ISBN 978-951-715-646-4
Orders: Academy of Finland
P.O.Box 99, FIN-00501 Helsinki,
Finland
BONUS -169 BALTIC SE A SCIENCE PL AN AND
IMPLEMENTATION STR ATEGY
B O N U S P u b l i c a t i o n N r. 5
Bonus_Publ_V_kannet.indd 2
18.2.2007 18:42:55
18.2.2007 18:42:55
BONUS-169 BALTIC SEA SCIENCE PLAN
AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY
Layout: PixPoint ky
Cover: Maija Huttunen/ Finnish Institute of Marine Research
Press: Kopio Niini Oy, Helsinki 2007
Copyright: BONUS ERA-NET Project 2006
Web address: www.bonusportal.org,
www.balticsearesearch.net
ISBN 951-715-646-4 (print)
ISBN 951-715-647-2 (pdf )
BONUS-169
BALTIC SEA SCIENCE PLAN AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY 1
By
Christopher C.E. Hopkins
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea: chris.hopkins@aquamarine.se
Jan Thulin
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea: jan@ices.dk
Jon G. Sutinen
University of Rhode Island: JSutinen@uri.edu
In Collaboration with:
Kaisa Kononen
Academy of Finland: kaisa.kononen@aka.fi
Pauli Snoeijs
University of Uppsala: pauli.snoeijs@ebc.uu.se
Sif Johansson
Swedish Environmental Protection Agency: sif.johansson@naturvardsverket.se
Hans-Ortwin Nalbach
Germany Federal Ministry of Education & Research: hans-ortwin.nalbach@bmbf.bund.de
1 Recommended citation: Hopkins C.C.E., J. Thulin, J.G. Sutinen, K. Kononen, P. Snoeijs, S. Johansson & H.-O. Nalbach 2006. BONUS-169 Baltic Sea
Science Plan and Implementation Strategy. BONUS Publication No. 5.
BONUS is an EU 6th Framework Programme ERA-
In addition, BONUS links six funding organisations
NET project with a total funding of 3.03 million
as observers, which increases the number on
euros for years 2004-2007. The project brings involved organisations to 19.
together the key research funding organisations in
all EU Member States and Russia around the Baltic
Partners
Sea. The aim is to gradually and systematically
create conditions for a joint Baltic Sea research Academy of Finland, Coordinator
and researcher training programme. BONUS Project Management Organisation Juelich,
operates in close connection with the scientifi c and
Germany
management actors.
Danish Agency for Science, Technology and
Innovation
The objective of BONUS is
Estonian Science Foundation
International Council for the Exploration of the
to form a network and partnership of key agencies
Sea
funding research aiming at deepening the under-
Ministry of Education and Science of the
standing of conditions for science-based management
Republic of Lithuania
of environmental issues in the Baltic Sea
Latvian Council of Science
Ministry of Science and Higher Education,
The `status quo' in ongoing research, research
Poland
funding, marine research programme management
Foundation for Strategic Environmental
and infrastructures is examined and the necessary
Research, Sweden
communication and networking tools are Swedish Research Council for Environment,
established. The needs and conditions of a
Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning
joint research programme from scientifi c and
Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
administrative point of view are examined. The Russian Foundation for Basic Research
integration of the new EU Member States to the
Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of
common funding scheme is considered in one of
Sciences
the tasks. Finally, an Action Plan for creating joint
research programmes, including all jointly agreed
Observers
procedures of programme management and aspects
of common use of marine research infrastructure is
Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt
produced. An additional activity is the development
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
of a common postgraduate training scheme.
Estonian Ministry of Environment
Latvian Environment Agency
The consortium is composed of altogether 13 Maj and Tor Nessling Foundation, Finland
partners: 12 research funding organisations from
Nordic Council of Ministers: Marine and air
nine countries and one international organisation.
