These guidelines were updated by HELCOM HODS 2/2003 

GUIDELINES FOR DESIGNATING MARINE AND COASTAL BALTIC SEA PROTECTED AREAS (BSPA) AND PROPOSED PROTECTION CATEGORIES (updated valid guidelines) 

1. General remarks concerning Protection Categories for BSPAs

1.1 Coastal and nearshore areas within territorial or internal marine waters: At present only national legal protection will ensure the conservation of designated BSPAs (exception: European Community-Directives for EU-member states).

For BSPAs the following IUCN-Categories or similar national categories that strongly focus on ecological criteria, are recommended for the national implementation:

I Strict Nature Reserve, Wilderness Area
II National Park
IV Habitat and Species Management Area
V Protected Landscape and Seascape
IX Biosphere Reserve

Buffer zones of an appropriate width are recommended for all BSPAs.

1.2 Open Sea Areas: The Baltic Sea is a Special Area identified by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), where the adoption of special mandatory methods for the prevention of sea pollution by oil, noxious liquid substances, or garbage, as applicable, is required ("MARPOL 73/78 in Annexes I, II and V").

An area which needs special protection and which is vulnerable to environmental damage by maritime activities can be identified as Particular Sensitive Area (PSA) by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). Under certain circumstances a PSA may include a buffer zone.

To achieve international recognition for a designed PSA a coastal state has to submit a proposal to IMO's "Maritime Safety Committee". A recognized area can be protected in three ways:

1. special routing measures
2. as an area to be avoided
3. other navigational duties such as piloting

(The legal aspects of establishing pure marine BSPAs have still to be discussed within HELCOM, IMO, IBSFC.)

2. Guidelines for designating BSPAs

A coastal or marine area of the Baltic Sea Region can be designated as a BSPA if it meets the criteria mentioned below and if its proposed protection status corresponds with the IUCN-Categories I, II, IV, V or IX for protected areas. When selecting new BSPAs the interest of the fishery and aquaculture shoud be taken into account.

2.1 Aim of protection

In a BSPA particular protection shall be given to the species and natural habitats and nature types of the marine and coastal ecosystems of the Baltic Sea Area to conserve biological and genetic diversity and to protect ecological processes.

2.2 Objects of protection

- Areas with high biodiversity,
- habitats of endemic, rare or threatened species and communities of fauna and flora,
- habitats of migratory species,
- nursery and spawning areas,
- rare or unique or representative geological or geomorphological structures or processes.

2.3 Size

The minimum size of a BSPA should be preferably 1000 ha for terrestrial parts and/or 3000 ha for marine/lagoon parts.

2.4 Naturalness

The landscape/seascape of a BSPA should be not - or only little - disturbed by man. Ongoing economic activities must follow the principles of sustainable use.
(if no disturbance: IUCN-Category I, if little disturbance: Categories II, IV, V or IX).

2.5 Pollution

The environment of a BSPA should be to a large extend free of pollution. If polluted, activities must be started as soon as possible to distinctly improve the environmental situation through, e.g., technical measures, such as sewage treatment plants etc. Integrated Coastal Management Plans may help to meet these requirements.

2.6 Representativeness

A BSPA should be a representative ecological functional entity for a Baltic Sea Region or Sub-Region or for a Baltic Sea State.

2.7 Application

An application for approval of a new BSPA can be sent at any time to the HELCOM Secretariat.

A proposal for a new BSPA should include:

- a completed pro-forma (see example in Attachement 1)
- a map with the same precision and quality as maps officially published, preferably at a scale of 1:20.000 to 1:100.000, should include at least:
- 4 marked geographical coordinates (lat./long.),
- major roads and settlements (coastal area),
- the coastline (coastal areas) and isobaths,
- borderline of proposed BSPA (see Attachement 2).

These guidelines are oriented on ecological criteria of several international conservation acts. Socio-economic and cultural criteria are not considered, because a BSPA should primarily reflect the natural environment of the Baltic Sea Area.

Note: BSPAs already proposed to HELCOM

Requirements mentioned under paragraph 2.3 (size) of this guidelines do not apply to areas already registered by HELCOM 15 (Rec. 15/5). At this stage for these areas all possible IUCN-Categories should be considered for national implementation. But in any case, if feasible, it should be aimed at a protection status and management following the IUCN-Categories I, II, IV, V or IX.

Attachment 1Pro - Forma for a BSPA

A

1. Country/Territory: Germany/Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
2. Marine region and subregion: North Atlantic - Baltic Sea / Belt Sea
3. Biogeographic zone: I A 10, North East Atlantic Realm

B

1. Proposed name of BSPA: Wismar Bight
2. Proposed IUCN management category: IX (Biosphere Reserve)

C

1. Characterization of the area (proposed boundaries see enclosed map):
Shallow water system with seagras meadows on soft bottom and fucus stands on local erratic blocks. The included coastal landscape of islands, peninsulas and the coastline show a rich variety of salt meadows reeds, dunes, coastal lakes, cliffs and different types of beaches.

2. Aims and objects of protection:
Particular protection shall be given to the high biodiversity of Wismar Bight and to ongoing morphodynamic processes that reflect interactions between land and sea very impressively, e.g.,

- the high biodiversity of macrozoobenthos,
- the main distribution area of the endemic baltic mussel Cerastobyssum hauniense and Ciona intestinalis (tunicata) at the german coast,
- the important resting site for waterfowl (up to 50.000 individuals of Aythya marila, several thousand individuals of other duck species, waders, geese and swans),
- the breeding area of waders (dunlin - Calidris alpina schinzii).

3. Size:

4. Naturalness:
The city of Wismar with its port at the innermost part of the bight is excluded from the BSPA.Outside urban areas the coastal landforms are nearly natural and undyked. The smaller settlements are protected against flooding with dykes or modified dunes.

5. Pollution:
The inner part of Wismar Bight is more eutrophic than the outer part which is of the same condition than Mecklenburg Bay. The new treatment plant in Wismar has improved the situation in the last 4 years. Under certain hydrographical conditions the oxidant may decrease to zero.

6. Representativeness:
The area is representative for the german baltic coast because of specific coastal landforms like saltmarshes, beach-ridge-systems and active cliffs. Shallow water zones, semi enclosed bays and episodical (wind induced) emerged flats are characteristic for Wismar Bay.

D

1. Perceived threats and conflicts
Tourism, water sports, shipping, building activities, plans for coastal protection measures at the coast and the eutrophication from diffuse and urban sources are the major threats for the area.

2. Management-requirements, tenure and proposed control:
Wismar Bight should be managed as a Biosphere Reserve. The area needs a zoning system and landward buffer zones controlled by the National Park Authority of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (tenure: mainly State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern).