1. HELCOM and the Baltic Sea
Antti Räike
Finnish Environment Institute

2. The most serious threats
Eutrophication Contaminants Transport of oil
- Intensively studied Poorly known Expanding

3. Indicator of eutrophication: Chlorophyll a concentration
Source: JRC

4. Long term trends of riverine nutrient fluxes into the Archipelago Sea
Phosphorus Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Nitrogen

5. HELCOM 50% reduction goal
Ministerial declaration in 1988
Anthropogenic loading should be reduced by 50% from 1987 levels by the year 1995
Situation in 2000
Point source loads have substantially decreased
Nutrient losses from agriculture
Especially phosphorus losses remain in a high level
More specific targets have been elaborated

6. HELCOM BREMEN DECLARATION
Ministerial declaration in 2003
One of the main sources of the still excessive inputs of nutrients are:
Nitrogen from agriculture…
…also losses of phosphorus give rise to concern in several countries
Organic farming can contribute to marine environment protection. Therefore the promotion of organic farming in addition to the contribution of agro-environmental measures can help to reduce negative impacts from agricultural sources.

7. COMBINE
PLC
Air
Water

8. HELCOM LAND
Responsible for reducing pollution from all sources on land within the Baltic Seas catchment area
Propose actions and promote investment activities in order to reduce emissions and discharges to the Baltic Sea Area
Harmonize HELCOM recommendations in the field of land based pollution with EU and other relevant organizations
Follow up the implementation of HELCOM recommendations (six recommendations closely linked to agriculture)

9. HELCOM MONAS
Responsible for monitoring of open sea areas and coastal waters (COMBINE)
Identify and quantify the anthropogenic discharges/losses of pollutants (PLC)
Detect changes in loading and possible effects in marine environment
Make periodic assessments and annual indicator reports

10. The Baltic Sea Regional Project
Managed by HELCOM and the Project Implementation Team
Component 2. Land and Coastal Management Activities
Increases awareness of environmental issues related to agriculture among farmers and communities
Invests in and implements environmentally responsible farm management practices
In the long-term, improves the economic welfare and standard of living within the farming community while reducing agricultural pollution

11. Pollution load compilation (PLC)
The aim is to get a comprehensive overview of the total amount of loading to the Baltic Sea
Air and Water parts separately
Based on monitoring data
Parameters: nutrients, organic matter, heavy metals
Riverine transport and direct point sources
PLC Water (PLC , PLC , PLC , PLC )
Next PLC in 2006

12. PLC-4 Data collection in 2000 Report will be published in 2004
Whole BS catchment area included
Also data on discharges/losses into freshwater
Data requirements ‘exploded’
Source apportionment and retention of nutrients
Quantify the major sources of loading

13. Different source categories in PLC Water
Point sources
Municipalities
Industry
Fish farming
Diffuse sources
Agriculture (including managed forestry)
Scattered dwellings
Storm water overflows
Atmospheric deposition (on lakes)
Natural leaching

14. Diffuse losses into freshwaters in 2002P N
Total load into freshwaters in 2002
Source: HELCOM PLC-4

15. Important questions related to agriculture
Total amount of losses
Location of fields (retention)
Seasonal timing of losses
Bioavailability
Time lag (e.g. Latvian rivers)
Nutrient ratios (limiting nutrient)
If P load decreases what happens to N
‘Stålnacke hypothesis’

16. Concluding remarks
To reach the 50% reduction goal agriculture is in key position
Organic farming is part of the solution
More accurate estimates of losses needed