pollution group
Further information
BONUS Network Coordination Offi ce
Academy of Finland
P.O.Box 99
00501 Helsinki
Finland
www.balticsearesearch.net, www.bonusportal.org
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1 BACKGROUND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2 THE BALTIC SEA ECOSYSTEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Intensifying human encroachment and environmental consequences. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Changing environmental and geopolitical perspectives: The case for a transnational
Baltic Sea research programme. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3 BONUS-169 JOINT BALTIC SEA REGIONAL PROGRAMME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Programme goal and objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Deliverables expected from the implementation of BONUS-169 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Funding policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
4 RESEARCH THEMES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Theme 1: Linking science and policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Theme 2: Understanding climate change and geophysical forcing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Theme 3: Combatting eutrophication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Theme 4: Achieving sustainable fi sheries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Theme 5: Protecting biodiversity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Theme 6: Preventing pollution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Theme 7: Integrating ecosystem and society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
5 PROGRAMME GOVERNANCE AND SUPPORT, FUNDING AND
IMPLEMENTATION
SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Theme 8: Strengthening collaboration and use of common resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
6 ANNEXES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Annex 1. Process for developing the BONUS-169 Science Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Annex 2. International conventions, agreements and codes of conduct/guidelines
concerning the environment and biodiversity, including conservation of fi shery resources,
of the Baltic Sea region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Annex 3. Some European Community instruments applicable to the protection of the
environment and biodiversity, including conservation of fi shery resources,
of the Baltic Sea region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Annex 4. Defi nition of terms connected with BONUS-169 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Annex 5. Schematic presentation of the BONUS-169 Virtual Common Pot and explanations . . . . 56
Annex 6. Explanation of acronyms used in the document. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
ii
Summary
The Baltic Sea ecosystem is seriously impacted cooperation of the Member States' research policies
by many naturally and human caused pressures.
and their scientifi c communities in order to
This has reduced the capacity of the Baltic Sea to
support the sustainable development of the Baltic
sustainably provide the goods and services upon
Sea region.
which humans depend directly and indirectly
for social, cultural and economic benefi ts. At the
The goal of BONUS-169 is to create a cooperative,
regional seas level in the European Community,
interdisciplinary, well integrated and focused
the Marine Strategy and the Maritime Policy transnational research programme in support of
have recently been introduced to holistically the Baltic Sea region's sustainable development,
integrate, focus and make more effective a raft of
by providing scientifi c outputs that facilitate the
national and international policies, agreements implementation of ecosystem-based management
and regulatory instruments for reducing marine of the Baltic Sea environmental issues. It will
pollution, conserving exploitable living resources
enhance our understanding and predictive capacity
and biodiversity, and tackling climate change while
about the Baltic Sea ecosystem's response to
also ensuring sustainable human socioeconomic impending changes caused by both naturally and
development.
human induced pressures, and about linkages
between environmental problems and the social
An important constituent is elaboration and and economic dynamics in responding to them. In
implementation of the `ecosystem approach turn, it will form the basis for prudent management
to the management of human activities' in the aimed at safeguarding the sustainable use of the
European regional seas, the success of which ecosystem's goods and services.
must be supported by appropriate research and
technological development (RTD) across a wide
The specifi
c objectives of BONUS-169 are
range of scientifi c disciplines.
manifested in the eight interlinked Themes that
together form the core of the Science Plan and
Currently, the nine Baltic Sea States cooperate to
Implementation Strategy: 1) Linking science and
set priorities and carry out concerted actions in
policy; 2) Understanding climate change and
international management and regulatory forums
geophysical forcing; 3) Combatting eutrophication;
concerning the marine environment and living 4) Achieving sustainable fi sheries; 5) Protecting
resources. However, there is a lack of corresponding
biodiversity; 6) Preventing pollution; 7) Integrating
pan-Baltic collaboration for coordinating the ecosystem and society; and 8) Strengthening
funding and the implementation of the RTD that
collaboration and use of common resources.
is needed to effectively address the Baltic Sea's
transboundary environmental problems.
BONUS-169 will act as a regional sea demon-
stration programme bridging science and policy,
As result of the above-mentioned considerations,
underpinning the European Marine Strategy and
the eight Baltic Sea States of the European Union
Maritime Policy. Lessons learnt and best practices
together with the Russian Federation and the will be exchanged with other European regional seas
European Commission aim to establish BONUS
and regional seas elsewhere. The programme will
(Baltic Organizations' Network for Funding also promote activities to foster the whole Baltic Sea
Science) to implement a joint programme under
Research Area including four new Member States
Article 169 of the European Community Treaty.
and the Russian Federation and cross the national
The mission of BONUS is to fund and implement
borders of basic research towards application and
a joint Baltic Sea regional research programme, dissemination of knowledge to wider society and
called BONUS-169, thereby establishing durable
users.
1
1 BACKGROUND
Within the European Research Area (ERA), the
EC Member States2 together with the Russian
European Community's (EC) Sixth Framework Federation and the European Commission.
