing guidance for future responses.

4.3 Assessment procedures will be well documented to allow their coherent use for regional and national purposes.

4.4 All HELCOM assessment products are made freely accessible on the internet and prints will be reproduced of some of them.

5. Core indicators and Baltic Sea Environmental Fact Sheets 5.1 Core indicators, Baltic Sea Environment Fact sheets and Species and Biotopes Information Sheets provide information on the status of the environment and information that is needed to evaluate the severity of environmental problems and distance from environmental targets, objectives, goals and vision. The HELCOM set of core indicators simplifies a complex reality by condensing information of analysed data collected in monitoring programmes. The Core Indicator reports are linked to the Ecological Objectives (EcoOs) – i.e. the indicators show how the targets and EcoOs are met. 5.2 HELCOM Core Indicators and Baltic Sea Environment Fact Sheets should be primarily based on variables in the HELCOM monitoring programmes. Each indicator by itself tells something about the one issue it represents but virtually nothing about larger features or the system as a whole. When the indicators are integrated they can show the conditions and trends of the system e.g. human pressures and impacts on major components or themes (e.g. eutrophication, biodiversity, impacts of hazardous substances of the ecosystem). 5.3 Core Indicators are linked to anthropogenic pressures and provide a measure of the distance from a target level. The target level reflects the boundary of good environmental status. Core Indicators with targets are designed to be applicable for integrated thematic and holistic assessments. 5.4 Descriptive Baltic Sea Environment Fact Sheets describe the development of a variable related to an environmental issue and provide crucial supportive and background information that can also be utilised for compiling assessment reports. 5.5 Species and Biotopes Information Sheets address those species and biotopes/habitats of the Baltic Sea that have been evaluated as being under a risk of extinction in HELCOM red list assessments. 5.6 Core indicator reports and fact and information sheets will be published on the HELCOM website. HELCOM assessment products will make use of the information presented in these. 5.7 The structure of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Environment Fact Sheets follows the fact sheet structure of EEA in principle. 5.8 The Core Indicator reports and Baltic Sea Environment Fact Sheets are updated regularly by the responsible institutions. 5.9 The scientific-technical content of the Core Indicator reports and Fact Sheets is reviewed and adopted by HELCOM MONAS supported by other HELCOM groups. HELCOM HABITAT is responsible for the content of the Species and Biotopes Information Sheets. 5.10 A list of responsible institutes and data centres providing Core Indicator reports and Baltic Sea Environment Fact Sheets should be kept up to date by and at the HELCOM Secretariat and scrutinised by HELCOM MONAS on a regular basis.


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6. Thematic assessment reports 6.1 Thematic assessment reports assessing how HELCOM strategic goals are met are produced periodically within the six-year assessment cycle addressing primary themes of eutrophication, hazardous substances and biodiversity but also varying other themes especially informing Ministerial Meetings and the public (e.g. BSAP implementation, climate change, protected areas). The thematic reports are scheduled taking into account corresponding reporting under other international fora, such as reporting under EC/EU directives and as guided by HELCOM GEAR. 6.2 The thematic reports should consist of three main sections: “Science for management”, “Policy implications” and “Future outlook”. 6.3 The thematic reports assessing HELCOM’s strategic goals are Core Indicator driven and they provide status classifications for the Baltic Sea for the themes at hand. In addition, the reports provide compilations of information on the level and trends in anthropogenic pressures that act on the assessed theme. The assessments also utilise information provided by relevant Baltic Sea Environment Fact Sheets and use necessary information and data collected and reported under other fora as well as provided by the scientific community. 6.4 Production of thematic assessment reports requires close cooperation of Contracting Parties within HELCOM subsidiary bodies and cooperation between the different HELCOM subsidiary bodies. 6.5 In addition to pressure and state assessments, HELCOM compliance reporting is adding information on the success and effectiveness of measures to improve or maintain the status of the Baltic Sea. HELCOM should seek to gain synergy between reporting on the status of implementation of strategies and HELCOM Recommendations and other international reporting requirements and link their results in HELCOM environmental assessments.

