Maritime
The main goal of the Working Area Maritime is to raise awareness about the cumulative impact of the anthropogenic maritime activities in the Baltic marine ecosystems and to address the negative effects over a long-term perspective.
The problem
The Baltic Sea is one of the most crowded shipping areas in the world. Hazardous substances from shipping get into the environment through atmospheric emissions from combustion, leaking from anti-fouling paints and intentional or accidental spills of oil, hazardous substances and fertilizers.
Intensified human activities and pressures are also affecting the coastal area. Such pressures primarily include coastal erosion, partly as a climate change effect, growing number of visitors to the coastline and associated impacts e.g. disturbance/destruction of natural habitats, larger amounts of litter generated in coastal areas, import of invasive plant species. Those pressures also include growing industrial development of the coastal and marine areas with ports, harbours and other large infrastructure (e.g. Nord Stream II and Vistula Canal).
The goal
The aim is to achieve a substantial reduction of discharges of harmful substances to the Baltic Sea from sources both on land (municipal sewage, atmospheric deposition) and from point sources (ships and harbours).
Citizens in the Baltic Sea region, as well as politicians and officials should be concerned about the constantly ongoing threats to the Baltic Sea Coastal environmental values and search for possible solutions to safeguard the coastal environment and guarantee goals of biodiversity protection and recreational values. Adequate and detailed spatial planning and management plans are needed for all Baltic Coastal areas.
How is CCB working with this issue?
MATERIALS & MEDIA
WHAT CAN WE DO?
What can countries do together?
- Give very high priority to the implementation of the HELCOM Baltic Strategy to improve the system of port reception facilities for waste and harmful substances generated on ships;
- Make concerted efforts to eliminate sub-standard ships from entering and operating in the Baltic Sea;
- Put a stop to offshore oil and gas exploitation in the Baltic Sea.
What can each country do?
- Take measures to reduce the discharges of harmful substances in municipal waste and stormwater and as well as from installations which generate pollution;
- Make detailed Environmental Impact Assessments.
What can you do?
- Ask your own government or local authorities to reduce the discharges of harmful substances to the Baltic Sea from sources both on land and from point sources;
- Ask your municipality to improve the coastal tourism infrastructure;
- Help fill data gaps on barriers in rivers by using a mobile app;
- Join clean-up activities;
- Respect the environment and recycle;
- Join the campaign against Nord Stream II.
Get in contact with the
CCB Working Area Leader on Maritime
If you have questions or want to collaborate
send an e-mail to:
secretariat [at] ccb.se
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