Programme (FP6) for Research and Technological
Development (RTD) aims inter alia at better Invoking Article 1693 of the Treaty is a potentially
coordination of research activities and the powerful, but rarely used, tool for integrating
convergence of research and innovation policies at
national and EC research policies. In BONUS-
national and Community levels, leading eventually
169, the eight EC Baltic Sea States propose to act,
towards formation of a `common market' for RTD
goods and services. The ERA-NET BONUS for
the Baltic Sea Network of Funding Agencies has
been funded by FP6 from 2004 2007 to "form
a network and partnership of key agencies funding
research with the aim to deepen the understanding
of conditions for science-based management of
environmental issues in the Baltic Sea". BONUS
has worked vigorously to strengthen cooperation
between these funding agencies and create con-
ditions for a joint Baltic Sea research and researcher
training programme called BONUS-169 under
Article 169 of the EC Treaty, involving the eight
Riku Lumiaro
2 Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden.
3 For further information see www.cordis.lu/coordination/art169.htm. The main objective is to go beyond mere coordination of national programmes to
achieve an integration of the different national and regional programmes in a single joint one. The basic selection criteria are: 1) involvement of enough Mem-
ber States to obtain a signifi cant structuring effect and critical mass; 2) the topic is of great interest to the Community and fi ts with the thematic properties
of the Framework Programme; 3) the principles of co-funding by Member States and Community, and of additionality are respected; 4) there is suffi cient
European value-added; and 5) Article 169 is the only way the project/programme could be implemented.
2
as members, together with the Russian Federation
issues and topics constituting the Plan's thematic
as an associate member, but with de facto full basis. The process for developing the Science Plan
rights, to establish a `common structure' set out as
is shown in Annex 1.
a European Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG).
Accordingly, the Russian Federation has equal rights
BONUS-169 aims to create a cooperative,
and obligations as set out in the EEIG Statutes,
interdisciplinary research programme in support
including a special association agreement with `as-
of the Baltic Sea region's sustainable development
if-treatment', i.e. as if Russia were an EU Member
by developing scientifi c knowledge to facilitate the
State. Russian participation in BONUS-169 meets
transnational ecosystem-based management of the
the objectives of the Common European Research
Baltic Sea environmental issues. It will improve
Space between Russia and the EU as depicted by
our understanding and predictive capacity about
the EU Russia Summit Meeting in May 2005.
the Baltic Sea ecosystem's response to impending
changes caused by both naturally and human
Under BONUS-169, planned to run from induced pressures. It will also reveal linkages
2008 2012, the nine Baltic Sea States envisage
between environmental problems and the social and
establishing a virtual `common pot' for integrated
economic dynamics in responding to them. Thus,
funding of openly competed, peer-reviewed BONUS-169 provides a regional contribution to
research and analysis. Research needs may arise addressing key global challenges: climate change,
from science but with clear relevance for redressing
the impact of increasing encroachment of human
the environmental problems in the Baltic Sea area.
activities on coastal and offshore areas, and the
Under Article 169, besides the Member States, the
consequences of these pressures on ecosystem
Community will contribute to this integration structure and function. In turn, BONUS-169
by funding the joint research programme. With
will form the scientifi c foundation for prudent
reference to the year 2004, for example, it has been
management, through integration and transfer of
shown that 71 per cent of the Baltic Sea projects were
knowledge to wider society and users, aimed at
funded at national level, 25 per cent were fi nanced
safeguarding the sustainable use of the ecosystem's
by the EC, and a further three per cent were Nordic
goods and services.
cooperation projects. The total funding from all
three sources was EUR 52 million4.
Since the 1970s, pressing needs to limit marine
pollution and conserve exploitable living resources
As a BONUS ERA-NET product, a Framework
resulted in the proliferation of international
Proposal for the BONUS-169 Baltic Sea Science
management and regulatory Conventions, and
Plan was published and circulated in August other instruments, in the European regional seas,
2005 for extensive consultation and feedback. e.g. North-East Atlantic, North Sea, Baltic Sea,
In developing a science plan for the future, it is
Mediterranean Sea, and Black Sea. The ecosystem
extremely important for the success of the plan approach to management (EAM) has been adopted
that top-down planning (e.g. environmental during the last decade as a fundamental tool for
problem orientated) and bottom-up input (e.g.
achieving sustainable development, and has been
question-driven priorities of scientists and research
integrated into the Conventions and the workplans
organizations) are effectively coupled. Accordingly,
of the implementing international Commissions.
