In 2019, CCBs presence in relevant fora has not decreased and we continue to be a relevant actor, proactive but also strong defender of the EU policies and environmental law. CCB has highlighted illegal forestry, illegal fishing and discarding, dumping of plastic waste, plans for ill-advised projects like gas pipelines, canals and poor or non-existing handling of manure and toxic waste.
Above all, the cod stock collapse and alerting all actors including the European Commission to the dramatic development, calling for emergency measures, has taken centre stage. The collapsed stock has in a way meant a deeper understanding and acceptance for the need of a different management that CCB is striving for, and not least, links to the importance of MSFD and HELCOM.
CCBs engagement in HELCOM has increased as the process to update the BSAP, being the regional implementation of MSFD, has picked up pace. CCB has jointly now formed a “Shadow plan” to form our own BSAP, similar to the one CCB made already in 1992. We have also developed and sent in almost 30 detailed proposals (i.e. synopses) for new measures that are now assessed by HELCOM.