This report not to be quoted without prior reference to the Council*

International Council for theExploration of the Sea

C.M.1993/E:6Ref.:Sess.V

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REPORT OF THE WORKING GROUP ON THE BALTIC MARINE ENVIRONMENT

HeIsinki, Finland, 21-23 April 1993

This document is areport of a Working Group of the InternationalCouncil for the Exploration of the Sea and does not necessarilyrepresent the views of the Council. Therefore, it should not be quotedwithout consultation with the General Secretary.

*General SecretaryleESPalregade 2-4DK-1261 Copenhagen KDENMARK

Section

2

OPENING OF THE MEETING

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

3 REPORTS ON ACTIVITIES RELEVANT TO THE WGBME 13.1 Activities within ICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 13.2 Activities related to the HELCOM and the BMP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 13.3 Relationships with Other Organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 13.4 National Activities 2

4 REPORTS OF STUDY AND STEERING GROUPS 24.1 BaseIine Study of Contaminants in Sediments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . .. 24.2 Environmental Modelling of the Baltic Sea 3

5 JOINT ACTIVITIES IN THE BALTIC 35.1 Review of SKAGEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 35.2 Coastal Zone-Open Sea FIux Studies in the Joint Experiment in the Gulf of Finland 35.3 GEWEX/BALTEX. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 45.4 Other Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 4

6 REVIEW OF THE WORK OF THE STEERING GROUPS ON QUAUTY ASSURANCE OFCHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL MEASUREMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 5

7 STRATEGY PLAN FOR THE WGBME 5

8 ACUTE EVENTS AND THE BALTIC "HOT UNE NETWORK" 68.1 Collection and Assessment of Data on Actual Environmental Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 68.2 The Recent Salt Water Intlow (January/February 1993) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 68.3 The Baltic "Hot Line Network" 6

9 INTERSESSIONAL WORK PROGRAMME 6

10 ANY OTHER BUSINESS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 7

11 CLOSING OF THE MEETING 7

ANNEX 1: Agenda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

ANNEX 2: List of Participants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

ANNEX 3: "Baltic Hot Line Network" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 11

ANNEX 4: Recommendations 15

WORKING GROUP ON TUE BALTIC MARINE ENVIRONMENT

Helsinki, Finland, 21-23 April 1993

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1 OPENING OF TUE MEETING

The Chairman, Or Hans-Peter Hansen, opened the 1993meeting of the Working Group on the Baltic MarineEnvironment (WGBME) at the Finnish Institute ofMarine Research on 21 April 1993 at 10.00 hrs. OrMatti Perttilä was asked to serve as Rapporteur. It wasnoted with regret that no scientists from Oenmark,Russia, Latvia, Lithuania or Poland were present. Thelist of participants at the meeting is attached as Annex 1.

2 ADOPTION OF TUE AGENDA

The draft agenda was adopted with minor modificationsand is attached as Annex 2.

3 REPORTS ON ACTIVITIES RELEVAl'i'TTO TUE WGBl\1E

3.1 Acth'ities ",ithin ICES

The ICES Environment Secretary, Ms Janet Pawlak,informed the meeting about on-going activities within theICES community. The Advisory Committee on MarinePollution (ACMP) has been transformed into the Advis­ory Committee on the Marine Environment (ACME),which more accurately encompasses the wider scope ofits duties, that will be officially fixed later this year. Oneimportant change for the new ACME is the compositionof its members. In the past, ICES appointed the ACMEmembers, noweach ICES member country will be askedto nominate one member and one alternate to the ACME,for ultimate appointment by the CounciI. It is expectedthat the ACME will provide advice on broader aspects ofmarine environmental issues.

It was noted that several new working groups have beenaddoo to the ICES network. A new working group hasbeen established to study the effects of climate change oncod. Also, the issue of quality assurance is becoming ofcentral importance, and consequently Steering Groupshave been established for both chemical and biologicalquality assurance in the Baltic Sea. A Steering Group onBaltic ModelIing is also starting its work.

It is knov.n that a great deal of oceanographic data forthe Baltic Sea, collected by Russia, Estonia, Latvia, andLithuania, are still held in manuscript form in the variousmarine institutes of these countries. Although some ofthese data may have been passed on to the Worid DataCentre B (Obminsk, Russia), a considerable amount of

work remains to be done to have these data digitized andthen made available publicly. At present, two parallelefforts are underway to 'rescue' these data. The ICESOceanography Secretary has written to all relevantinstitutes in Russia, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuaniaoffering help to digitize their data. There has been \ittlereaction to this offer so far. In addition, ICES will co­sponsor a workshop in May 1993 at the World OataCentre B in support of IOC's "Global Oata Archaeologyand Rescue Project " (GODAR). This workshop willseek to identify the location and condition of all oceano­graphie data in those countries. Although the primaryinterests of this Project concern data from the openocean, it is clear that the workshop will identify theexistence of undigitized oceanographic data from theBaltic Sea, and make appropriate recommendations toensure that they will be digitized as soon as possible. TheWorking Group noted that the success of this workshopmay weIl be aided by a German "goodwill" project toestablish computer facilities in several institutes in thisregion.

It was noted that the above situation concerning undigit­ized oceanographic data does not apply to Poland. ICEShas been cooperating closely with a number of Polishinstitutes for a number of years and, as a result, mostPolish data for the Baltic Sea are available in digitizedform.

