together we can save the baltic sea -...

Together We Can Save the Baltic Sea

WWF Baltic Ecoregion Programme 2010

Together We Can Save the Baltic Sea – WWF Baltic Ecoregion Programme | 32 | WWF Baltic Ecoregion Programme – Together We Can Save the Baltic Sea Together We Can Save the Baltic Sea – WWF Baltic Ecoregion Programme | 32 | WWF Baltic Ecoregion Programme – Together We Can Save the Baltic Sea

Together we will find the best solutions to save the Baltic Sea.”


The WWF Baltic Ecoregion Pro-gramme is working to reduce the threat of eutrophication to the Baltic ecosystem. We cooperate with pro-gressive forces to reform agricultural policies and we help farmers restore wetlands and take other measures to reduce the negative impacts of envi-ronmentally-harmful agricultural production. The annual “Baltic Farm-ers Award” promotes better environ-mental practices among farmers in the region.

WWF has successfully worked together with manufacturers of de-tergents and is now close to secur-ing a ban on the use of phosphates in detergents. We have built alliances with the cruise ship industry and with ports around the Baltic Sea to stop the discharge of polluted wastewater into the sea.

Fighting EutrophicationToxic algal blooms and vast dead zones are both results of eutrophication – too much nutrients in the water. WWF is working together with progressive farmers and others to reduce the amount of nutrients that enter the sea.

The WWF Baltic Ecoregion Pro-gramme is an active, ambitious and highly influential force in the efforts to conserve and restore the Baltic Sea. We combine scientific knowledge and expertise with creative innovation and political determination to save the unique life and beauty of the Baltic Sea. Our team of highly experienced international experts works to forge unprecedented regional partnerships to save the Baltic Sea.

The WWF Baltic Ecoregion Pro-

Taking the lead

gramme seeks cooperation with all relevant parts of society and engag-es individuals, NGOs, corporations and governments – the people and or-ganisations who, together, can make a difference. We don’t shy away from confrontation; we promote construc-tive interactions to create awareness, spread ideas, and stimulate discus-sion.

The WWF Baltic Ecoregion Pro-gramme represents the largest mem-bership network in the region. We

We know that we will only succeed if we work together to restore the life, the richness and the beauty of the Baltic Sea. What the sea needs now is foresight, leadership and decisive action.

are represented in all the countries surrounding the sea and are funded through the generosity of all those in-dividuals and organisations that place their trust in us.

We urge all citizens of the Baltic region to join us in ensuring that the Baltic Sea will once again be a clean sea, able to support abundant fish stocks, viable populations of marine life and thriving coastal communities. We need your support – only together can we save the Baltic Sea!

Eutrophication, or nutrient pollution, is the biggest threat to the biodiversity of the Baltic Sea. Every year, large amounts of nutrients, mainly nitrogen and phos-

Eutrophication is the biggest threat to biodiversity

Every year large parts of the Baltic Sea are cover ed with algal blooms.

phorus, are released into the Baltic Sea. Agricultural runoff represents the single largest source of nutrients entering the sea.


The Baltic Ecoregion Programme is working to reform the Baltic Sea fisheries towards sustainability and long-term viability. Through collaborations with fishers and authorities, we have successfully reduced the level of illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing dramatically in the Baltic Sea.

Saving the Fish – and the Fishing

We can already now see the beginning of a recovery of fish stocks in the Baltic Sea.”

We are now pushing for a reform of the European Common Fisheries Pol-icy to secure long-term management plans for all fish stocks and to ensure that fishers themselves are involved in the development of these plans.

We are continuing our work with consumers, retailers and producers to ensure that consumers can find sus-tainable fish products on the market. As a further step in this direction, WWF has successfully pushed for the introduction of a global seafood certi-fication scheme, the Marine Steward-ship Council (MSC), in all markets around the Baltic Sea.

Poor fisheries management

Poor fisheries management – quotas set in excess of scientific advice, indiscrimi-nate gear, too many boats and inade-quate control mechanisms – continues to put fish stocks, marine ecosystems, livelihoods and coastal communities at risk. Changes in fish populations cause ripple effects for the entire ecosystem, causing changes at lower levels of the food chain and contributing to other problems such as eutrophication.

A responsible fisheries management can give fishers bigger catches in the future.