7. Holistic assessments 7.1 Holistic assessments of ecosystem health are produced periodically every six years and the assessment cycle is synchronised with other international assessments and reporting obligations so as to support the development of initial assessments under the MSFD by those Contracting Parties that are also EU member states. 7.2 Holistic assessments evaluate how the HELCOM vision with strategic goals and ecological objectives has been met, link environmental changes to pressures and provide advice for subsequent decision making. In addition, the holistic assessments contain information on socio-economic aspects related to the use of the Baltic Sea ecosystem. 7.3 The holistic assessments will cover all possible aspects of the BSAP, and MSFD for those Contracting Parties that are also EU Member States, including marine litter and noise, and especially various features of biodiversity. They will build on the core indicator information and all possible other information that is relevant to assess the pressures, impacts and status, including the socio-economic analysis. The holistic assessments should also assess the risk of not reaching the objectives and targets related to achieving and maintaining the good environmental status. 7.4 Holistic assessments should be produced using standard methodology to allow for comparison between the assessments over time. Integrative assessment tools such as HOLAS for state indicators and Baltic Sea Pressure and Impact Indices will be used. 7.5 Production of a holistic assessment requires close cooperation, of Contracting Parties, observer organizations and the scientific community as well as cooperation across HELCOM bodies.


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Attachment 4 HELCOM sub-divisions of the Baltic Sea The Baltic Sea is sub-divided for regional monitoring and assessment purposes. The sub-dividing is to be done coherently, following commonly agreed sub-divisions and nomenclature. This section of the Strategy provides four possible hierarchical scales for sub-division.

The four possible hierarchical scales for sub-dividing the Baltic Sea for monitoring and assessment purposes are:

1) No division: the whole Baltic Sea encompassing the entire HELCOM area,

2) Division of the Baltic Sea into 17 sub-basins as indicated in Figure 1 and Table 1,

3) Division of the Baltic Sea into 17 sub-basins and further division into coastal and off-shore areas (Figure 1 and Table 2),

4) Division of the Baltic Sea into 17 sub-basins and further division into coastal and off-shore areas and division of the coastal areas by WFD water types or water bodies (Figure 2 and table 3).

Table 1. Names of open sea sub-basins of the Baltic Sea Kattegat Great Belt The Sound Kiel Bay Bay of Mecklenburg Arkona Basin Bornholm Basin Gdansk Basin Eastern Gotland Basin Western Gotland Basin Gulf of Riga Northern Baltic Proper Gulf of Finland Åland Sea Bothnian Sea The Quark Bothnian Bay


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Figure 1. Map of the Baltic Sea presenting the HELCOM sub-division into 17 open sub-basins and 42 coastal areas. The names of the open sea areas and coastal areas are provided in Tables 1 and 2, respectively. EEZs of the countries are shown with a grey dashed line.2

2 The map is without prejudice to the final settlement of the border between Great Belt Danish Coastal waters and Kiel Bay German Coastal waters in the Flensburger Förde. The settlement of the border is subject to bilateral consultations between Denmark and Germany. The settlement of the border between Poland and Denmark in the Bornholm area is also subject to bilateral consultations between those countries.