3.2 Acthities related to the UELCOM and theB:\IP

As a representative from the HELCOM was not presentat the meeting, there was no report for this agenda item.Bowever, matters of relevance to HELCOM and BMPwere discussed in conjunction with the items on QualityAssurance and the Baltic "Bot-\ine Network".

3.3 Rclationships with Othcr Organi7.ations

Or Bernt-Ingmar Dybern reported on the activities of theBaltic Marine Biologists (BMB). The BMB has severalworking groups involved with modelIing, fish stocks,fish diseases, zooplankton, and other relevant topics. The13th Symposium of the BMB will be held in Riga inSeptember 1993. Ajoint BMB-WWF (WorId Wide Fundfor Nature) working group has been established with theaim of selecting protected marine underwater areas.About 50 areas representing different typical Baltic Seahabitats have al ready been identified and proposed. Theproject is partially financed by the Nordic Council ofMinisters.

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Or Oybem also reported on the concept of Large MarineEcosystems (LMEs). A symposium on Lr-.1Es is presentlybeing prepared for 1994. Three main areas of interestwill be addressed at the symposium: LMEs as a generalconcept, the Baltie Sea as an LME, and a comparisonbetween the B1ack Sea and the Baltic Sea.

AIthough ICES has preferred the regional approach tothe marine environment in the past, the holistie approachwas viewed by the WGBME as a useful tool which canbe used in paraIlel to the regional approach. It was notedthat politicians and the publie often prefer sweepinggeneralizations rather than detailed accounts of localevents. It was further pointed out that the characteristicsof the different areas of the BaItie Sea differ so vastlyfrom each other that it may not always be advisahle touse only a holistie approach on the Baltic Sea. Nonethe­less, the WGBME welcomes the opportunity to considerthe LME approach as an alternative to the regionalapproach, as weIl as the possihility of integrating theexisting regional information into a holistic view.

3.4 National Acti\'ities

Or Rein Tammsalu and Or Lemhit Talpsepp reported onnew developments regarding marine science in Estonia.A new institute has heen founded, the Estonian Instituteof Marine Research. Modelling of the ecosystem of theGulf of Finland is presently of major interest, as weil asthe new project on the Gulf of Riga (see later). TheJanuary 1993 inf10w of saline water into the Baltic Seahas provided a good justification for monitoring andresearch.

Or Matti Pertti1ä reported on research interests at theFinnish Institute of Marine Research (FIMR). Theemphasis is graduaIly shifting from the Gulf of Bothniato the Gulf of Finland. The NMR (Nordic Couneil ofMinisters) project on the Gulf of Riga has also gainedinterest. The FIMR is actively engaged in the SedimentBaseline Study, the final preparatory meeting for \vhiehwas held in Helsinki the day berore the heginning of theWGBME meeting. In the field of monitoring, Finnishexperts are proposing that ordinary monitoring activitiesgraduaIly be reduced by shifting towards a greater use offixed moorings and ships of occasion; they also empha­size the importance of winter monitoring as a tool toassess nutrient pools.

Or Ulrich Lass explained the reorganization of theInstitut für Ostseeforschung in Warnemünde. Theemphasis on autonomous data coIlection stations hasincreased; at Darss Sill a test station has heen estahlishedto mcasure kmperature, salinity amI meteorologicalparameters. A joint German-Polish project on coastalzone-open sea fluxes in the Pomeranian Bay is heingplanned.

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The marine research situation in Latvia and Lithuaniawas brief1y commented on by Mr Rein Tammsalu. Henoted that most of the marine research efforts in Latviaare now concentrating on the Gulf of Riga, in eonnectionwith the NMR projects. Budgetary constraints continueto hamper other oceanographic research in both couo­tries. Mr Hans Oahlin noted that Sweden is cooperatingwith these countries, e.g., by aiding in the constructionof telecommunication systems.

Representatives from Poland or from Russia were notpresent at the meeting. A short discussion arose concem­ing the participation by representatives from an countriesaround the Baltie Sea at meetings of this WorkingGroup, as it was agreed that some changes should bemade. It was noted that the WGBME itself could notintervene, but members were urged to contact theirrespective national delegates to ICES to take up this issueduring the next Statutory Meeting.

Mr Hans Oahlin reported on the situation in Sweden.The reorganization of the Swedish Meteorological andHydrological Institute (SMHI) has resulted in the disap­pearance of oceanography as an independent department;instead, services and projects will be obtained undercontracts with different administrative units. Sweden hasdec1ared an Exc1usive Economic Zone. This does notaffect applications for permission to enter Swedishwaters, hut it increases Sweden's responsibilities con­cerning the protection of the marine environment in thesedesignated areas. The national environmental monitoringprogramme has heen revised. The general tendency inmarine monitoring is toward a higher sampling frequencyat a decreased numher of stations. The entire station netwill be visited 1-2 times per year, but the samplingfrequency at selected sites may be as high as once every10 days. The new system has been estahlished in orderto improve the data hase on the marine environment, andalso to serve as a detection network for sudden events,such as algal hlooms. New automatie sampling stationsare being estahlished in association with Sea WatchEurope. The major Swedish programme, "Large ScaleProject on the Baltic Sea", is approaching its final stage.

4 REPORTS OF STUDY AND STEERINGGROUPS

4.1 ßascline Study of Contaminanlli in Sediments

Or Perttilä gave an account of the recent meeting of theSteering Group for the Coordination of the BaselineStudy of Contaminants in Baltic Sea Sediments. TheSteering Group is now making final preparations for theBaseline Study expedition. The cruise wiII start on 13June 1993 at Copenhagen amI end on 9 July at Helsinki.Thc cruise itinerary has been decided, and applicationsfor entering the national waters have been submitted

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accordingly. The delegation of responsibilities for thelogistics and facilities on board the research vesse1 hasbeen completed, as weil as the list of participants in thecruise. SampIes (3000 - 3500, including paral1el sampIes)will be freeze-dried in a commercial unit after the cruise,and distributed thereafter to the participating laboratories.Most of the project financing is via the research budgetsof the participating institutes. ICES has al10cated DKK20,000 for the study, and HELCOM FIM 140,000(subject to change, depending on the balance of theHELCOM budget). No financing has yet been found forthe analysis of organie contarninants. SampIes for theseanalyses will, however, be taken during the cruise in thehope that these analyses can be carried out at a latertime. Finances are available for age determination,carbon and nutrient analyses, as weil as for the traceelement analyses. Because of difficulties in financing(owing to the high costs of the project), the deadline forthe completion of the analyses has been set at 31 Decem­ber 1995. The deadline for the completion of a jointreport on the resul ts has been set at 31 December 1996.ICES will serve as the data center for the project. Datawill only be accessible to the participants until the jointreport has been published.

4.2 Em'ironmental l\Iodelling of the Baltic Sea

As Dr Fredrik Wulff was unable to attend the meeting,Mr Hans Dahlin gave an overview of the present situ­ation regarding modelling activities. Several models areavailable, e.g., at least five modifications of thePrinceton model. Especially popular are models relevantto water quality monitoring purposes. A workshop onenvironmental modelling will be held later in 1993,either in Sweden or in Germany. If the workshop is heldin Germany (Warnemünde) in connection with anECOPS (European Committee for Ocean and PolarScience) meeting, travel expenses could possibly beshared. The Working Group decided to support the ideaofcoordinating the scheduling of the modelling workshopand the ECOPS meeting, as the two meetings involvemany of the same participants. The Chairman agreed toapproach the organizer of the ECOPS meeting (ProfessorG. Hempel) regarding this matter.

5 JOINT ACTIVITIES IN TUE BALTIC

5.1 Re"iew of SKAGEX

Dr Dybern gave an overview on the developments in theSKAGEX project. A SKAGEX atlas is in preparation.Models that provide an association between hydrographieconditions and biological events are being constructedand are able to make a distinction between the move­ments of North Sea and Atlantie water masses. Theresults also indicate that the northward Jutland coastalcurrent is only intermittent and probably unimportant

with respect to the biology of the area. The results showthat the well-known "dome-like" distribution of nutrientsand chlorophyll, penetrating from the North Sea into theSkagerrak area, is an elongated structure rising to nearthe surface (30-40 m), and possibly explaining the highbiological production in the Skagerrak.

During the discussion of Dr Dybern's presentation, itwas suggested that the "dorne" structure is a consequenceof the circulation pattern which has a weak barocliniecomponent, causing continuous upwelling in the centralarea of the Skagerrak.

5.2 Coastal Zone-Open Sea Flux Studies in theJoint Experiment in the Gulf of Finland

Dr Perttilä gave an overview of this project. At the 1992WGBME meeting in Lysekil, an ad hoc study groupprepared tentative plans for a joint study on coastalzone/open sea fluxes to be carried out in the Gulf ofFinland, concentrating on verticallhorizontalhydrographie and biological fluxes, with the overall aimof obtaining a detailed ecological model for the mainnutrients and the biologieal production in the area. Thereseems to be general interest in this type of study in thethree countries bordering the Gulf of Finland (Estonia,Russia and Finland). A tentative schedule has beenagreed, with the field year in 1995.

Although ICES has charged the WGBME to developlarge-scale international projects in the Baltie Sea area,plans for other sirnilar international studies becameknO\\TI after the 1992 WGBME meeting. These includethe Gerrnan-Polish project in the Pomeranian Bay, thetentative project for a flux study in the Gotland Deeparea, and the BALTEX project, all of which probablycompete at least partially for the same financialresources. Also, the existence of another leES group,the Steering Group on Fisheries/Environmental Manage­ment Objeciives and Supporting Research Programmes inthe Baltie Sea (SGFEMO), chaired by Dr S. Kamicki,which has been charged with the preparation of researchproposals on important issues in the Baltie Sea area froman environmental or fisheries management perspective,has caused uncertainty as to the usefulness of continuingthe planning of the Gulf of Finland project. UIrich Lassand Bernt I. Dybern reported that a workshop sponsoredby the European Comrnittee for Ocean and PolarSciences (ECOPS) in Warnemünde in March 1993 hadbeen receptive to cooperation with ICES on flux studiesin the Baltie Sea.

The WGBME decided to recommend that ICES invite theSteering Group for the ECOPS project in the Baltie Seato cooperate in efforts related to the conduct of a com­prehensive Flux Study in the Baltie (Gulf of FinlandIGotland basin areal. Such cooperation could be achievedthrough the participation of the Chairman of WGRME

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and the Coordinator of the Gulf of Finland Flux Study inthe ECOPS Steering Group activities. An initiative for acoordinated study of the on-going inflow of saline waterinto the Baltie Sea had also been laken at theWarnemünde Workshop, which had also been receptiveto eooperation with ICES on this topie. Dr U. Lass(Germany) has been appointed coordinator for this latterstudy.

It was noted with regret that instead of the eustomaryprocedure of first identifying the gaps in knowledgeabout specifie natural processes, then designing a projectto provide the required answers, and ultimately trying toobtain financing for this project, the scientifie-politicalc1imate has now reversed the procedure: financing is firstadvertised as being available and a project is thensketched to meet the requirements of the financing body.

In the subsequent lively discussion, several new andimportant pieces of information were provided to thepartieipants. The European Community is expanding, anda new phase of the Marine Science and Technologyproject area is approaching (MAST-3). Thus, new linksmust be established. The EC also wants to supportmarine scientifie research in eastern European eountries.In addition, within ICES a steering mechanism has beencreated which will lake into account the managerial viewon research needs in the Baltie Sea on an intermediate­term perspective. The SGFEMO has been set up for thispurpose.

Dr Dybem explained the European Community interestsin marine scientifie research in the Baltie Sea, whiehhave been reflected in the outcome of the meeting of theECOPS Steering Group for the Gotland Deep FluxStudy, held in Warnemünde on 18 - 19 March 1993.Two lines of progress will be followed, one being ashort-term project connected with the effects of therecent salt water inflow, including a pilot study in theGotland Deep, and the other having a long-term perspec­tive and concentrating on the anthropogenie impacts onthe Baltie ecosystem. The latter would include inputs offresh water and discharges, climatie aspects and criticalprocesses, leading to long-term time series analyses,budget analyses of fluxes, and ecosystem modeIling. Thestudy has been tentatively planned to start in 1995 or1996, and the planning phase will include the eonduct ofworkshops, to be held in Tallinn, Riga and other easternBaltie cities.

The WGBME decided to charge the Convener of the adhoc Study Group on the Flux Study in the Gulf ofFinland, Dr Perttilä, and the WGBME chairman, DrHansen, to establish contacts with the ECOPS SteeringGroup for the Gotland Deep Flux Study, and to proposethat the two projects should be eombined, if possible.

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The ICES Environment Secretary, Ms Pawlak, explainedthe duties of the SGFEMO, which emphasize theplanning of research projects that ean assist in thedevelopment of realistie regulatory measures for BaltieSea fisheries and environmental protection. While thereseems to be an overlap in the respective duties of theWGBME and the SGFEMO, it appears that this overlapis largely due to a poor exchange of information withinthe ICES network. The relations between the two groupsare further discussed under agenda item 7.

5.3 GEWEXIßALTEX

Mr Dahlin informed the WGBME about the GlobalExperiment on Water Exchange (GEWEX) project; theBaltie Sea is one of the impact areas being studied in theframework of GEWEX. It is estimated that this project(BALTEX) will continue for the next 25 years. The goalof the project is to produce a 3-dimensional model thatcan interact with meteorological models in order tosimulate the transport system of water and energy as awhole. The Baltic Sea area is treated as a eage compris­ing not only the sea itself, but also the entire drainagearea. Verification of the models and the study of criticalprocesses calls for cooperation with ICES.

5.4 Olhcr Projccts

The Gotland Deep:The ECOPS Steering Group for the intended flux studyin the Gotland Deep area held its first meeting inWarnemünde in March 1993. So far, no report isavailable by which the aims of the project ean beassessed.

The Year of the Gulf of Bothnia:This joint Finnish-Swedish project is now entering itsfinal phase. Roughly 70 scientific papers on biology,physical processes, fish and fisheries, harmful substancesand their effects, discharges and material balance modelsare in preparation. The final seminar on the results willbe held in October 1993 in Umeä, Sweden.

The Gulf of Riga:In a new research programme of the Nordic Council ofMinisters (NMR), environmental research in the BaltieSea plays an important role. Due to the recent politicalchanges, and because the Gulf of Riga has long been anarea closed to scientists from outside the immediatelybordering countries, it was chosen as the target area forthe years 1993-1997. The overall approach inc1udesseveral projects on material budget calculations, dis­charges, sedimentation and benthos, pelagieeutrophication and water exchange.

According to the conditions established by the NMR forparticipation in the project, a elose eooperation betweenNordie and llaltic (Estonian and Latvian) scientists is

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essential for each accepted project. Sedimentologicalstudies will be part of the experimental phase during thesummer of 1993.

6 REVIEW OF TIIE WORK OF TIIE STEER·ING GROUIl5 ON QUALITY ASSURANCEOF CIIEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL l\IEAS­UREl\IENTS

Janet Pawlak reviewed the progress made by the SteeringGroups on Quality Assurance of Biological and ChemicalMeasurements in the Baltic Sea, in the light of the draftreports oftheir recent meetings. The WGBME expressedits concern over the seemingly different concepts of theterm Quality Assurance (QA) used by the two groups. Inthe chemical group, emphasis is strongly placed on thepractical and methodological aspects of QA, i.e., theplanning of a workshop to be held later in 1993 inHamburg. However, the biological group seems to giveits main support to the revision of the Guidelines of theBaltic Monitoring Programme. It was noted that the termQuality Assurance ineludes every measure necessary toensure adequate quality of the monitoring results,ineluding full documentation of every step taken in thesampie history, practical quality control (internal andexternal), account of corrective measures, and dataanalysis. The guidelines giving the rules for all aspectsof QA are contained in a "Laboratory Quality Manual".Thus, in its broadest sense, quality assurance can beunderstood to also inelude steps to improve the BMPstrategy itself, as is emphasised by the Steering Groupfor Quality Assurance of Biological Measurements.However, the WGBME supports the view that theSteering Groups should restrict themselves to the practi­cal aspects of quality assurance, in order to keep theamount of work under control and the deadlines forimplementation realistic. Moreover, it was noted that theHELCOM already has a Group of Experts for therevision of the BMP guidelines. Members of the SteeringGroups have been selected with quality assuranceexpertise as a criterion.