WWF has successfully pushed for the intro - duction of a global seafood certification, MSC, the Marine Stewardship Council.


Wind turbines, energy cables and pipelines are being projected at many places on the sea floor while shipping routes, boat traffic, fisheries and other human activities may already be af-fecting the same areas. More and new competing interests are anticipated in the near and longer-term future. These include a growing aquaculture industry, wind and wave power gener-ation, energy transmission lines, sub-marine communication cables, as well as sand and gravel extraction. In addi-tion, there is a growing need for areas partially or completely protected from human activities.

all over the world to share their expe-riences with our decision makers. We have developed tools for marine spa-tial planning and we have actively pushed for the development of poli-cies that facilitate the integration of marine management.

We continue to work with policy makers and scientists at the cutting edge of marine management. We be-lieve the region can take the lead and become a role model for Europe and the rest of the world in the art of man-aging a shared sea. Together, we can make the Baltic a sea we can all be proud of.

Despite the fact that the issues are all closely interrelated, they are not being dealt with in an integrated way. There is currently very poor coordi-nation and integration in the manage-ment of the various uses of the Baltic Sea. Instead, we see a patchwork of governance approaches and regula-tory frameworks at the local, region-al and national levels. Too often, one decision contradicts another.

The journey towards an integrat-ed and sustainable sea use manage-ment has just begun. The WWF Bal-tic Ecoregion Programme has helped pave the way by bringing experts from

The busy port of Stockholm is just one example of an increased competition for space on the sea.

For thousands of years we thought the sea was endless – that we could use it as much as we wanted and that there would always be more sea. Those days are gone. We need a new approach to managing our shared sea.

Supporting Better Management of a Crowded Sea


Delivering ResultsEstablished in 1991 as part of a global network of experts, the WWF Baltic Ecoregion Programme has been an active and effective agent of change in the conservation and sustainable management of the Baltic Sea.

Världsnaturfonden WWFUlriksdals Slott 170 81 Solna

Tel 08-624 74 00 Fax 08-85 13 29 [email protected] wwf.se

Plusgiro 90 1974-6 Bankgiro 901-9746

Världsnaturfonden WWF är med sina närmare fem miljoner sup portrar en av världens ledande ideella natur- och miljöorganisationer.WWF arbetar för att hejda förstörelsen av jordens naturliga livsmiljöer och bygga en framtid där människor lever i harmoni med naturen genom att:• bevara världens biologiska mångfald• verka för att förnybara naturresurser används på ett hållbart sätt• minska föroreningar och ohållbar konsumtion.

Dju

ph

avsl

evan

de

arte

r är

sär

skilt

kä

nslig

a fö

r öv

erfis

ke o

ch d

jup

-ha

vsfis

ket ä

r fo

rtfa

rand

e i s

tort

se

tt o

regl

erat

.O

dla

d fi

sk k

an o

rsak

a lo

kala

ut

släp

p a

v fö

rore

ning

ar o

ch h

ota

käns

liga

kust

milj

öer

och

de

vild

a fis

kbes

tånd

en. F

råga

gär

na e

fter

m

iljöm

ärkt

a od

lings

pro

duk

ter.

Se

vilk

a fis

kart

er s

om ä

r st

ark

t

ho

tad

e p

å A

rtd

atab

anke

ns r

öd-

lista

: ww

w.a

rtd

ata.

slu

.se

Vär

ldsn

atur

fond

en W

WF

Ulri

ksd

als

Slo

tt

170

81 S

olna

Tel 0

8-62

4 74

00

Fax

08-8

5 13

29

info

@w

wf.s

e w

wf.s

e

un

dv

ik d

e h

är

Fis

ka

rn

a

Foto: H. Flank. DESIGN: ODELIUS # 4709, 3:e uppl. 2009

Fis

k til

l mid

dag

?

