HELCOM - 13:e mötet i gruppen för hållbara jordbruksmetoder

From October 6^th to 8^th 2021, Deutsche Umwelthilfe organised a transnational conference, which gave German and Polish stakeholders the opportunity to discuss the transboundary management of effective marine protected areas and sustainable fisheries in the southern Baltic Sea. Healthy oceans are essential for human wellbeing, biodiversity and a healthy climate. They provide vital ecosystem services and guarantee our prosperity and health. We need to protect the oceans to protect ourselves.

Ida Carlén, CCB Biodiversity Officer attended the conference.

The conference was split into three main topics:
1) The benefits of effective marine protected areas for nature and humans
Studies on the possible impacts of effectively protected areas were presented and discussed. In addition, we discussed the reasons for opposing zoning concepts and no-take areas that different stakeholders might have, in order to find solutions to reduce such reservations.

2) Ecosystem services of marine protected areas and healthy oceans
Our aim was to raise awareness of the importance of healthy seas. In addition to gaining an overview of the current state of knowledge on the topic, we zoomed in on the following questions: Which ecosystem services can marine protected areas provide, if well managed? Under which circumstances is this possible? How important are the oceans for the climate? How is the oceans' relevance for the global climate incorporated into Polish and German administration and policy?

3) Fisheries and marine conservation
Fisheries are the single greatest direct anthropogenic stressor on marine ecosystems. Therefore, the goals of the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 – 30 percent protected areas within the EU, of which 10 percent are strictly protected - have to involve and consider fisheries. Against this background, we addressed fisheries management in the Natura 2000 sites in the Baltic Sea, measures to rebuild the eastern cod stock as well as fisheries control methodes in order to find cooperative solutions with fisheries.

To read the agenda. 
Presentations.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Katharina Fietz (fietz@duh.de) and Katrin Quiring (quiring@duh.de) by email.