Matti Perttilä gave a short account of the progress in theEuropean Community project QUASIMEME (QualityAssurance of Information for Marine EnvironmentalMonitoring in Europe). In many ways, this programmecontinues the long-standing work carried out by the ICESMarine Chemistry Working Group, extending it to therecommendation of corrective measures for the partici­pating laboratories. The QUASI~1EMEprogramme hasnow been launched and it ineludes, in the first phase,several interlaboratory comparisons on determinations ofnutrients, organochlorines and trace elements. The resultswill be assessed, and detailed analyses of these resultswill serve as feedback to the laboratories. In principle,only laboratories from countries within the EC and theEFTA can participate.

Progress in the QUASIMEME programme will bereported in aserial bulletin, which can be obtainedthrough the national representatives of the programme.The WGBME holds the view that the Steering Groups onQA in the Baltic Sea should continue their work withoutwaiting for improvements in the ßMP to be carried out.However, in view of the similarity between the qualitycontrol aspects for many chemical and biological parame­ters, and in view of the QUASI~1EME programme, theGroup expressed concern about the possibility ofoverlap­ping work, and decided to recommend elose cooperationbetween the ICES QA and the QUASIMEME groups.

7 STRATEGY PLAN FOR TIIE WGßl\IE

The need to obtain full information from the other ICESgroups having an interest in ßaltic Sea research wasstressed several times. The ICES Steering Group onFisheries/Environmental Management Objectives andSupporting Research Programmes in the ßaltic Sea(SGFEMO) has identified four areas of research, whichare considered to have the highest priority f,om the pointof view of their significance in terms of fisheries andenvironmental management objectives. These researchareas are eutrophication, stable organic substances, fishstock management, and hydrography. Elaboratingfeasible projects within these fields has been left tonamed convenors and working groups.

Two of these conveners are Hans-Peter Hansen (foreutrophication) and Hans Dahlin (for hydrography). Theyrequested that the WGßME indicate important projects intheir respective fields. It should be noted that no fundingfor these projects will be availahle directly. TheSGFEMO needs answers for its next meeting, which willbe held 18-19 June 1993. There was general agreementin the WGBME that time constraints prevented a fulltreatment of the subject. Consequently, Janet Pawlaksuggested that only existing proposals for projects shouldbe reviewed and a recommendation on some of thesecould be sent for consideration by the SGFEMO, alsosketching the complexity of the problem.

A lively discussion followOO, after which ecosystemmodelling was agreOO upon for more detailed consider­ation, since it would, in principle, be useful both formanagerial cost/effect evaluations (e.g., consequences ofenvironmental measures) and for scientists for identifyinggaps in existing knowlOOge. Malti Perltilä, ReinTammsalu, and Kaisa Kononen volunteerOO to sketch aproposal for the SGFEMO, highlighting the purpose anduses of ecosystem modelling. As the basis for thisproposal, the existing proposal for ecosystem modeldevelopment of the Gulf of Finland, which is a jointFinnish-Estonian effort, would be usOO. This model useshydrographie conditions as a starting point, and thus also

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partly addresses the second issue raised by lheSGFEMO.

8 ACUTE EVENTS AND THE BALTIC "HOTUNE NETWORK"

strengthen lhe ICES input in this area and to enable theorganization to take a more active role in global activ­ities. A suggestion for e10se cooperation between the newWorking Group on Algal B100ms and the WorkingGroup on Shelf Seas Oceanography (WGSSO) was alsosupported. The WGSSO can provide important hydro­chemical input to the work on the dynamics of algalblooms.

Important recent events affecting the Baltie marineenvironment inelude lhe inflow of saline water from theSkagerrak inlo lhe Baltie Sea, and lhe occurrence ofharmful algal blooms. An account of these events wasgiven, and lhe need for a more intensive and rapidexchange of information among Baltic Sea scienlisls wasdiscussed. No acute algal blooms of more lhan localimportance were reported.

B.I. Dybern gave an account of the activities of theIOC/FAO Intergovernmental Panel on Harmful AlgalBlooms which had recently been established to coordinateglobal research, and to provide information and manage­ment advice related to harmful algal blooms. Theseblooms are a nuisance in many coastal areas and are alsofound in the Baltie Sea area. The IntergovernmentalOceanographie Commission (lOC) has taken lhe lead onactivities to better understand lhe development anddynamics of these blooms with the aim of developingmethods to abate them or neutralize them in the future.This kind of work demands the availability of experts inmany disciplines, such as marine botany and zoology,marine physics and chemistry, genetics, taxonomy, toxinchemistry, and different aspects of management. Onlyvery few counlries or organizations have access to theappropriate expertise, and developing countries areespecially disadvantaged in lhis regard. Among marineorganizations, ICES has a considerable number ofexperls and has also been asked by lhe IOC to activelycooperate in the global programme.