Vär

ldsn

atu

rfo

nd

en W

WF

Vär

ldsn

atur

fond

en W

WF

är m

ed s

ina

närm

are

fem

milj

one

r su

pp

ort

rar

en a

v vä

rld

ens

led

and

e id

eella

nat

ur-

och

milj

öo

rgan

isat

ione

r.W

WF

arb

etar

för

att

hejd

a fö

rstö

rels

en

av jo

rden

s na

turl

iga

livsm

iljö

er o

ch b

ygg

a

en f

ram

tid d

är m

änni

sko

r le

ver

i har

mo

ni

med

nat

uren

gen

om

att

:•

bev

ara

värl

den

s b

iolo

gis

ka m

ång

fald

• ve

rka

för

att

förn

ybar

a na

turr

esur

ser

anvä

nds

på

ett

hållb

art

sätt

• m

insk

a fö

rore

ning

ar o

ch o

hållb

ar

ko

nsum

tion.

WW

Fs fi

ckg

uid

e fö

r m

er m

iljöv

änlig

a kö

p a

v fis

k- o

ch

skal

dju

rsp

rod

ukte

r

På

ww

f.se

fi

nn

s en

mer

d

etal

jera

d

vers

ion

av

WW

Fs

fisk

gu

ide.

Fis

k til

l mid

dag

?

Hjä

lp o

ss a

tt p

åver

ka

– an

vän

d W

WFs

Fis

kgu

ide

!G

en

om

me

dve

tna

val k

an v

i alla

m

edve

rka

till a

tt fi

sker

inär

inge

n an

-vä

nder

hav

ets

värd

eful

la re

surs

er p

å et

t mer

hän

syns

fullt

sät

t.S

om

ko

nsum

ente

r ka

n vi

påv

erka

m

ark

na

de

n. T

ag m

ed g

uid

en t

ill

but

iken

och

res

taur

ange

n. G

enom

at

t väl

ja fi

sk o

ch s

kald

jur s

om fi

nns

i ru

tan

”SM

AK

LIG

MÅ

LTID

” st

ödje

r d

u et

t hål

lbar

t fisk

e.

Vå

ga

frå

ga

om

du

är o

säke

r. V

ar

och

hur

har

fiske

n få

ngat

s? Ä

r d

en

KR

AV

- el

ler

MS

C-

mär

kt?

Gen

om a

tt

stäl

la fr

ågor

bid

rar

vi t

ill a

tt ö

ka k

un-

skap

en o

ch p

åver

-ka

utv

ec

klin

ge

n m

ot

ett

mer

hål

l-b

art fi

ske.

4709

_fis

kgui

dem

ini2

009_

5Qtil

l471

0.in

dd

2

09-0

5-07

11

.36.

29

Torsk

Nordhavsräka

Fisk till middag?

WWFs konsumentguide för mer miljövänliga köp av fisk- och skaldjursprodukterFemte upplagan

FRAMSIDA

BAKSIDA

BAKSIDA

FRAMSIDA

BAKSIDA

Riv fö

rsiktigt av Värld

snaturfond

en WW

Fs fickg

uide läng

s perfo

reringen. V

ik ihop

den o

ch tag m

ed d

en när du hand

lar. Bro

schyren och fickg

uiden

kan beställas från Värld

snaturfond

ens kansli på 08-624 74 00 eller lad

das ner från Värld

snaturfond

ens hemsid

a ww

f.se

ISB

N: 9

78-9

1-89

272-

16-3

Gös

Lax

Sej

Alaska pollock

SMAKLIG MÅLTID MED MILJÖMÄRKT FISK!

Makrill Kolja

Hoki

Des

ign

och

pro

duk

tion:

Od

elI

uS

471

0.

Sill

We have helped preserve and restore a network of wetlands in the region to reduce inputs of nutrients to the Baltic Sea. Wetlands function as important filters between agricultural lands and the Baltic Sea, thereby reducing eutrophication.

The Swedish consumer Seafood Guide has been printed in five editions so far.

We are pushing for a legal ban on phosphates in detergents.

These are a few highlights from over the years:

• In2005,wehelpedconvincetheIn-ternational Maritime Organisation to classify the Baltic Sea as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area.

• Wewereamainadvocate for theestablishment of a network of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Baltic Sea.In2007,Helcomsetagoaltoes-tablish such a network of MPAs in the BalticSeabytheyear2010,makingitone of the first comprehensive MPA schemes in the world.

