HELCOM's eight main groups implement policies and strategies and propose issues for discussion at the meetings of the Heads of Delegations, where decisions are made.
The five permanent groups address different aspects of HELCOM's work :
The following time-limited groups complement the work of the permanent groups:
Group on Sustainable Agricultural Practices (Agri)
Group on Ecosystem-based Sustainable Fisheries (Fish)
Joint HELCOM-VASAB Maritime Spatial Planning Working Group (HELCOM-VASAB MSP WG)
Please see here the progress of the work of HELCOM main groups as well as expert and correspondence groups during 2017.
The revision of the HELCOM main groups was completed in September 2014 - click here for the summary slides and longer outcome
AIS EWG - Expert Working Group for Mutual Exchange and Deliveries of AIS data
EN Hazardous Substances - Expert Network on hazardous substances
EN Marine Litter - Expert Network on Marine Litter
EN Noise - Expert Network on Underwater Noise
ESA - Expert Network on Economic and Social Analyses
EWG OWR - Expert Working Group on Oiled Wildlife Response
EWG SHORE - Expert Working Group on Response on the Shore
Green Technology and Alternative Fuels Platform for Shipping
HELCOM/OSPAR TG BALLAST - Joint HELCOM/OSPAR Task Group on Ballast Management Convention Exemptions
IN Benthic habitat - Intersessional Network on habitat monitoring
IWGAS - Informal Working Group on Aerial Surveillance
JWG Bird - HELCOM-OSPAR-ICES Joint Working Group on Seabirds
MORS EG - Expert group on monitoring of radioactive substances in the Baltic Sea
PRF Cooperation Platform - Cooperation Platform on Port Reception Facilities in the Baltic Sea
SAFE NAV - Group of Experts on Safety of Navigation
Seal - Seal expert group
SUBMERGED - Expert Group on Environmental Risks of Hazardous Submerged Objects