8.3 The ßaltic "Hot Line Network"

EspeciaIly frustrating, once again, has heen the langperiod needed for the granting of permission for foreignresearch vessels to enter the national waters of othernations. For this reason, the WGBME agreed to arecommendation stressing the need for more flexibility inthe application procedure (see Recommendation 2, Annex4). •

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The Rccent SaU Water Innow (Jan­uary/Fehruary 1993)

Ulrich Lass, Wolfgang Matthäus and Hans Dahlinpresented preliminary results of their findings concerningthe salt water inflow. The inflow began on 7 January1993 and lasted three weeks. It is now estimated that atotal of about 310 km) of saline water entered the BaltieSea, but only 125 km) was high salinity water (> 17psu). Therefore, the salinity in the Baltie Sea deep wateris not expected to change significantly, possibly only inthe order of 1 psu. The transport of the water massappears to have proceeded very quickly, and already inearly April there were intermittent indications of thiswater approaching the Gotland Deep. These indicationsincIude the presence of some oxygen in the near-bottomlayer, as weIl as decreasing temperature and increasingsalinity. The saline water inflow has been detected andfoIlowed by Swedish and German research vessels, butthe cooperation and exchange of information, especiallyduring the early stages of the event, were not withoutobstacles. FoIlow-up has been satisfactory mainly byaccident, as no defined strategy has been employed.

8.2Collcction and Asscssment or Data on ActualEnvironmental E\'Cnts

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The WGBME considered harmful algal blooms to be aproblem in lhe Baltie area and lhat more efforts shouldbe made to elucidate lhis issue. The Baltie MarineBiologists (BMB) were invited to cooperale with theWGBME on lhis topie.

Global problems with harmful algal blooms were ack­nowledged and it was strongly recommended that ICESsupport the IOC activities. It was pointed out that suchsupport could be potenliaIly beneficial for lhe ICEScommunity in the form of information on various aspectson the blooming of harmful plankton species. In thiscontext, the WGRME strongly supporteu a suggestion totransform the present ICES Study Group on theDynamics of Algal Blooms into a Working Group on [theDynamics of) Harmful Algal Blooms in order to

The Chairman introduced his proposal for intersessionalactivities concerning the design and implementation of acommunication network of active Baltic environmentalscientists (see WGBME Report, 1992). The draft of acircular letter and a questionnaire was discussed andaccepted with minor modifications. Further action will betaken in the form of intersessional work by the Chairmanand the memhers of the WGBME.

9 INTERSESSIONAL WORK PROGRAMME

Estahlishment of the "hot line network": The Chairmanwill circulate a letter to the memhers of WGBMErequesting the nomination of scientists to he incJuded in

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the new "hot line network" (Annex 3). Due to thediversity of possible environmental events, specialists inthe fields of marine biology, physics and chemistry areneeded. Once or twice a year, the "hot line" membersshould send the convener an account of observed eventsin their respective areas. Summaries of the reports willbe presented at future WGBME meetings. It was stresseothat the network is meant for marine scientists acquaintedwith and having an interest in the Baltic Sea. Hans-PeterHansen and Hans Dahlin will coordinate the launching ofthe network. While telephone and telefax are the mostconventional forms of communication, Ulrich Lasspromised to look into possible alternatives (such as,E-mail, Bulletin-Board Service). An account of progressin the work of this network will be given at the 1994WGBME meeting. Ir the need arises, WGBME is readyto take responsibility for any resulting evaluation of data.

The WGBME proposed that the Gulf of Finland FluxStudy be included as an integral part of the activities ofthe Steering Group for the Gotland Deep Study. Theconvener of the all hoc group, Matti Perttilä, will contactthe Steering Group for the Gotland Deep Study. He willalso make a compilation of the existing and planned fluxstudies in the Baltic Sea region for presention at the 1994WGBME meeting. It was suggested that this work mightlead to a need for a special seminar cluring the 1996Conference of the BaItic Oceanographers (CBO).

Salt water inflow: Ulrich Lass will compile informationand data on the follow-up of the 1993 saline water inflowand present this at the 1994 WGBME meeting.

Cooreration with the SGFEMO: Matti Perttilä agreed toprepare a proposal for the SGFEMO concerningeutrophication research neeos in the Ballie Sea, possiblyalso including the hydrographie component. This will bedone within aperiod of two weeks. A fuH account of thepurpose and terms of reference of this Sleering Group isneeded. This will be compiled by Hans-Peter Hansen. Itwas noted that cooperalion belween the two groups isnecessary, but it is not possible to cooperate withoutinformation.

Sampling for the Sediment Baseline Study will beconducted from 13 June to 9 July 1993 on board theFinnish research vessel Aranda, wilh Matti Perttilä as thesenior scientist. An account of the cruise will be given atthe 1994 WGBME meeting.

10 ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Ulrich Lass reporteo on the establishment of a Baltie Seacomponent ofthe Global Ocean Observation System. Themeeting took note of this, but decicled to leave an officialreaction to higher levels of the ICES hierarchy.

A HELCO~1 phytoplankton identification course will beheld at the Seili Biological Station in the Finnish Archi­pelago Sea on 30 August - 3 September 1993.

Hans Dahlin gave an account of the last CBO meeting.The most pressing outcome of the meeting was the lackof organizational structure of the CBO conununity, amiin many cases the bad selection, presentation and qualityof the reports. An ad hoc group was established (HansDahlin, Hans-Peter Hansen and Matti Perttilä) to sketchorganizational guiclelines for the CBO. It was recom­mended that they use the BI\1B organization as anexample.

