The 2021 update of the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) sets out objectives, indicators and actions to be implemented by the HELCOM Contracting Parties with the aim of achieving good environmental status of the Baltic Sea by 2030. The document addresses four main areas: biodiversity, eutrophication, hazardous substances and marine litter, and sea-based activities, and identifies measures to address pressures affecting the marine environment. In the area of biodiversity, the Plan includes objectives and measures concerning the conservation of species and habitats. These include actions related to the establishment and management of marine protected areas, as well as measures addressing the impacts of human activities on marine ecosystems. The Plan also refers to the improvement of knowledge and monitoring related to species and habitats. Measures on eutrophication address nutrient inputs, and include actions to reduce inputs from land-based and atmospheric sources. The Plan refers to maximum allowable inputs and the allocation of reduction requirements among sources, and includes measures related to wastewater management and air emissions. The section on hazardous substances and marine litter addresses chemical pollutants and measures related to the reduction of marine litter. It includes actions concerning hazardous substances in the marine environment and refers to monitoring and assessment of their presence and effects. Measures on marine litter address both macro- and micro-litter and include actions related to prevention and reduction. The section on sea-based activities covers environmental aspects of maritime transport and other activities at sea. It includes measures related to ship-generated waste, underwater noise and the introduction of non-indigenous species, as well as other pressures associated with activities in the marine environment. The Plan further incorporates topics applicable across all thematic areas, including climate change and maritime spatial planning. The final sections of the Plan outline the implementation framework, including mechanisms for monitoring, assessment, and reporting. It specifies the tracking of progress of national and regional actions and includes a methodology for economic and social analysis of the planned measures, as well as provisions related to financing and resource mobilization.
2021-10-20