between September 2005 and September 2006,
the nine Baltic Sea States individually arranged and
The EAM was defi ned, at the First Joint Meeting
reported on consultations concerning the Plan
of the Helsinki and OSPAR Commissions (25-26
involving over 800 active scientists and stakeholders
June 2003, Bremen, Germany), as: "the
in the region with a view to identifying priorities
comprehensive integrated management of human
and gaps. The feedback from these consultations
activities based on the best available scientifi c
helped focus the scope and substance of the knowledge about the ecosystem and its dynamics,
BONUS-169 Science Plan, as well as fi rming up the
in order to identify and take action on infl uences
4 BONUS 2005. Baltic Sea research and R&D funding in 2004. BONUS Publication No. 3. 96 pp.
3
which are critical to the health of marine ecosystems,
Implementation of BONUS-169 under FP7 will
thereby achieving sustainable use of ecosystem achieve the formation of a Baltic Sea Research
goods and services and maintenance of ecosystem
Area that is funded and supported by the funding
integrity".
agencies of the Baltic Sea States. In so doing, it will
amplify the critical mass and combat fragmentation
The 2005 European Thematic Strategy on the in the marine sciences, including bringing together
Protection and Conservation of the Marine closer collaboration between the basic and applied
Environment (`Marine Strategy') and the research communities across many disciplines.
accompanying Marine Strategy Directive Furthermore, BONUS-169 will substantially
forming the environmental pillar of the emerging
advance coordination and complementarity
`Maritime Policy' (c.f. 2006 Maritime Green Paper:
among the Baltic Sea States. It will establish
Towards a Future Maritime Policy for the Union: A
cohesive scientifi c priorities and activities, whereby
European Vision for the Oceans and Seas) aim to
excellence in marine research, technology and
promote sustainable use of the seas and to conserve
innovation, complemented by novel approaches in
marine ecosystems and requires Members States to
social and economic sciences, actively support the
cooperate wherever possible at the level of existing
Marine Strategy and Maritime Policy. BONUS-
Regional Seas Conventions. To gain a solid basis
169 acts as a demonstration programme, bridging
for well-informed, successful and cost-effi cient
science and policy, whereby lessons learnt and best
decision-making, it is essential that we increase our
practices will be exchanged with the other European
knowledge of the oceans and seas, through research
regional seas and regional seas elsewhere.
and technological development (RTD). 5 6
5 Speech by Commissioner Joe Borg `How can marine research contribute to the Maritime Policy?' at the European Parliament Conference on the Future of
European Marine Scientifi c Research, Brussels, Belgium, 17 October 2005.
6 Speech by State Secretary Stefan Wallin, Ministry of the Environment, Finland, at EU Maritime Policy Conference in Turku, Finland, 19-21 July 2006.
4
2 THE BALTIC SEA ECOSYSTEM
Riku Lumiaro/FIMR
Particularly since the industrial revolution, and
Intensifying human encroachment
manifestly so today, human populations and their
and environmental consequences
activities7 have not only benefi ted from but also
The Baltic Sea is a semi-enclosed European inland
increasingly exerted pressures on the Baltic Sea
sea forming one of the world's largest brackish water
ecosystem. These pressures have caused the intensive
bodies. It is surrounded by nine Baltic Sea coastal
and unsustainable exploitation of many fi sh stocks
States: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, and other resources, pollution from harmful and
Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russian Federation, and
hazardous substances (e.g. heavy metals, persistent
Sweden. However, the drainage basin emptying organic pollutants, radioactivity, and oil spills),
into the Baltic Sea has a population of about 95
excessive inputs of nutrients and organic material
million people, from 14 States, situated in a leading to the effects of advanced eutrophication,
catchment area that is about four times larger than
introductions of alien organisms, and other diverse
the area of the sea. About 33% of this population
forms of ecological disturbances. This has resulted
lives within 50 km of the coast. Since formation of
in serious depletion of vulnerable species and the
the Baltic Sea about 8 000 years BP, the region has
degradation of sensitive habitats, some of which
been a major focus of human habitation attracted
are in danger of local extinction, as well as causing
by the natural beauty and rich resources of the changes in environmental quality, and the structure,
coastal and offshore areas. These resources have function and integrity of the ecosystem.
historically provided the basis for food security and
trade within the region and with other regions, as
Contaminants, such as persistent organic pollutants
well as many other socioeconomic benefi ts.
(e.g. DDT, PCBs and dioxins) and heavy metals,
7 Examples are coastal engineering and land reclamation, and industries such as agriculture and forestry including pulp and paper production, the production
of iron and steel, chemicals and petrochemicals including oil and gas exploration and production, power generation, as well as mining and mineral and aggre-
gate extraction, dredging and dumping of materials including garbage and litter, fi sheries and aquaculture, shipping, and tourism and recreation.
