The CCB focus on three priority areas: 1. Promotion of good
ecological water status 2. Prevention of installations
and transports harmful to the Baltic Sea
environment. 3.
Development of sustainable Baltic Sea Fisheries.
There are a number of activities and projects within each area. Read
more
Baltic Forum for Innovative Technologies for Sustainable Manure
Management - project Baltic MANURE
The Baltic
Forum for Innovative Technologies for Sustainable Manure Management
is a flagship project under the EU Strategy for the Baltic
Sea Region. The Baltic MANURE project will focus on the link
between economic growth and environmental benefits to make
rural areas more prosperous through sustainable manure management.
Subsidies
directed towards the fishing sector is one of the key problem
areas regarding the overfishing and overcapacity in Europe's
fishing fleet. The European Fisheries Fund (EFF) was designed
to balance fishing activities at sustainable levels but it
has actually done the reverse. Ship owners have been able
to get subsidies to increase the capacity and fishing power
of their vessels, adding to fleet overcapacity. It is time
to stop the blind spending of taxpayers money!
CCB
is a member of the campaign organisation OCEAN2012 dedicated
to change the European fishing policy (CFP) to a greener and
truly sustainable policy.
See
the OCEAN2012 "End the blind spend" video below.
CCB
Seminar on the future of Baltic salmon management, 8-9 December
2011, Älvkarleby, Sweden
The
CCB salmon seminar held in Älvkarleby, Sweden, focused on
the EC Baltic Salmon Management Plan, important measures for
salmon river management and lessons learnt in efforts to restore
salmon rivers and reintroduce salmon.
CCB
debate on the future of the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP),
beyond 2013, 30 November 2011, Warsaw, Poland
The
focus of the debate, held in Warsaw, Poland, was pros and
cons of the new CAP legislative proposal and the aim was to
elaborate a common NGO position statement.
CCB
statement regarding the European Commission proposal for a
new multi annual management plan for Baltic Salmon
CCB conclude that the proposal has several good components
but that amendments and clarifications are needed. It is important
to quickly find answers to why young salmon die, to learn
more about by-catch problems and to secure better knowledge
about the unknown removal of salmon in the Baltic sea for
any management plan to have a real effect.
TAC
setting for Baltic salmon 2012 and the current situation for
returning salmon spawners in the Baltic Sea region
The numbers of returning salmon spawners show a strong negative
trend in several important rivers and CCB urge Baltic region
governments to apply a precautionary approach to salmon fisheries
for 2012.
Coastal
residents who care about the town and the Gulf of Finland
visited the Friends of the Baltic information action witin
the Oranienbaum Marine Festival, dedicated to the 300th anniversary
of Lomonosov.
To
read the full article and read more CCB articles please go
to the link.
Beaver
dams in salmon and sea-trout rivers in Belarus
Beaver
dams prevent salmon from reaching their spawning areas and
are a main problem in most of the salmon and sea-trout rivers
in Belarus. Neman Environment Group in Belarus decided, in
co-operation with authorities, to remove beaver dams to increase
the available spawning habitat to adult salmonids. With help
from volunteers from the fishing club "Perekat"
from Minsk, five actions have been organised on the Tartak,
Senkanka and Dudka rivers, tributaries in the Nemunas/Neris
river system.
HELCOM
High-level meeting on the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP),
9
March 2011
NGOs
notice a surprising lack of progress in many National Implementation
Plans (NIPs) of the BSAP from 2007. Concrete measures and
its financing are lagging behind in order to reach the goals.
When
it comes to concrete actions e.g. to reduce nutrient input
from agriculture, reduce impact from fisheries and to protect
biodiversity the real work to deliver the BSAP has yet to
be done.
For
further information read the NGO statement below.
CCB
response to the Consultation for the Impact Assessment on
the "Common Agricultural Policy Towards 2020"proposals
CCB
is very concerned that DG Agriculture does
not understand and identify the relation between intensive
agriculture practices that creates European-wide Eutrophication
problems, as an important topic to address for the reform
of the CAP after 2013. One very important environmental impact
of existing EU agriculture subsidies is that the subsidies
substantially contribute to the eutrophication problem in
Europe. This is the reason why the relationship between agricultural
subsidies and eutrophication must be addressed in the CAP
reform.
The
agricultural production in EU-countries create eutrophication
water pollution problems in freshwater rivers and lakes and
in sea areas. In the Baltic Sea 50 % of the nutrient pollution
load comes as nutrient run-off from the agriculture sector
in the Baltic catchment. This means that the Baltic Sea eutrophication
problem cannot be solved if the agriculture sector does not
make substantial reductions in its nutrient run-off. The CAP
needs to create effective economic instruments and incentives
to support such development.
Anglers
against poachers: Sea trout have successfully spawned in the
river Tartak, Belarus
The
river Tartak is a small, shallow creek in the Vilia/Neman
river catchment, in Belarus. This autumn, 2010, more than
50 female sea trout have gone upstream the river, and most
of them spawned successfully. This is very unusual due to
the fact that poachers have usually taken almost all of the
spawning sea trout from the local rivers. Thanks to a volunteer
river patrol, with 12 participants, brought together during
the spawning season, for the first time in many years the
poachers did not show up and the sea trout could survive.
