Race for the Baltic Why?

The objective of the campaign is to create public pressure and support for decision makers across the region to implement the policies already agreed upon, addressing the issues of overfishing, biological diversity and eutrophication in the Baltic Sea. Additionally, the campaign seeks to engage new stakeholders in the Baltic Sea region in order to ensure the long-term commitment of all parties to the Baltic Seas environmental health.

What is HELCOM?
European seas are protected by regional sea conventions, including:
Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment in the North-East Atlantic of 1992 (further to earlier versions of 1972 and 1974) the OSPAR Convention(OSPAR), Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment in the Baltic Sea Area of 1992 (further to the earlier version of 1974) the Helsinki Convention (HELCOM), Convention for the Protection of Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean of 1995 (further to the earlier version of 1976) the Barcelona Convention (UNEPMAP), Convention for the Protection of the Black Sea of 1992 the Bucharest Convention.

Race for the Baltic Why?

HELCOM
The Helsinki Commission, or HELCOM, works to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution through intergovernmental co-operation between Denmark, Estonia, the European Community, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Sweden. Founded in 1974.

BSAP (Baltic Sea Action Plan)

The HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan is an ambitious programme to restore the good ecological status of the Baltic marine environment by 2021 (not legally binding but an agreement between the Baltic States)

MSFD (Marine Strategy Framework Directive)

First legislative instrument for marine biodiversity policy in EU. MSFD adopted in July 2008 Transposed into national law Aim: Take measures to maintain or achieve good environmental status (GES) by 2020

RFTB three aims are taken from the BSAP and MSFD

Race for the Baltic Who are we?

Zennstrm Philanthropies Zennstrm Philanthropies was founded in 2007 by Niklas and Catherine Zennstrm. Its mission is to support and engage with organisations that fight for human rights, work to stop climate change and encourage social entrepreneurship in order to protect our natural environment and allow those who live in it to realize their full potential. GLOBE GLOBE is the Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment founded in 1989. GLOBE facilitates high level negotiated policy positions from leading legislators from across the G8+5 parliaments and from regional dialogues which are informed by business leaders and key international experts. Its objective is to support ambitious political leadership on issues of climate and energy security, land-use change and ecosystems and economic and population growth.

Race for the Baltic Who are we?

The Fisheries Secretariat (FISH) The Fisheries Secretariat (FISH) is a non-profit organisation working towards sustainable fisheries in Europe with a strong focus on the Baltic Sea. Our long-term goal is healthy seas with thriving fish stocks and great diversity. At FISH, we work towards more sustainable fisheries through information, international co-operation, capacity building and lobbying. We have a particular mission to support and help other organisations, as well as the public, with information and knowledge. How do we do this?
track fishery policy development internationally as well as nationally; provide information about the fisheries issues in the EU and globally; aim to identify solutions and management measures that will make fisheries more sustainable; try to change fisheries policy through direct and indirect lobbying; collaborate with industry, NGOs, scientists and other stakeholders to achieve sustainable fisheries; encourage public debate about fisheries issues; and support our members and other stakeholders in their work.

Race for the Baltic Who are we?

Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB)

In Helsinki, February 1990, non-governmental environmental organizations from the countries of the Baltic Sea Region united and established Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB) in order to co-operate in activities concerning the Baltic Sea. CCB is a politically independent, non-profit association. At present, CCB unites 27 member organizations from Belarus, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Ukraine and Sweden. The CCB member organisations combined have over half a million members in all countries around the Baltic Sea. How do we do this?
Lobbying Support to member organizations CCB PRIORITY AREAS 1) Promotion of good ecological water status 2) Prevention of installations and transports harmful to the Baltic Sea environment and coastal areas 3) Development of sustainable Baltic Sea Fisheries

Race for the Baltic Who are we?