5
have accumulated via the food web causing health
Finland, Germany and Sweden thereby
problems in several biota (e.g. benthos, birds and
leaving the Russian Federation as the sole non-
marine mammals), and levels of some pollutants
EU coastal Baltic State. Accordingly, many EC
in seafood (e.g. fatty fi sh and shellfi sh) constitute
strategies, policies and directives (Annex 3) apply
a health risk for humans in some areas. These to the marine environment, and living marine
degradations in ecosystem health have resulted resources including fi sheries and biodiversity, in
in associated detrimental human socioeconomic the Community waters of the Baltic Sea. Within
impacts. Additionally, the impacts of human its Exclusive Economic Zone, a body of national
induced climate change and global warming on legislative and administrative instruments regulates
the Baltic Sea ecosystem is of major concern and is
the fi
sheries and environmental management
anticipated to have substantial impacts on human
systems in the Russian Federation.
communities.
In particular, the inherent key feature of the Marine
The Baltic Sea ecosystem is characterized by Strategy and the Maritime Policy is the interlinkage
fl uctuations in the natural environment connected
of science, policy and management of the European
with infrequent and sporadic fl ushing of the regional seas (e.g. the Baltic Sea, North Sea and
deeper basins with more oxygenated water from
the Mediterranean Sea). The Strategy and its
outside, followed by stagnation periods frequently
associated Directive are designed to play a central
lasting many years with declining levels of oxygen.
role in promoting sustainable development, by
The delicate status of the Baltic Sea ecosystem is
aiming to achieve good environmental status of
particularly susceptible to the effects of climatic and
the Community's marine waters by 2021 and to
oceanographic variation and change, including the
protect the resource base upon which marine-
frequency and magnitude of saltwater intrusions
related economic and social activities depend.
causing fl ushing and increased oxygenation in the
deeper basins, as well as by the volume and quality
A key element of the Marine Strategy and
of run-off connected with the effects of leaching
Directive is implementation of the integrated
and dispersal of nutrients and pollutants.
ecosystem approach to management to achieve
`good environmental status'. This will be achieved
Additionally, the low biodiversity of the Baltic Sea
through cooperation between Member States at the
ecosystem associated with the brackish water being
regional sea level within the framework of existing
too salty for most freshwater species and too fresh
regional seas Conventions (e.g. the new Baltic
for most marine species and the short ecological
Sea Action Plan of HELCOM, the Baltic Marine
history of the Baltic, places many plant and animal
Environment Protection Commission).
species near the periphery of their physiological
and ecological tolerance, making them particularly
Synergies exist with other Community policies such
vulnerable to human-caused stresses.
as the Maritime Policy Green Paper and relevant
water legislation (e.g. Water Framework Directive),
Changing environmental and geo-
and continued efforts to improve integration
political perspectives: The case for a
and cooperation with third parties beyond the
transnational Baltic Sea research
Community (e.g. Russian Federation). Thus, the
programme
2004 enlargement of the Community in the Baltic
Sea region has signifi cant implications on the land,
Numerous international conventions, agreements
coastal and marine policies of the Baltic Sea States,
and other instruments contribute to the protection
especially regarding the application of various
of the coastal and offshore environments and strategies, policies and instruments concerning
biodiversity, and fi sheries conservation, of the agriculture, transport, environment, fi sheries, water
Baltic Sea (Annex 2). In 2004, a major geopolitical
resources and scientifi c research. The Community
development occurred in the Baltic Sea region must face the challenge of developing and applying
when Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland a more proactive strategy for collaboration with
acceded to the European Union, joining Denmark,
the Russian Federation in research, assessment and
6
management to achieve improved conservation The networking of marine scientists in the Baltic
and restoration of the environment and the living
Sea region has a long history starting in the
resources of the Baltic Sea, and to ensure the early 20th century, through the establishment
sustainable development of the region.
in 1902 of the International Council for the
Exploration of the Sea (ICES), organizing
Although the Baltic Sea is one of the most Conferences of Baltic Hydrographers from
scientifi cally investigated sea areas in the world, the 1920s onwards and establishment of three
research traditions and capability vary substantially
scientifi c associations: the Baltic Marine Biologists
among coastal States, and also with respect to the
(BMB), the Conference of Baltic Oceanographers
breadth and depth, as well as degree of development,
(CBO) and Baltic Sea Geologists (BSG) in the
of the various relevant science disciplines. The 1960s and thereafter. Following its foundation
amount of data and literature concerning the in 1974, HELCOM has established a system of
chemistry, hydrography, and fauna and fl ora of the
scientifi c working groups.