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Table 2. Codes and names of the coastal water areas 1 Bothnian Bay Finnish Coastal waters 2 Bothnian Bay Swedish Coastal waters 3 The Quark Finnish Coastal waters 4 The Quark Swedish Coastal waters 5 Bothnian Sea Finnish Coastal waters 6 Bothnian Sea Swedish Coastal waters 7 Åland Sea Finnish Coastal waters 8 Åland Sea Swedish Coastal waters 9 Archipelago Sea Coastal waters 10 Northern Baltic Proper Finnish Coastal waters 11 Northern Baltic Proper Swedish Coastal waters 12 Northern Baltic Proper Estonian Coastal waters 13 Gulf of Finland Finnish Coastal waters 14 Gulf of Finland Estonian Coastal waters 15 Gulf of Finland Russian Coastal waters 16 Gulf of Riga Estonian Coastal waters 17 Gulf of Riga Latvian Coastal waters 18 Western Gotland Basin Swedish Coastal waters 19 Eastern Gotland Basin Estonian Coastal waters 20 Eastern Gotland Basin Latvian Coastal waters 21 Eastern Gotland Basin Lithuanian Coastal waters 22 Eastern Gotland Basin Swedish Coastal waters 23 Eastern Gotland Basin Russian Coastal waters 24 Eastern Gotland Basin Polish Coastal waters 25 Gdansk Basin Russian Coastal waters 26 Gdansk Basin Polish Coastal waters 27 Bornholm Basin Swedish Coastal waters 28 Bornholm Basin Polish Coastal waters 29 Bornholm Basin Danish Coastal waters 30 Bornholm Basin German Coastal waters 31 Arkona Basin Swedish Coastal waters 32 Arkona Basin Danish Coastal waters 33 Arkona Basin German Coastal waters 34 Mecklenburg Bight German Coastal waters 35 Mecklenburg Bight Danish Coastal waters 36 Kiel Bight Danish Coastal waters 37 Kiel Bight German Coastal waters 38 Belts Danish Coastal waters 39 The Sound Swedish Coastal waters 40 The Sound Danish Coastal waters 41 Kattegat Swedish Coastal waters 42 Kattegat Danish Coastal waters, including Limfjorden


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The scale of sub-division to be chosen may differ depending on the purpose, e.g. monitoring and assessment of mobile marine mammals such as grey seals may require the whole Baltic Sea scale while assessment of eutrophication indicators may be most relevant at the sub-basin scale in the open sea combined with water body or type level in the coastal zone.

The scale to be used should be chosen among the four possible HELCOM scales and jointly agreed.

Other sub-divisions can be agreed and used provided they use the agreed boundaries and remain within the boundaries and use the nomenclature of the described hierarchical system.

To maximise their use for national purposes, regional monitoring and assessment results should be presented in addition in formats (e.g. point/station maps) that allow displaying them within national boundaries (EEZ, including e.g. 12 nm) and showing hot spots. Such presentations take into account evolving national needs e.g. under the MSFD (such as grid-based approaches).

Names of the Baltic Sea sub-basins, coastal areas per sub-basin and coastal water types and water bodies as presented in this section of the Strategy also serves as the common nomenclature of the different sub-areas of the Baltic Sea.

The sub-divisions as well as the names are updated as needs arise.

The maps, names and associated GIS shape files are made available on the HELCOM web site.


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Figure 3. Further division of the coastal areas into WFD related water types and/or water bodies. Descriptions of the codes are provided in Table 3.


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Table 3. Type and descriptions of the codes (HELCOM_ID) of the coastal water types or water bodies.

HELCOM_ID Type, Description DEN-001 M1 DEN-002 M2 DEN-003 M3 DEN-004 M4 DEN-005 O3 DEN-006 O4 DEN-007 OW2 DEN-008 OW3a DEN-009 OW3b DEN-010 P1 DEN-011 P2 DEN-012 P3 DEN-013 P4 DEN-014 Slusefjord EST-001 Väikse Vaina N EST-002 Väikse Vaina S EST-003 Narva-Kunda lahe rannikuvesi EST-004 Pärnu lahe rannikuvesi EST-005 Muuga-Tallinna-Kakumäe lahe rannikuvesi EST-006 Soela väina rannikuvesi EST-007 Haapsalu lahe rannikuvesi EST-008 Liivi lahe rannikuvesi FIN-001 Lounainen sisäsaaristo FIN-002 Lounainen ulkosaaristo FIN-003 Suomenlahden sisäsaaristo FIN-004 Suomenlahden ulkosaaristo FIN-005 Lounainen välisaaristo FIN-006 Merenkurkun sisäsaaristo FIN-007 Merenkurkun ulkosaaristo FIN-008 Selkämeren sisemmät rannikkovedet FIN-009 Selkämeren ulommat rannikkovedet FIN-010 Perämeren sisemmät rannikkovedet FIN-011 Perämeren ulommat rannikkovedet FIN-012 Åland innerskärgård FIN-013 Åland mellanskärgärd FIN-014 Åland ytterskärgärd GER-001 mesohaline inner coastal waters, Wismarbucht, Suedteil GER-002 mesohaline inner coastal waters, Wismarbucht, Nordteil GER-003 mesohaline inner coastal waters, Wismarbucht, Salzhaff

