Coordinated Ecosystem Approach:

HELCOM Group for Implementation of the Ecosystem Approach - GEAR

Sustainable use of the marine environment is an important part of the ecosystem approach. Photo: Maria Laamanen.

GEAR Group initiates and strengthens actions to implement the Baltic Sea Action Plan and the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive for those HELCOM countries that are also EU member states.

The ecosystem approach is the key ingredient of the Baltic Sea Action Plan and a driving principle in the Directive. The approach, which also considers people as part of the ecosystem, is about using scientific knowledge as the basis of protection and the sustainable use of the marine environment as well as prioritizing and applying management actions. It also incorporates the learning-by-doing principle of adaptive management.

The GEAR group relies on strong, regional coordination. At the managerial level, it steers HELCOM’s efforts to restore the Good Environmental Status of the sea. The Group complements HELCOM’s scientific-technical activities.