Baltic Sea is abundant but often nationally scattered
in numerous languages. Thus, studies synthesizing
Starting in the 1990s, several EU-funded projects
and combining the data and information sources
have provided new platforms for the networking of
across and between sub-regions of the Baltic Sea
scientists within and outside the Baltic Sea region .
are generally scarce. A thorough exploitation of An important existing regional networking forum
the existing knowledge is the foundation of new
is the biennial Baltic Sea Science Conference.
research.
However, an obvious gap in the Baltic Sea science
networking is the lack of a platform for wider
Furthermore, each State has tended to develop its
interdisciplinary communication which would
own particular funding priorities and activities in
give scientists from the natural, social, economic
basic and applied research independently of the and other fi elds an opportunity to learn from each
other States. Thus, at an overarching level, there
other and consider Baltic Sea environmental issues
is a limited awareness of each other's research in multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary ways.
portfolio and how and why it is deployed. In
turn, there is a lack of Baltic-wide transboundary
There is no cause for complacency regarding
research consultation, planning, coordination and
the environmental threats facing the Baltic Sea
concerted action necessary to provide the scientifi c
region: existing problems and emerging issues
knowledge and predictive capacity to effectively need to be actively addressed and resolved. In
tackle the environmental challenges facing the order to be successful, there is a pressing need to
Baltic Sea ecosystem.
build, mobilize and further integrate `core science'
capabilities on a pan-Baltic scale in order to
The Baltic Sea States cooperate to set priorities underpin the sustainable development of the Baltic
and carry out concerted actions in international
Sea with regard to ecosystem-based management.
management and regulatory forums concerning the
In this context, many States will benefi t from
marine environment and living resources. However,
collaboration in capacity building, in terms of
the Baltic Sea research situation contributes to knowledge, human expertise and facilities. To this
fragmentation, restricts complementarity and limits
end, research institutions should be encouraged
achieving of critical mass, and not least hinders the
to further coordinate their use of infrastructure,
dissemination of best practices and lessons learnt.
network building and collaboration with a view to
enhancing capacity development and interchange
Professional networks are a necessary precondition
in the region.
for collaboration in the modern scientifi c world.
8 See BONUS 2005. Baltic Sea Research and R&D Funding in 2004. BONUS Publication No. 3
7
3 BONUS-169 JOINT BALTIC SEA
REGIONAL
PROGRAMME
As result of the above-mentioned considerations,
the consequences of these pressures on ecosystem
the eight Baltic Sea States of the European Union
structure and function.
together with the Russian Federation and the
European Commission aim to establish BONUS
BONUS-169 is a fully fl edged framework
(Baltic Organizations' Network for Funding programme for regionally focused research. Besides
Science) to implement a joint programme under
its main activity, i.e. publishing Calls for specifi c
Article 169 of the European Community Treaty.
projects aimed at a series of topics within its strategy,
BONUS-169 will also promote activities to foster
the whole Baltic Sea Research Area including four
Programme goal and objectives
new Member States and the Russian Federation -
The mission of BONUS is to fund and implement
and to cross the national borders of basic research
a joint Baltic Sea regional research programme,
towards wider application and dissemination of
called BONUS-169, thereby establishing durable
knowledge. The goal is achieved by application of
cooperation of the Member States' research policies
fi ve specifi ed instruments:
and their scientifi c communities in order to
support the sustainable development of the Baltic
1. RTD activities linked directly to creating
Sea region.
prudent, long-term, holistic interdisciplinary
solutions involving sustainable use of the Baltic
The goal of BONUS-169 is to create a cooperati-
Sea, by:
ve, interdisciplinary, well integrated and focused
a) Understanding and quantifying the role
transnational research programme in support of
of climate change and variability, and its
the Baltic Sea region's sustainable development,
implications for the dynamics of the region's
by providing scientifi c outputs that facilitate the
implementation of ecosystem-based management
of the Baltic Sea environmental issues.
It will enhance our understanding and predictive
capacity about the Baltic Sea ecosystem's response
to impending changes caused by both naturally
and human induced pressures and about linkages
between environmental problems and the social
and economic dynamics in responding to them. In
turn, it will form the basis for prudent management
aimed at safeguarding the sustainable use of the
ecosystem's goods and services.
