THEME OF THE ISSUE
LIVE BALTIC - 2005
The international environmental ship campaign was organised and held by Coalition Clean Baltic and NGOs from St.Petersburg and Leningrad region along the
South and North coasts of the Russian part of the Finnish Gulf on 8 - 17 September. The campaign events were held in St.Petersburg, Kronshtadt, Lomonosov,
Lebyazhye, Sosnovy Bor, Vistino, Vyborg, Primorsk, and Strelna. The campaign goal was informing the residents about unique nature of the Baltic Sea and about
the value of the Finnish Gulf ecosystem, about environmental problems and solutions to them, about possibilities of sustainable development of coastal zones
and of public participation in this process.
Read more
NEWS
CCB was introduced at an international NGO-forum in North-West Russia
CCB's Water Policies Officer, Maret Merisaar represented CCB at an international conference assessing the state of the
development and future perspectives of the civil society in Russia. The conference was held in Petrozavodsk 15-16 September 2005.
Read more
CCB Press-release on the outcome of the 31 st Session of the International Baltic Sea Fishery Commission (IBSFC), 5-9 September 2005, Visby, Sweden
EU and Russia agreed on fishing quota 2006 for the threatened eastern cod stock, at a level 230 % higher than the scientific
advice. Overexploited Baltic cod stocks are still at risk for the long-term survival. 2/3 of all wild Baltic salmon river populations are threatened,
but IBSFC's recommendations still allow for extensive catches of the salmon in mixed open-sea fisheries.
Read the full CCB press-release here
Read CCB proposals for the IBSFC session here
An important step towards an improved environment in the Baltic Sea
On 22 September, the St.Petersburg South West Wastewater Treatment Plant has been put into operation. This new treatment
plant will biologically clean the wastewaters of a 720,000 population equivalent. It will help to meet the Helsinki Commission Recommendations and EU
standards of water treatment, contributing significantly to the upgrading of water quality in the Baltic Sea and thus benefiting all neighbouring Baltic
Sea countries. This project was the first in Russia to have received finance from the European Investment Bank (EIB).
Read more
Experts suggest routes to cleaner Baltic Sea
Sweden should make immediate efforts to remove phosphorus from detergents and point sources to counter eutrophication of the Baltic Sea,
a panel of international experts has recommended. And Sweden should consider funding phosphorus reduction at significant point sources in other
Baltic states, the experts also suggest. No eutrophication is a key official goal of Swedish environmental policy.
Read more
Asian fish caught in Estonian waters
Bighead carp, an alien fish originating from the lowland rivers of northern and southern China, has been caught in the Parnu Bay
by a commercial fisherman at the end of August. The fish was of large size, being 1 m long and weighing 14.5 kg.
Read more
EUR 150 million to Latvia for investments co-financed with EU Funds
The European Investment Bank (EIB) lends EUR 150 million for co-financing of priority projects fostering the development of Latvia. The loan will be
used for investments in priority areas such as the development of transport, energy and water infrastructures. For example, the loan will finance projects
related to the development of drinking water supply and waste water treatment in municipalities.
Read more
Updated list of Ramsar-World Heritage sites
There are over thirty wetlands that have been designated both as Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention and as World Heritage sites
under the 'UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage'. The list of these dual sites has just been updated and can be seen
here...
Commission supports 89 innovation projects in 17 countries with EUR 71 million
The European Commission has approved funding for 89 environmental innovation projects in 17 countries under the LIFE-Environment programme 2005.
These projects will demonstrate new methods and techniques for dealing with a wide diversity of environmental problems, thus contributing to improving
Europe's environment. The projects represent a total investment of EUR 220 million, of which the EU will provide one third. Almost one fifth of the EU
funding (EUR 14 million) will be allocated to projects dealing with the sustainable management of groundwater and surface water.
Read more
Marine biodiversity research
With marine species disappearing at an alarming rate and increasing evidence that our sensitive marine ecosystems are under threat, one EU-funded research
network of European marine institutes, MarBEF, is engaged in a struggle to assemble all relevant knowledge and get it out to the relevant stakeholders. That
means not just to scientists, but also to decision-makers, industry and the public at large.
Read more
HELCOM fleet rehearses oil spill response off the Swedish coast
A total of 19 ships and smaller vessels from the Baltic Sea countries participated in HELCOM?s annual pollution response exercise BALEX DELTA 2005,
held off Karlskrona, Sweden, on 31st August. The main aim of the exercise was to test the Baltic Sea countries' readiness to respond to a major oil accident
at sea, particularly with regard to response capability and co-operation between response units from different countries.
Read more
Swedish Coast Guard team wins HELCOM Trophy once again
For the third year in a row, the Swedish Coast Guard team has won the HELCOM Trophy in a rowing competition held on 1st September in Karlskrona,
Sweden, following the Helsinki Commission's annual pollution response exercise BALEX DELTA 2005. Seven teams, representing response vessels from Denmark,
Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden, took part in this year's HELCOM race.
Read more
Baltic Sea saline pulses in the periods 1897-1939 and 1946-2003
The study describes the saline pulses and their strength arriving from the North Sea to the Baltic Sea in the periods 1897-1939 and 1946-2003.
During the Second World War it was impossible to collect saline pulse data. The graphics are based on data collected by German marine scientists,
and the original sources are included with them.
Read more
COMING EVENTS
IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition
10-14 September 2006, Beijing, China
The IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition is the opportunity for water professionals from around the world to meet and to share their knowledge and experience,
both within their peer groups and across a broader set of interested stakeholders. The Congress encompasses both current research and practice in water, wastewater
and stormwater management. Alongside the Congress, the IWA World Water Exhibition is a key meeting point for companies and institutions operating globally to meet
with leading international industry professionals involved in technological development, strategic planning and decision-making. The Call for Proposals to submit
a paper to the Congress will remain open until 31 October 2005.
Read more
Please find other CCB Newsletter issues here.
|
Up