CCB
Water Seminar on Agriculture, 3-4
November 2010, in Warsaw, Poland
CCB
in cooperation with Global Water Partnership PL organized
a two-days’ seminar to share experiences and empower for actions
and lobbying on national levels.
CCB
International conference on innovative solutions for wastewater
treatment, 20-21
October 2010, in Gliwice, Krynica, Poland
CCB
in cooperation with Polish Ecological Club organized an international
conference on "Innovative solutions for wastewater treatment
for the scattered settlements of rural areas".
EU
Commissioner for Fisheries & Maritime Affairs, Maria Damanaki,
received signatures
On
September 13, 2010, OCEAN2012, the pan-European campaign to
stop overfishing in Europe, handed over
28,500 signatures to European Fisheries and Maritime Affairs
Commissioner, Maria Damanaki, calling on her to prioritise
the health of the marine environment in the reform of the
European Union's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
A
group of eight people from OCEAN2012, including a representative
from CCB, also had a one hour meeting with the Commissioner
in Brussels.
Post
card campaign on the south shore of the Gulf of Finland
In
connection with the yearly Green World environmental biketrip,
from 26 July to 1 August 2010, CCB supported the post card
campaign with the message to stop poaching and save the population
of wild Baltic Salmon in Luga River, Russia.
The
first European Fish week took place from June 5-13 -
a
unique opportunity for everybody across Europe to play their
part in making this a truly fundamental reform of the Common
Fisheries Policy. OCEAN2012 organised events throughout Europe.
For further information see below.
CCB
proposals for HELCOM Moscow Ministerial Meeting,
18-20 May 2010
CCB
participated at the HELCOM Moscow Ministerial Meeting, 18-20
May.
The
National programmes for implementation of HELCOM Baltic Sea
Action Plan (BSAP), was discussed during the meeting. CCB
has presented proposals for the Russian National program for
Implementation of HELCOM BSAP.
CCB
General Meeting
and Annual Conference Baltic 10
on
Biodiversity and the Baltic Sea,
7-9
May 2010, in Palanga, Lithuania
The
CCB General Meeting and Annual Conference Baltic 10, took
place in Palanga, Lithuania, between 7-9 May.
On
10 May, following the CCB Meetings, a workshop on the Marine
Strategy Framework Directive and its implementation was held
in Palanga.
For
further information about the CCB General Meeting and Annual
Conference Baltic 10, as well as the workshop on the Marine
Strategy Framwork Directive, please see below.
CCB
Water Seminar on sustainable water management in River Basin
Management Plans, 18-20 November 2009, Gdynia, Poland
CCB
organised together with Global Water Partnership PL and POMCERT
Gdynia, a Water Seminar on sustainable water management in
River Basin Management Plans in the Baltic Sea Region.
CCB
Salmon Seminar about the Future for the Salmon River Luga,
9-10 December 2009, Kingisepp, Russia
CCB
organised together with Baltic Fund For Nature and Green World
a Salmon Seminar about the possibility of re-establishing
Luga river as a sustainable and natural habitat for Baltic
Salmon.
EU
Commissioner for Fisheries, Joe Borg, introduced to the CCB
activities on the protection of the wild Baltic salmon
The
EU Commissioner for Fisheries, Joe Borg, was offered and accepted
a CCB salmon tie with the text "This person promotes
the protection of the wild Baltic salmon".
CCB
addresses the meeting of Ministers of the Baltic Sea Member
States and the EU-Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries,
1 October 2009, in Saltsjobaden, Stockholm, Sweden to
Secure stakeholder
participation in Baltic Fisheries Management
Fisheries control
must be strengthened - unreported and unrecorded catches is
still a problem in Baltic Salmon fisheries
Increased
ambition for fish stock monitoring needed to achieve Sustainable
Fisheries Management - example upcoming "Baltic Salmon
management plan".
Russian
shipyard planned in Gulf of Finland close to RAMSAR area
Russia
is planning for a new shipyard in Primorsk, Gulf of Finland.
The planned localization will be close to the Russian RAMSAR
site "Birch Islands", an area most important for
bird protection and bird migration (e.g. whopper swan). Important
local nature conservation and recreational values are also
threatened by the plans. CCB proposes, in a letter to the
Russian Prime Minister and Governor of Leningrad Oblast, to
consider alternative localization of the shipyard, to minimize
the impact on international and regional nature conservation
values. For more info, see CCB letter to Russian decision
makers below.
First
cycle River Basin Management Plans under our control?
The European
Community has faced the important challenges to recover the
good status of water bodies by 2015, as required by the Water
Framework Directive. Water in rivers, estuaries and coasts
will hopefully improve under measures set up in the River
Basin Management Plans (RBMP) drawn up for river basin districts
across Europe.