The time and venue of the 1994 WGBME meeting werediscussed. The period of27-29 April 1994 was chosen asthe most suitable. Ir necessary, the Sediment BaselineSteering Group will meet immediately before theWGBME meeting. B.I. Dybern agreed to approach hisRussian colleagues in Kaliningrad with the aim ofholding the 1994 meeting there. [After the meeting, aninvitation was provided from the ATLANTNIROInstitute in Kaliningrad.] The items to be covered in themeeting are listed uncler Recommendation 3 (Annex 4).

11 CLOSING OF THE l\IEETING

The Chairman thanked the participants for their contribu­tions and closed the meeting at 11.30 hrs on 23 April1993.

7

ANNEX 1

WORKING GROUP ON THE BALTIC MARINE ENVIRONMENT

Helsinki, Finland, 21-23 April 1993

AGENDA

1. Opening of the meeting.

2. Adoption of the agenda.

3. Reports on activities relevant for the WGBME.3.1 Activities within ICES.3.2 Activities related to the HELCOM and the BMP.3.3 Relationships with other organizations.3.4 National activities.

4. Reports of study and steering groups.4.1 Baseline Study of Contaminants in Sediments.4.2 Environmental Modelling of the Baltic Sea.

5. Joint Activities in the Baltic.5.1 Review of SKAGEX.5.2 Coastal Zone-Open Sea Studies in the Joint Experiment in the Gulf of Finland.5.3 GEWEX (Global Experiment on Water Exchange)/Baltex.5.4 Other projects.

6. Review of the work of the Steering Groups on Quality Assurance of Chemical and Biological Measurements.6.1 Intercalibration/intercomparison activities.

7. Strategy plan for the WGBME.

8. Acute events and the Baltic "Hot Line Network".8.1 Collection and assessment of data on actual environmental events.8.2 The recent salt water inflow (January/February 1993).8.3 The "Baltic Hot Line Network".

9. lntersessional Work Programme.

10. Any other business.

11. Closing of the meeting.

8

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ANNEX 2

WORKING GROUP ON THE BALTIC MARINE ENVIRONMENT

Helsinki, Finland, 21-23 April 1993

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

Hans DahlinSMHIS-601 76 Norrköping. SwedenTel. +46 11 158 3051 +46 10 29 111 81Fax. +46 11 158 350E-mail HDAHLINSMHI.SE

Bernt I. DybernInstitute of Marine ResearchBox 4S-45321 LYSEKIL. Sweden

• Tel. +46-523-141 80. Fax. +46-523-13977

Hans-Peter Hansen (Chairman)Institut für MeereskundeDüsternbrooker Weg 20D-24105 Kiel. GermanyTel. +49-431-597-4022 Fax. +49-431-565876

Kaisa KononenFinnish Institute of Marine ResearchP.O. Box 33SF-00931 Helsinki, FinlandTel. +358-0-331044 Fax. +358-0-331376

Hans Ulrich LassBaltic Sea Research InstitutePost Box 38; Seestr. 15D-18119 Warnemünde, GermanyTel. + +49-381-58257 Fax. + +49-381-58336

Wolfgang MatthäusBaltic Sea Research InstitutePost Box 38, Seestr. 15D-18119 Warnemünde, GermanyTel. +49-381-58265 Fax. +49-381-58336

Lauri NiemistöFinnish Institute of Marine ResearchP.O. Box 33SF-00931 Helsinki, FinlandTel. +358-0-331 044 Fax. +358-0-331 376

Janet PawlakICESPalaegade 2-4DK-1261 Copenhagen K, DenmarkTel. +45-33-154225. Fax. +45-33-9342 15

9

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS (CONTINUED)

Matti PerttiläFinnish Institute of Marine ResearchP.O. Box 33SF-00931 Helsinki, FinlandTel. +358-0-331044 Fax. +358-0-331376

Gunnar SellerbergBaltic Sea Research StationFishery Board of SwedenUtvägen 5S-371 37 Karlskrona, SwedenTel. +46-455-14230 Fax. +46-455-10484

Lembit TalpseppEstonian Marine InstitutePaldiski str. 1Tallinn EEOOOI , EstoniaTel. 372-2-453 574

Rein TarnsaluEstonian Marine InstitutePaldiski str. 1Tallinn EEOOOI, EstoniaTel. 37224420 17(p.t. Finnish Institute of Marine ResearchP.O. Box 33, SF-00931 Helsinki, FinlandTel. 358-0-331 044, Fax. + 358-0-331 376)

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..

ANNEX 3

BALTIC ENVIRONMENTAL "HOT UNE NETWORK"

Or.Hans Peter Hansen

Or.Hans Peter Hansen, 11M, Oüstembrooker Weg 20, 0-2300 Kiel 1

Dear colleague,

Institute tor Marine ResearchOüsternbrooker Weg 200-2300 Kiel 1

Tel: + 49-431-597-4022Fax: +49-432-565876

at the 1992 meeting in Lysekil the ICES-WG-BME has discussed possibilities of

collecting data, scientific information and expertise in case of actual environmental

events as, e.g. inflow events of North Sea water, harmful algal blooms, spills of

polluting material etc.

It was concluded that existing communication channels do not allow collecting

and exchanging information weil in time to decide upon joint action to monitor

such events and/or take measures to minimize possible environmental damage.

It was suggested to establish a communication system combining Baltic environ­

mental experts in a "Baltic Hot Une Network".

The experts should be familiar with the scientific aspects of environmental pro­

blems and focus on an area of the Baltic Sea, e.g. by taking part in a measuring

programme in that area .

11

leES WG ON THE BALTIC MARINE ENVIRONMENT

The "Hot Une Expert" should thus

- be engaged in regular (Iong term) measuring programmes or have access

to actual data and have a general scientific environmental knowledge of

the area

- be trained in interdisciplinary approaches of environmental problems or have

interdisciplinary backup

- have access to logistic means to performe ad hoc measurements if required

by the actual event or suggested by the "Hot Une Network" group

- have up to date telecommunication facilities

In this way it would be possible to circulate immediate information about actual

environmental events, that is within a time span that permits adequate monitoring

and possible measures. This time span may be only few days, which makes the

time factor the most important following the scientific expertise.

When the Hot Une Network has been organized, a coordinator or coordination

group will be established, while the WG-BME possibly could act as a link between the

"Hot Une Network" and scientific/administative organisations (ICES, HELCOM etc).

If you feel that you would like to join the "Hot Une Network" or recommend so­

meone to do so, please fill in the attached form and return it to the WG-BME

chairman.

Experts and contacts are needed all around the Baltic Sea, covering all relevant

subareas and coastal segments from the Skagerak to the Gulf of Bothnia.

Hoping to stimulate a fruitful cooperation

yours sincerely

(H.P.Hansen)

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leES WG ON THE BALTIC MARINE ENVIRONMENT

"Baltic Environmental Hot Une Network"

Registration of membership

Pleasemail to: Hans Peter Hansen, Institute of Marine ResearchOüsternbrooker Weg 20, 0-2300 Kiel 1 (Germany)

I1 we will participate in the "Baltic Environmental Hot Une Network"and act as contact(s) and local expert(s) for a Baltic coastal section/subarea as indicated in the attached map.

Name institute/adress tel/fax/telex etcMain contact

(please add separate sheet if rqud.)

I / we cover the disciplines Ifields of research:

hydrography mierobiology

hydroehemistry (nutrients ete) benthos biology

organie eontaminants fisheries rcs.

traee elcments meteorology

pelagie biologyMonitoring ,national or

researchHELCOM-BMP

other( please specify)

13

leES WG ON THE BALTIC MARINE ENVIRONMENT

Please mark coast seg­

ment (colour) and shade

sea area. Indicate special

discharge sources if

requd.

Comments:

date!signature of main contact

14

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•ANNEX 4

RECOl\Il\lENDATIONS

Recommendation 1

Oll the Coordillatioll oJ /1I\'cstigatiollS amI Rcsearch

The changing political situations around the Baltic Seaand an increase in the number of internationalorganisations have led to a large number of initiatives oncooperative research and investigations in the Baltic Seaarea. Since there is a common interest in society to usethe limited number of scientists and restricted budgets aseffectively as possible, these projects should be moreeffectively coonlinated in order to avoid unnecessaryoveriapping ami paraIlel work.

The WGBME, therefore, recommends that its terms ofreference should incIude the possibility to more activeIypropose how to coordinate different investigations andresearch projects planned for the Baltic Sea area.

After approval by lCES, any proposals should beforwarded to the scientific community of the ICESmember states.

The WGBME recommends that ICES again attempt toobtain more flexible rules for the access of researchvesseis to and the conduct of research work in the watersof Baltie Sea countries, at least in urgent cases such asthose mentioned here, but preferably also for marineresearch in general.

WeIl understanding that most countries are not wiIIing toopen their sea areas completeiy for research by othercountries, they could be encouraged to produee a list ora map of areas which should remain cIosed. Permissionto use the open areas eould be updated, e.g., onee ayear. The eountry making the applieation should preparea detailed list of investigations planned or foreseen forthe aetual time frame, but in urgent cases, e.g., anupeoming plankton bloom, research should be allowedeven without prior announeement. It should, however, bereported immediately.

Recommendation 3

The Working Group on the BaItie Marine Environment(Chairman Mr H.-P.Hansen) should meet from 27-29April 1994 at avenue to be deeided to eonduet thefoIlowing:

Recommendation 2

Oll the Permissioll Jor Research ill Foreigll TerritorialWaters ami Ecollomic Zolles

In association with the discussion on the inflow of salinewater into the Baltic, the question about the right forresearch vesseis to carry out investigations in the econ­omic zones or territorial waters of other countries wasdiscussed. It is weIl known that many efforts to facilitatethe processing of applications, to shorten applicationdeadlines, ete., have been made in the past, howeverwith relatively !ittle success.

Events such as the on-going saIt water inflow into theBaltie basins, the occurrence of harmful and other algalblooms, sudden discharges of poIlutants from leakingsources, etc., generaIly involve the marine waters ofseveral countries, indicating the necessity of rapid actionby scientists and ships from these and other countries tofoIlow and map the situation.

a)

b)

e)

d)

e)

f)

review progress in quality assuranee and inter­eomparison/intercalibration of biological andehemical determinands;

eomplete the organization of the Baltic Hot LineNetwork;

review and assess Hot Line reports and otherreported environmental events in the Baltie Sea;

assess the effects of the 1993 saIt water inflowto the BaItie;

review progress in the Baltie Sediment BaselineStudy;

review the eoordination of and plans for acombined eoastal zone/open sea flux study in theGulf of Finland and the GoUand Deep Project.

15