Resilient rivers – the place we would like to be

CCB • August 22, 2023

August 2023 - “Over several days, we explored firsthand the significance of freshwater ecosystems for nature-based water management, sustainable forestry, waterway management, environmental accident mitigation, the practical challenges of rewilding, and so much more. It was a truly immersive experience that highlighted the beauty and fragility of rivers and reinforced the need to protect these ecosystems” commented Valerie Kendall, from MKO Ireland and one of the lecturers of the 4th edition of River University, which took place in the unique Oder Delta landscape, in Germany, on 31 July-4 August 2023.


The environmental catastrophe in the Oder river in 2022 still shows its negative consequences nowadays - along with new issues and challenges - making it difficult to reach a full and smooth recovery. To experience, understand and discuss the importance and the need of an integrated water management plan in the whole basin, the participants of this year's edition of River University gathered in the Oder river basin, hosted by the co-organizer Rewilding Oder Delta.


KEY PROBLEMS IN ODRA BASIN


The biggest problems of the Oder river and its basin relates mainly to the poor quality of its surface waters and its hydromorphological transformation [1]. Above-normal amounts of toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and heavy metals are present in surface waters which result in poor chemical status of Oder waters.This pollution comes from fossil fuel burning, transport and industrial emissions. Relying on fossil fuels in transport, energy and heating, doesn't help the recovery. Coal mines, which still function in the trilateral Odra basin, are responsible for brine discharges that have a significant impact on the high salinity of the Oder river. Additionally, large technical investments in new dams for inland navigation and hydropower stations negatively affect the river's natural capacity to self-regulate, and by consequence contribute to the current climate crisis. 


In such a vulnerable riverine ecosystem, the concerns are high both in the Polish and German borders. 




THERE IS STILL HOPE 


Data science gives hope to the local communities: the Oder River is alive [2]. Different species of fish and conditions for breeding are present, yet it's our human work to be done to help this river to return to its full swing of life. 


A coordinated approach of the different states (Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic) is essential: responsible ministries as well as the lower authorities and intergovernmental organizations like the Helsinki Commision (HELCOM) and the International Commission on the Protection of the Oder against Pollution (ICPO) have to cooperate with each other for the management and protection of the Oder basin.


“The pressure on the Oder river is high and it’s not the only one. This is the point when catastrophe only waits to appear.”, commented Pavel Danihelka from UNECE Joint Expert Group on Water & Industrial Accidents, during River University 2023 [3].


Continuous water quality monitoring is critical for detecting and preventing pollution discharges. Still, in the entire territory of the international basin of the Odra River, this activity is not being carried out now at any locality. It was done in the period 2004-2014, helping to discover and record a number of cases of significant deterioration of the biological quality of waters, but despite the advantages the river basin management institutions stopped the activity after ten years [4]. Also, macroinvertebrates can play a role in biomonitoring, providing valuable information on the trends of biological changes based on their role in the ecosystem and unique characteristics [5].


CCB River University 2023 - Credit: Agnieszka Soboń, Rewilding Oder Delta


INPUTS FROM RIVER UNIVERSITY 2023


During the 5-days event, speakers, practitioners and guides stressed the importance of river´s resilience, the ways to improve it, and urgency to speed up the fulfillment of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) to protect our biodiversity including the Odra river waters and natural resources that rely on them.


The lectures, field visits and expert discussions revealed that there are plenty of tools available to reduce risks and avoid critical situations, e.g.:


“We strongly believe restoring ecosystems on a landscape scale is achievable when various institutions, businesses, organisations and individuals cooperate and share the same vision. We are excited to see the new collaborations that have emerged from the River University, bringing us closer to achieving this goal.”, remarked Ewa Leś and Peter Torkler, co-organizers of River University 2023.


CCB River University 2023 - Credit: Agnieszka Soboń, Rewilding Oder Delta


The Oder river is not only an infamous example of what can happen when human pressures damage the environment, but it could also represent a good example of holistic approach and joint transboundary improvements to make the recovery possible [8] and to ensure the resilience of the river.


***

Article written by Ewa Leś, CCB Eutrophication Working Area Leader & founder of River University.


NOTES

[1] CCB Report “Major Challenges For Water Management In Poland” (2023), extended analysis of the CCB report “The Greatest Water Management Challenges in the Baltic Sea Region” (2023).


[2] Lecture at River University 2023: ’Dying river – what the Oder catastrophe has shown us’, Christian Wolter, IGB.


[3] Lecture at River University 2023: ‘The potential problem of chemical accidents on rivers’, Pavel Danihelka, University of Ostrava & Member of UNECE Joint Expert Group on Water & Industrial Accidents.


[4]-[7] Lecture at River University 2023: 'Accidental pollution of rivers', Přemysl Soldán, T.G. Masaryk Water Research Institute.


[5] Lecture at River University 2023: 'Benthic macroinvertebrates: tiny creatures - big environmental clues’, Valerie Kendall, MKO, Irland. 