BONUS-169 will represent an interdisciplinary
scientifi c model-system for the European regional
seas by linking science and management that is
inherent in the European Marine Strategy and
Marine Policy. It will provide a regional contribution
to addressing key global challenges: Climate
change, the impact of increasing encroachment of
human activities on coastal and offshore areas, and Johanna Inkinen
8
ecosystems and associated impacts on human
novel concepts and technologies for the above-
communities;
mentioned purposes. BONUS-169 views it as
b) Understanding the physical, chemical and
a key task to facilitate integration of the new
biological functioning of marine ecosystems,
Member States and the Russian Federation
and understanding and quantifying
into the European Research Area by inter alia
human impacts (e.g. pollution including
vigorously involving early stage researchers
eutrophication, unsustainable fi sheries and
(ESRs) in all relevant programme-related
aquaculture, and degradation of habitats and
activities. The programme encourages partici -
ecosystems) on the Baltic Sea environment
pation of ESRs in the responses to the topic-
and its biodiversity and human well-being;
related Calls, as well as by application of a wide
c) Developing the scientifi c basis for sustainable
range of EC instruments related to furthering
use and protection of the Baltic Sea
ESR mobility, secondments, exchanges and
ecosystem and its associated biodiversity,
Research and Training Networks (RTN).
recognizing the essential benefi ts arising
from socioeconomic development while also
5. Activities linked to ensuring the development,
realizing the responsibility to conserve, and
visibility and sustainability of the joint Baltic Sea
where appropriate restore, ecosystem health
Research Programme and to promoting transfer
and the production potential of natural
of its achievement to other European regional
capital.
seas.
a) Activities promoting the joint Baltic Sea
These research activities will be initiated by Calls
Research Programme to ensure a high profi le
to the scientifi c community that will each refer to
in European and international levels;
specifi ed topics originating strategically from the
b) Regular reporting the implementation of the
BONUS-169 Science Plan.
joint Baltic Sea Research Programme with
special emphasis on its public-interest value;
2.
Activities (including workshops and c) Establishing regular channels for exchanging
conferences) linked to networking and
information, lessons learnt and best practices
coordinating the region's nationally funded
with regulatory bodies of European regional
research by more closely promoting, planning,
seas (e.g. HELCOM, OSPAR, Black Sea
funding, implementing, and publicizing pan-
Commission, Mediterranean Commission
Baltic research. A high priority will be given
on Sustainable Development).
to developing mechanisms to jointly use
scientifi c infrastructure and facilities, including
Such activities will include workshops,
the existing data of universities and research
conferences, joining regional events with
institutions in different countries.
exhibitions, open-days involving research
institutes and vessels for the public (e.g. schools),
3. Activities linked to bridging the gap between
journalist seminars, utilization of internet and
science and users by ensuring that the initiatives
printed information and contributions to TV.
and outputs of the region's scientifi c community
better refl ect the research needs connected with
The BONUS-169 programme will combine
sustainable development of the Baltic Sea, while
relevant fundamental research aimed at improving
also better synthesizing and disseminating our understanding of the Baltic Sea ecosystem
research outcomes for improved receptivity and
with highly focused strategic research aimed at
utilization in policy and decision-making. To
solving specifi c problems of high societal priority.
reach these goals, social, economic and political
BONUS-169 will, in the long term, produce a wide
sciences will be integrated into the RTD-based
range of science-based deliverables progressing the
Calls.
state-of-the-art, best practice and lessons-learnt
connected with the topics addressed by the eight
4. Activities linked to educating and training Themes forming the core of the programme.
new generations of young scientists to apply
9
The specifi
c objectives of BONUS-169 are and capacity including training and education.
manifested in the titles and content of eight This will be facilitated by developing and applying
interlinked Themes (Figure 1) that are further dedicated data-sets and databases on a Baltic-
elaborated in Section 4.
wide basis, from fi eld and laboratory studies,
innovative methodology, and analyses including
scenarios and models. Improved software and
hardware/equipment production for common use
is encouraged.
Information and presentational material will be
produced and made available on a dedicated website
including newsletters, videos, reports and breaking-
news. Workshops, conferences and exhibitions
will be arranged and associated reports produced.
Emphasis is placed on actions and measures to
increase interdisciplinary collaboration and redress
scientifi c fragmentation.
