Helcom : Assessments and indicators

Assessing the progress towards reaching HELCOM objectives for a healthy Baltic Sea

The HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) is based on the ecosystem approach to the management of human activities. A strong, scientifically based knowledge of the status of the ecosystem and its components is at the core of the plan. In order to achieve the BSAP vision of a healthy Baltic Sea by 2021, actions and measures have been identified in the plan to address the four priority issues of concern for the Baltic, namely eutrophication, hazardous substances, maritime safety and biodiversity and nature protection. For each of these issues, an overall goal has been defined, together with ecological objectives that describe the desired characteristics for a Baltic Sea with "good environmental status". Each ecological objective in turn has one or more measureable indicators that make it possible to determine the progress towards achieving the desired objectives.

Click on the vision, a goal or an ecological objective listed below to access the latest assessment or related Core Set Indicator Report that describes the progress towards reaching the HELCOM vision and goals. Note that currently only a demonstration set of eutrophication Core Set Indicators has been developed.

The indicators and assessment methods will be further developed and refined, therefore, the present ones should be considered preliminary. The intention is to also have core set indicators for the other HELCOM priority issues in the future. For the time being, these issues are covered by the thematic assessments on hazardous substances, biodiversity and maritime activities.

For additional information about the state of the Baltic marine environment, see also:

Last updated: 27 May 2010