[6] Lecture at River University 2023: 'Tools to support resilient, nature-based water management', Aaron J. Neill, Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience, Durham University (UK).


[7] See note n. 4.


[8] Online article on the Green European Journal (14 August 2023): ‘Odra Disaster, One Year On: Poland’s Rivers Still Need Saving’, Ewa Leś, CCB Eutrophication Working Area Leader & founder of River University.

Call for Consultant / Expert : CCB Shadow Implementation Plan on the HELCOM Regional Action Plan for benthic habitat restoration

By CCB • June 2, 2026
About CCB Coalition Clean Baltic – CCB is a politically independent network, uniting 28 environmental non-profit organizations, as well as partners and experts from 11 countries surrounding the Baltic Sea. The main goal of CCB is to promote the protection and improvement of the environment and natural resources of the Baltic Sea region by encouraging new and constructive approaches and engaging people to become part of the solution instead of part of the problem. CCB Secretariat is based in Uppsala, Sweden. Background The HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) from 2021 includes a commitment to develop a regional action plan for habitat and biotope restoration by 2026. This plan is expected to: Define qualitative and quantitative restoration targets Establish a prioritized list of restoration actions Provide an implementation toolbox of best practices and methods The scope of the HELCOM action plan focuses exclusively on benthic habitats and biotopes , with particular emphasis on active restoration measures . Adoption of the plan is foreseen at the HELCOM Ministerial Meeting in November 2026. Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB) recognizes the importance of the HELCOM process but also the need to strengthen ambition, improve implementation guidance, consider a source-to-sea approach, and ensure long term ecological effectiveness . Therefore, a CCB Shadow Restoration Implementation Plan will complement and critically assess the HELCOM Restoration Action Plan. The purpose of the CCB Shadow Restoration Implementation Plan is to: Provide a science-based and practice-oriented complement to the HELCOM Restoration Action Plan Identify gaps, weaknesses, and missing elements in the HELCOM Restoration Action Plan Propose concrete, implementable actions, under a source-to-sea approach, to ensure effective restoration outcomes Strengthen alignment with the BSAP objectives and broader regional and EU policies Your Role You will compile the CCB Shadow Restoration Implementation Plan with aims to: 1. Assess the proposed HELCOM restoration measures , particularly their expected ecological impact by Reviewing proposed HELCOM actions for benthic habitats Evaluating whether actions are sufficient to achieve good environmental status Identifing missing measures, insufficient ambition, or unclear guidance 2. Define recommendations on how restoration should be implemented in practice including Required scale, intensity, and geographic coverage of actions Feasibility and effectiveness of active restoration methods 3. Propose additional actions and priorities , especially where the scope of the HELCOM action plan is insufficient, such as Integration of a source-to-sea approach for better ecological coherence Passive restoration measures Including actions on riverine systems (barrier removal, flow restoration) and coastal ecosystems (dunes, wetlands, lagoons) Incorporating important fish habitats and spawning/nursery areas, as well as ecosystem connectivity 4. Align HELCOM restoration efforts with other relevant policy frameworks , including the Baltic Sea Action Plan, Marine Action Plan, EU Biodiversity Strategy, Nature Restoration Regulation, Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Maritime Spatial Planning Directive, Water Framework Directive and Common Fisheries Policy. This is a Joint efforts with WWF Baltic Sea Programme The organisations, CCB and WWF Baltic Sea Program, will produce two separate documents with separate logos and will be presented at a joint side-event at the HELCOM Ministerial Meeting in November 2026. Actions for the Consultant/Expert & products to deliver The final document of the shadow restoration implementation plan Conduct interviews with all WA Leaders and MOs of CCB working on restoration to gather concrete input Share at the end all notes of the research and transcripts of interviews with MOs Bi-weekly call of consultant + CCB to check-in on progress, problems and next steps Publications/Sources CCB Restoration Guidelines https://irp.cdn-website.com/53007095/files/uploaded/CCB+Restoration+Guidelines_Update+October+2025.pdf CCB BSAP Shadow Plan: https://www.ccb.se/publication/Shadow%20Plan Profile A college degree, preferably in marine science, political science, environmental studies, social sciences, or a comparable field Experience in political campaigning, strategic communication, or advocacy, ideally in environmental, climate, nature, or marine conservation, preferably with an NGO Knowledge about relevant political settings and frameworks in the Baltic Sea (HELCOM, BSAP, MSFD, NRRL, ...) Experience in collaborating with coalitions, initiatives and civil society actors Initiative, independence and reliability working fully remotely Excellent written and spoken English are required Contract Terms Contract Type: can be structured as a consulting contract or a fixed-term employment (for candidates based in Sweden). We are open to discuss what works best depending on your situation. Time: From 15 June until 15 Oct 2026, at 50-75% work pace. Location: Remote position. Application Process: Should you be interested in applying for this position please send your CV (max. 2 pages) together with a personal letter (max. 1 page) before 9 June 2026 to: secretariat@ccb.se *** Being an international organization, CCB’s work is carried out in English. Applications submitted in any other language will not be considered. Incomplete applications (e.g. lacking either CV or personal letter) will be also not considered. We will be reviewing applications as they come in and encourage early applications. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. *** For inquiries , contact CCB Biodiversity Officer: andrea.cervantes@ccb.se Equal Opportunities CCB is an equal opportunity employer. In the application and hiring process, CCB will not discriminate against any individual based on race, colour, sex, language, religion, national or social origin, property, disability, age, family status, sexual orientation and gender identity, economic and social situation.