GER-004 mesohaline open coastal waters, Suedliche Mecklenburger Bucht/ Travemuende bis Warnemünde

GER-005 mesohaline inner coastal waters, Unterwarnow GER-006 mesohaline open coastal waters, Suedliche Mecklenburger Bucht/ Warnem³nde bis Darss


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GER-007 oligohaline inner coastal waters, Ribnitzer See / Saaler Bodden GER-008 oligohaline inner coastal waters, Koppelstrom / Bodstedter Bodden GER-009 mesohaline inner coastal waters, Barther Bodden, Grabow GER-010 mesohaline open coastal waters, Prerowbucht/ Darsser Ort bis Dornbusch GER-011 mesohaline inner coastal waters, Nord- und Westruegensche Bodden GER-012 mesohaline inner coastal waters, Strelasund GER-013 mesohaline inner coastal waters, Greifswalder Bodden GER-014 mesohaline inner coastal waters, Kleiner Jasmunder Bodden GER-015 mesohaline open coastal waters, Nord- und Ostruegensche Gewaesser GER-016 oligohaline inner coastal waters, Peenestrom GER-017 oligohaline inner coastal waters, Achterwasser GER-018 mesohaline open coastal waters, Pommersche Bucht, Nordteil GER-019 mesohaline open coastal waters, Pommersche Bucht, S³dteil GER-020 oligohaline inner coastal waters, Kleines Haff GER-021 mesohaline inner coastal waters, Flensburg Innenfoerde GER-022 mesohaline open coastal waters, Geltinger Bucht GER-023 meso- to polyhaline open coastal waters, seasonally stratified, Flensburger Aussenfoerde GER-024 mesohaline open coastal waters, Aussenschlei GER-025 mesohaline inner coastal waters, Schleimuende GER-026 mesohaline inner coastal waters, Mittlere Schlei GER-027 mesohaline inner coastal waters, Innere Schlei GER-028 mesohaline open coastal waters, Eckerfoerder Bucht, Rand GER-029 meso- to polyhaline open coastal waters, seasonally stratified, Eckerfoerderbucht, Tiefe GER-030 mesohaline open coastal waters, Buelk GER-031 meso- to polyhaline open coastal waters, seasonally stratified, Kieler Aussenfoerde GER-032 mesohaline inner coastal waters, Kieler Innenfoerde GER-033 mesohaline open coastal waters, Probstei GER-034 mesohaline open coastal waters, Putlos GER-035 meso- to polyhaline open coastal waters, seasonally stratified, Hohwachter Bucht GER-036 mesohaline open coastal waters, Fehmarnsund GER-037 mesohaline inner coastal waters, Orther Bucht GER-038 mesohaline open coastal waters, Fehmarnbelt GER-039 meso- to polyhaline open coastal waters, seasonally stratified, Fehmarn Sund Ost GER-040 mesohaline open coastal waters, Groemitz GER-041 mesohaline open coastal waters, Neustaedter Bucht GER-042 mesohaline inner coastal waters, Travemuende GER-043 mesohaline inner coastal waters, Poetenitzer Wiek GER-044 mesohaline inner coastal waters, Untere Trave LAT-001 South-eastern exposed stony coast, waterbody A LAT-002 South-eastern exposed sandy coast, waterbody B LAT-003 Gulf of Riga sandy coast, waterbodies C&E LAT-004 Gulf of Riga stony coast, waterbodies D&F LAT-005 Gulf of Riga transitional waters LIT-001 Heavily modified waterbody. Klaipeda Strait LIT-002 Coastal waters. Southern coastal sandy coast LIT-003 Coastal waters. Nothern coastal stony coast


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LIT-004 Transitional waters. Central part of the lagoon LIT-005 Transitional waters. Nothern part of the lagoon LIT-006 Transitional waters. Plume of the lagoon

POL-001 PL TW I WB 9 very sheltered, fully mixed, substratum: silt/sandy silt/silty sand; ice cover >90 days, water rwesidence time 52 days