Read
the article by CCB Water Policy Officer Anna Smolka, on her
experience from the RBMP planning process.
the
Baltic Sea and Baltic
Region The Baltic Sea is
the world’s second largest inland sea, with brackish
water, and a unique ecosystem. It is also one of the most
polluted seas in the world. The Baltic Sea is neither dead
nor dying – but it is in great trouble.
You
can help the Baltic Sea! The
future and recovery of the Baltic Sea depends on our lifestyles.
There are 85 million of us living around this unique sea. By
working together we can achieve a healthier, more dynamic sea.
There is a lot you can do to help the Baltic Sea! Read
more
The
Ecocentrum in St. Petersburg,
Russia has produced a booklet in
English on their activities The Ecocentrum is a partnership
of non-governmental organisations for promotion of sustainable
development through spreading knowledge and encouraging environmentally
friendly decisions and actions. More
information
Publications
to download Every year CCB produces and translates
information to increase knowledge and awareness of environmental
problems in the Baltic Sea region.
Note that you now can download
the Baltic Sea harbour porpoise brochure in German, Finnish,
Swedish, English and Polish as well as the book "Sustainable
sanitation in Central and Eastern Europe" in English,
Bulgarian, Hungarian, Latvian, Romanian, Russian, Slovak and
Ukrainian. Publications
Nature
Conservation Atlas of the Russian Part of Gulf of Finland This Nature Conservation Atlas is
produced by the Baltic Fund for Nature with support from among
others Coalition Clean Baltic.
Please have a look at it
(note that the file is 101 mb)
For other publications please have a look at "publications"
in the menue.
CCB
were coorganisers of the High-Level Policy Dialogue on
" EU Sanitation Policies and Practices
in the 2008 International Year of Sanitation"
Brussels, 29 th January 2007 Draft
agenda
"Where
have all the fishes gone?"
Listen
and learn from this animation telling the sad story of the
fate of the fish in the Baltic Sea.
Environmental
NGO (Coalition Clean Baltic and World Wide Fund for Nature)
Statement for HELCOM Ministerial Meeting on the HELCOM
Baltic Sea Action Plan, Krakow, 15
November 2007
The
brochure "The Baltic Harbour Porpoise needs Protection"
tells you about the situation for the estimated 600 individuals
of this species that still remain in the Baltic Sea.
Comb
jelly poses serious threat to Baltic Sea ecosystem
Alarming
numbers of comb jellies (Mnemiopsis ledyi) have been detected
in parts of the Baltic Sea. It is feared that the invasive
species could have disastrous consequences for the entire
ecosystem in the Baltic.
On
10 October 2007, the European Commission presented its vision
for a integrated maritime policy for the European Union. The
vision document ? also called the Blue book
Publications
to download Every year CCB
produces and translates information to increase knowledge and
awareness of environmental problems in the Baltic Sea region
including constructive measures to address those problems. Publications
Environmental
education programme River Watch supported by CCB arrived in
Belarus in 2005 and captured the imagination of several schools
straight away.
Nina
Palutskaya from Belarus writes about the implementation of
the River Watch programme in her country.
High-Level
Political Meeting on Baltic Eutrophication and Agriculture
On 19-20 April 2007 a Meeting of High-Level Representatives
from Ministries of Agriculture and Environment of the Baltic
Sea Region countries (CBSS) will take place in Saltsjöbaden,
Sweden. The meeting title: Land and Sea: more cooperation,
less eutrophication, will discuss measures to reduce the heavy
nutrient load (50% of the total N&P- load to the Baltic
Sea) from the Baltic agricultural sector.
1
January 2007 the ASCOBANS Secreariat was merged with the Convention
of Migratory Species (CMS) Secretariat. The Executive Secretary
of CMS has now assumed the role of acting Executive Secretary
for ASCOBANS as well CMS website.
Good
news from Scandinavia regarding the planned electricity cable The Swedish prime minister Fredrik
Reinfeldt was in the Parliament to inform about the EU-Russia
meeting in Finland and Per Bolund from the Green Party asked
him about the cable.
Planned
Nuclear Electricity import to Nordic market from dangerous
Chernobyl type reactor!
NGOs
oppose the nuclear electricity import from Russian dangerous
Chernobyl type reactor to the Nordic countries, as lon as
common environmental standards are missing and urge the Finnish
government to stop the planned nuclear electricity cabel between
Leningrad nuclear power plant to the Nordic electricity market.
Joining
forces around the Baltic With
its 27 member organizations, and their half a million members
in all countries around the Baltic Sea, its drainage area approach
and its consistent work at the grassroots level, makes Coalition
Clean Baltic (CCB) unique organization. The primary goal of
CCB is to promote the protection and improvement of the environment
and natural resources of the Baltic Sea Area. About
CCB
Baltic
Cod Fish stocks in European waters
are severely threatened, and some, such as Baltic and North
Sea cod, are threatened with extinction in the near future unless
strong protective measures are implemented. Priority
Activity Sustainable Fisheries
EU
DG Environment