OCEANA
Oceana was founded in 2001 and is the largest international organization focused solely on ocean conservation and the protection of marine ecosystems and endangered species. In Copenhagen our team works to protect the unique Baltic Sea by trying to improve the network of Marine Protected Areas and influence fisheries policy in the EU and the Baltic Sea. One of the main things we try to contribute with is new data from the Baltic Sea, which we collect from our yearly at-sea-expeditions.
We have done two expeditions, 2011 and 2012, and a third one is rolling out this summer.
Oceanas scientists document the state of marine habitats, communities, and species by using an underwater robot, specialized divers, video and photos. Present policy proposals and try to influence decision makers. We believe in the importance of science in identifying problems and solutions. Our scientists work closely with our teams of economists, lawyers and advocates to achieve tangible results for the oceans.

Eutrophication
What is Eutrophication?
An overload of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous)

What are the Sources?

Harmful environmental agriculture practices around the Baltic: unsustainable industrial animal farming and overfertilisation on farmland About 80% of all nutrients in the Baltic Sea come from landbased activities including sewage, industrial and municipal waste water and agricultural run-off
ANIMATION on nitrate and phosphourus: http://saveourbalticsea.com/index.php/tv-afilm/dirty-waters/the-baltic-sea-animations

Eutrophication
What are the Consequences?
Harmful effects on water quality, causes algal blooms and oxygen depletion, disrupts feeding and reproduction of fish, and threatens biodiversity. Creates a negative feedback loop which threatens to turn the Baltic into a dead sea

The Race for the Baltic ask: Eutrophication

Introducing mandatory nutrient bookkeeping/nutrient balancing for farmland in the Baltic Sea region by 2014; Limiting the net surface balance surplus of nitrogen and phosphorus to a maximum of 50 kg Total-N/ha utilised agricultural area and year and a maximum of 8 kg Total-P/ha utilised agricultural area and year, by 2015;

Establishing a list of Agricultural Hot Spots represented by installations for intensive rearing of cattle, poultry and pigs not in compliance with Annex III

Overfishing
Some history on cod in the Baltic
Was on the brink of collapse because of destructive fishing practices, high levels of bycatch and unregulated fishing Cod populations are slowly recovering thanks to favourable water conditions and timely management actions in recent years

Why is cod important?

Top predator that balances the food chain.
Cod (episode 4): http://saveourbalticsea.com/index.php/tv-a-film/for-cods-sake/cod-report

Economically important species

Overfishing
Current threats
Small, skinny cod with limited geographical distribution

What needs to be done?

Follow scientific advise when setting fishing limits. MSY explained:
http://ocean2012.eu/pages/88-msy-explained

Set long term plans for management to ensure both biological and economic sustainability Respect wider ecosystem functions

The Race for the Baltic ask: Overfishing

Taking all adequate measures aiming to recover and maintain Baltic fish stocks above the biomass level which can produce Maximum Sustainable Yield by no later than 2021; Establishing goals to secure a balanced size and age distribution of the Baltic cod stocks, as well as a natural geographical distribution of cod up to the Aaland Sea area; Setting management targets that uphold the reproductive capacity of the Baltic cod and that allows cod to spawn at least once before it is caught and used.

Biological diversity and Marine Protected Areas

Why biological diversity?
Balance of species, genes and ecosystems is important for the health of the Baltic Sea

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

A tool that helps to protect and restore threathened, declining and senstitive species. Currently 12 % of the Baltic Sea are MPAs. However, poorly managed or not at all.

Biological diversity and Marine Protected Areas

What needs to be done?
To safeguard biodiversity, a minimum of 30% of the Baltic Sea should be effectively protected coupled with comprehensive management plans.

The Race for the Baltic ask: Biodiversity and Marine Protected Areas
Designation of new marine protected areas - ensure that at minimum 10 % of each Baltic Sea sub-basin is protected,

National progress reports on the establishment and implementation of individual management plans for marine protected areas no later than 2014 As priority, implement fisheries management that secures the objectives of marine protected areas, including regulations for environmentally friendly and selective gear, by 2015