• After convincing several largemanu facturers of detergents to stop using phosphates as an ingredient, we are now pushing for a legal ban on phosphates in detergents. As a result, more and more countries are imple-menting a ban and discussions are now being held in the European Commis-sion to institute a Europe-wide ban on phosphates in detergents. • Throughpersistentworktogether

with fishers, the seafood industry and governments, we managed to radical-ly decrease the level of illegal, unreg-ulated and unreported (IUU) fishing in the Baltic Sea. Cod and other fish stocks are now slowly recovering.

• Wehelpedachieveabanondrift-nets, a major cause of death in har-bour porpoise, in the Baltic Sea in 2008.Asanaddedbonus,thebanhascontributed to the increased number of wild salmon.

• Wewereanactivepartnerinestab-lishing the Baltic Sea Action Plan and the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Re-gion, two international strategies in-tended to improve the environmental status of the Baltic Sea.

• We have helped preserve and re-store a network of wetlands in the re-gion to reduce inputs of nutrients to the Baltic Sea and help conserve bio-diversity in the catchment area.

• Inlargetransnationalprojects,wehave facilitated sustainable farming in St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Esto-nia and other places around the Baltic Sea.

• By working together with cruisecompanies and ferry lines in the Bal-tic Sea, many industry members have now committed to stop discharging their wastewater in the Baltic Sea.


We have been – and continue to be – a watchdog that monitors how governments manage our common resource – the Baltic Sea.”

We helped save the grey seal through determined conservation projects.

• Weintroducedconsumer“SeafoodGuides” in major markets around the Baltic Sea. By working together with consumers and the industry, we man-aged to get major retail chains and res-taurants to commit to only sell sus-tainably caught seafood.

• Wereducedtheriskofoilspillacci-dents and made shipping more secure by successfully calling for tougher regulations and voluntary agreements from the shipping industry.

• Wehelpedsavethegreyseal, thewhite-tailed eagle and other species from declining numbers through de-termined and long-term conservation projects.

• Wehaveimplementedhundredsofenvironmental education projects in the region, raising awareness and un-derstanding of the problems facing the Baltic Sea.

• Withthehelpofthousandsofvol-unteers, we have helped respond to oil-spill accidents and successfully pushed governments to improve their oil-spill response capacity.

• Wehavebeen–andcontinuetobe–a watchdog that monitors how govern-ments manage our common resource – the Baltic Sea.

Please contact us for more information!

WWF Baltic Ecoregion Programme Ulriksdals Slott SE-170 81 Solna Sweden Tel +46 8 624 74 00 Fax +46 8 85 13 29

www.panda.org/baltic

WWF is one of the world’s largest and most experienced independent conservation organisations, with almost 5 million members and supporters and a global network active in some 100 countries.

WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by:

• conserving the world’s biological diversity

• ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable

• promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

WWF Baltic Ecoregion Programme is part of WWF, set up to save the Baltic marine environment and restore vitality and beauty to the surrounding region.

The following organisations are lead partners within the WWF Baltic Ecoregion Programme:WWF Finland (wwf.fi)

WWF Germany (wwf.de)

WWF Poland (wwf.pl)

WWF Sweden (wwf.se)

Baltic Fund for Nature (Russia – www.bfn.org.ru)

Estonian Fund for Nature (www.elfond.ee)

Lithuanian Fund for Nature (www.glis.lt) and

Pasaules Dabas Fonds (Latvia – www.pdf.lv)

DES

IGN

: OD

ELIU

S. 4

6039

P

hoto

: Håk

an S

and

bri

ng /

IBL

Bild

byr

å (p

. 1);

Lenn

art M

athi

asso

n (p

. 2);

Pet

e C

airn

s / n

atur

epl.c

om

(p. 3

, Sea

eag

le);

SM

HI (

p. 3

, alg

ae b

loo

m);

Ste

fan

Ro

seng

ren

(p. 4

, fish

erm

an);

Per

-Eri

k A

dam

sso

n/S

tock

holm

s H

amn

(p. 5

); K

atri

n H

avia

/ W

WF

-Fin

land

(p. 6

, det

erg

ent);

Sam

psa

Vilh

unen

/WW

F-F

inla

nd (p

. 6, w

etla

nds)

; Met

säha

llitu

s N

HS

(p. 7

, div

er);

Pet

er G

arb

et (p

. 7, g

rey

seal

): L

asse

Bur

ell (

p. 8

).

together we can save the baltic sea -...

Documents