POL-004 PL TW II WB 2 very sheltered, fully mixed, substratum: lagoonal fine snd medium grained sand/silty sand; residence time 138 day, ice cover >90 days

POL-005 PL TW III WB 3 partly protected, partly stratified, substratum: medium grained sand/pebbles/marine silty sand; ice-incidental

POL-006 PL TW IV WB 4 partly stratified, moderately exposed, substratum: sand/silt; ice - incidental

POL-007 PL TW V WB 6 river mouth, partly stratified, partly sheltered, substratum: medium grained sand/silty sand



POL-010 PL CWI WB2 coastal waters, moderately exposed, fully mixed, substratum:sand/fine sand POL-011 PL CWI WB1 coastal waters, moderately exposed, fully mixed, substratum:sand/fine sand POL-012 PL CWI WB3 coastal waters, moderately exposed, fully mixed, substratum:sand/fine sand

POL-013 PL CW II WB 8 central Polish coast, coastal waters, exposed, fully mixed, substratum: sand/pebbles/gravel

POL-014 PL CW II WB 6W central Polish coast, coastal waters, exposed, fully mixed, substratum: sand/pebbles/gravel

POL-015 PL CW II WB 6E central Polish coast, coastal waters, exposed, fully mixed, substratum: sand/pebbles/gravel

POL-016 PL CWII WB5 central Polish coast, coastal waters, exposed, fully mixed, substratum: sand/pebbles/gravel

POL-017 PL CWII WB4 central Polish coast, coastal waters, exposed, fully mixed, substratum: sand/pebbles/gravel

POL-018 PL CW III WB 9 central Polish coast, coastal waters, exposed, fully mixed, substratum: sand/pebbles/gravel

POL-019 PL CW III WB 7 central Polish coast, coastal waters, exposed, fully mixed, substratum: sand/pebbles/gravel

RUS-001 Eastern Gulf of Finland RUS-002 Russian coast of Baltic Proper RUS-003 Russian coast of Gulf of Gdansk SWE-001 1s West Coast inner coastal water SWE-003 4 West Coast outer coastal water, Kattegat SWE-004 5 South Halland and north Öresund coastal water SWE-005 6 Öresund coastal water SWE-006 7 Skåne coastal water SWE-007 8 Blekinge archipelago and Kalmarsund, inner coastal water SWE-008 9 Blekinge archipelago and Kalmarsund, outer coastal water SWE-009 10 Öland and Gotland coastal water SWE-010 11 Gotland north-west coastal water SWE-011 12n Östergötland and Stockholm archipelago, middle coastal water SWE-012 12s Östergötland and Stockholm archipelago, middle coastal water SWE-013 13 Östergötland inner coastal water SWE-014 14 Östergötland outer coastal water SWE-015 15 Stockholm archipelago, outer coastal water


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SWE-016 16 South Bothnian Sea,inner coastal water SWE-017 17 South Bothnian Sea, outer coastal water SWE-018 18 North Bothnian Sea, Höga kusten, inner coastal water SWE-019 19 North Bothnian Sea, Höga kusten, outer coastal water SWE-020 20 North Quark inner coastal water SWE-021 21 North Quark outer coastal water SWE-022 22 North Bothnian Bay, inner coastal water SWE-023 23 North Bothnian Bay, outer coastal water SWE-024 24 Stockholm inner archipelago SWE-025 25 Göta and Nordre älv estuary


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Abbreviations BD Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30

November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds BOOS Baltic Operational Oceanographic System BSAP HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan EEA European Environment Agency EMEP European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme European for long-range

transboundary air pollution EMODnet European Marine Observation and Data Network HD Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural

habitats and of wild fauna and flora HELCOM Helsinki Commission IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency ICES International Council for Exploration of the Seas INSPIRE Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community IPPC Directive Directive 2008/1/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15

January 2008 concerning integrated pollution prevention and control MSFD Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17

June 2008 establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive)

SeaDataNet Pan-European Infrastructure for Ocean & Marine Data Management OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development QUASIMEME active Community of Practice for Marine Environmental Measurements UNEP United Nations Environment Programme WFD Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council

establishing a framework for the Community action in the field of water policy (Water Framework Directive)

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