Fishing & NGOs:Sustainable herring fishing in the Gulf of Bothnia is strengthened through better knowledge, long-term and ecosystem-based fisheries management, and protection of herring spawning areas

By CCB • May 28, 2026
28 May 2026 - Baltic Sea herring stocks and the herring fisheries have in recent years become a central point of contention in Baltic Sea fisheries policy. Member States' approaches to the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) recommendations for herring quotas have varied, and the public debate around herring is polarised. At the same time, dialogue between groups of fishers and other stakeholders in different countries has been limited, and not all actors have had a clear picture of each other's perspectives and needs. Within the framework of the Fisheries for the Future project, funded by Ålandsbanken’s Baltic Sea Project, Finnish and Swedish fishers, environmental organisations and researchers gathered last autumn to discuss the status of herring stocks and fishing in the Baltic Sea. Participants gained a better understanding of differences between countries and areas regarding stock status, fisheries management and research. The organisations that took part in the workshop all agree on the need for joint dialogue and wish for the cooperation to continue. “ The project combines research and practical understanding of the herring situation in the Baltic Sea. That makes the initiative particularly important, as the lessons learned can contribute to better decisions and more accurate measures going forward ," notes Crista Hietala, Head of Marketing and Communications at Ålandsbanken and the Baltic Sea Project. During the workshop, a shared understanding emerged of the complexity of the issue, where fishing is one factor but not the only cause of the state of the stocks. The need for a holistic approach was emphasised, in which environmental changes and factors affecting fisheries regulation are considered alongside fishing itself. " Herring stocks are affected by a range of interacting factors – from water quality and salinity to changes in food webs and climate change. At the same time, knowledge about how these factors interact remains limited, which contributes to increased uncertainty in management ," says Aimi Hamberg, Marine Policy Officer at Coalition Clean Baltic. More stable quotas increase predictability The predictability and economic sustainability of fishing can be improved by reducing annual variations in fishing quotas. Multi-annual and more stable quotas would facilitate the planning of fishing operations and better secure the herring's central role in the Baltic Sea ecosystem. The fishing and environmental organisations that participated in the workshop propose that EU member states ask the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) to investigate how the quota system can be developed in a more stable and long-term direction, while at the same time ensuring the recovery of sustainable herring stocks. More knowledge about herring spawning areas Workshop participants emphasise that a significantly better knowledge base is needed about herring spawning and nursery areas than what we have today. Updated information on the most important reproduction areas for herring is central to marine spatial planning, for example when siting offshore wind power and other uses of sea areas. Towards ecosystem-based stock assessments During the workshop, it was recommended that herring stock assessments should be based on an ecosystem perspective. ” We believe that stock assessments and advice on fishing quotas need to take greater account of changes in central ecosystem factors, such as predation by seals and cormorants. It is important to expand data collection in order to achieve this ," say representatives of Vi Svenska Fiskare (We Swedish Fishers). As a first step, workshop participants recommend that Finland and Sweden initiate a joint regional project in the Gulf of Bothnia, which can later be extended to other parts of the Baltic Sea. Management areas should be reviewed – dialogue on protected areas needs to continue The workshop highlighted the need to review the division of management areas in the Baltic Sea. Participants propose that the Bothnian Sea and the Bothnian Bay be separated as distinct regulatory areas. This is motivated by genetic differences between the stocks and the fish's migration patterns. In addition, participants consider it important to continue the dialogue on possible protected areas in the Bothnian Sea. Such areas could be introduced as time-limited pilot trials, whose effects are evaluated scientifically. The dialogue on protected areas in the Bothnian Sea has continued between the organisations at a meeting held in February. *** Related documents Read the press release in Swedish and in Finnish . Main outcomes of the workshop in Swedish and Finnish. *** Further information The Fisheries for the Future workshop was a collaborative project between the environmental organisation Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB) and WWF Finland, with funding from Ålandsbanken’s Baltic Sea Project. Among the represented fishing organisations were Suomen Ammattikalastajaliitto/Finlands Yrkesfiskarförbund (Finnish Professional Fishers' Association), Österbottens Fiskarförbund (Ostrobothnia Fishers' Association), Vi Svenska Fiskare (We Swedish Fishers), Kustfiskarna Bottenhavet (Bothnian Sea Coastal Fishers), Ålands fiskare (Åland Fishers) and Sportfiskarna (the Swedish Anglers' Association). Fisheries management was represented by the Government of Åland and the County Administrative Board of Stockholm. In addition, experts from the Natural Resources Institute Finland, the University of Turku and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences participated.