Climate change, eutrophication, pollution,
unsustainable fi
sheries including aquaculture,
degradation of biodiversity, and increasing human
encroachment represent major threats to the status
Figure 1. Themes of BONUS-169.
of the Baltic Sea environment and ecosystem 9 10
11 12. Accordingly, these threats and their human
Deliverables expected from the
socioeconomic consequences form the focus of the
implementation of BONUS-169
BONUS-169 research, in which the importance of
closer linking science and policy, and strengthening
Beyond the publication of scientifi c papers in collaboration and use of common resources at
the peer-reviewed literature, prominence will the pan-Baltic level, are emphasized as important
be given to transferring the results to various constituents for programme success. With this
stakeholders and to raising wider public awareness
in mind, the main deliverables anticipated to be
and understanding of the need to practice effective
provided by BONUS-169 are listed in Table 1.
stewardship of the Baltic Sea ecosystem. BONUS-
169 will provide the scientifi c basis for improved
As the precise nature of the actual deliverables is
management and regulation with respect to highly dependent on the response manifested by
improved implementation of Community Policy
the science community to the Call for project
according to the European Marine Strategy and
proposals, the list below is limited to the broad-
the Maritime Policy, and pertinent associated spectrum level. More specifi c details, of greater
Directives and instruments.
interest to the research community, are provided
under Section 4 Research Themes.
The deliverables will focus on substantially
enhancing scientifi c knowledge, understanding,
9 HELCOM 2003. The Baltic marine environment 1999 2002. Baltic Sea Environment Proceedings No. 87. 48 pp.
10 ICES 2003. Environmental Status of the European Seas. A Quality Status Report Prepared by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
for the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. 75 pp.
11 UNEP 2005. Lääne A., E. Kraav & G. Titova. Baltic Sea, GIWA Regional Assessment No. 17. University of Kalmar, Sweden.
12 BALTEX - HELCOM 2006. Climate change in the Baltic Sea area. Draft HELCOM Thematic Assessment in 2006. HELCOM Stakeholder Conference
on the Baltic Sea Action Plan. Helsinki, Finland.
10
Table 1. The main BONUS-169 deliverables1 sorted by principal areas of programme focus.
No.
Linking science and policy
1
Better capacity to detect, predict and mitigate environmental problems and risks in a coherent and holistic manner. It will increase
the usability of research products from the Baltic Sea science community for wider human society.
2
More effective bridging between science and policy. It will establish a novel research area, actively promote dialogue, exchange
of research results, lessons learnt and best practices with users and other stakeholders in the Baltic Sea area, other European
regional seas and regional seas elsewhere.
3
Promotion of the ecosystem approach to the management of human activities (EAM1). It will facilitate novel integration of
transnational research outputs across the natural, technological, social, economic and political sciences.
4
Support for integrated coastal zone management involving diverse human activities, industries, and managers/regulators.
5
Environmental outlooks, scenarios and models for exploring future developments of the Baltic Sea ecosystem. They will have
implications for policy actions, including socioeconomic consequences.
6
Support for the European Commission's Environment Directorate General (DG) and DG Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, HELCOM,
the European Environment Agency, and the advisory function of ICES. It will improve implementation of the EAM, the Marine
Strategy and Maritime Policy, and associated Directives and instruments in the Baltic Sea area.
7
Instruments to support confl ict-resolution at cross-sector levels, including communication strategies and social impact
assessments.
8
Scientifi c information on priorities and preferences of the general public on the environmental problems of the Baltic Sea that can
be used in EAM decision-making.
9
Improved design, implementation and evaluation of the effi cacy of pertinent public policies and governance.
10
Better integration of national and European Community policies, and improved scientifi c and policy integration and cooperation
with third parties beyond the Community (e.g. Russian Federation).
No.
Large scale ecosystem threats and changes including responses and mitigation
1
Robust and credible tools for quantifying and predicting how climate change and variability, eutrophication, pollution, fi sheries,
and increased human encroachment interact to alter the Baltic Sea and its sub-regions. These will benefi t environmental quality,
ecosystem health and productivity of the living resources, and sustainable human socioeconomy. Furthermore, they will promote
active collaboration between scientists working with different ecosystem components.
2
Innovative observation and surveillance methods and strategies to support holistically integrated assessments of changing status
and trends. They involve superior operational forecasting and modelling systems for early warning of current and impending
changes and risks.
3
Novel and scientifi cally robust methods for environmental risk/impact assessment and management that can be applied
prospectively (for prevention) and retrospectively (for remediation).
4
Novel analyses and dynamic models of human activities explicitly linked to the Baltic Sea ecosystem components. These will
explain and forecast the activities as well as prominent human responses to changes in the ecosystem.
5
Ecological and socioeconomic cost-benefi t analyses and models examining causes and effects of different environmental
developments, options and targets. They will address cost-effi cient abatement and remedial measures.
6
New scientifi c support for effective and adaptive management, regulatory and mitigation/remedial measures to combat
eutrophication, achieve sustainable fi sheries, protect biodiversity including loss of vulnerable species and habitats, and prevent
pollution.
7
Improved awareness of the coupling between ecosystem health and human health and well-being.
No.
Strengthening collaboration and use of common resources
1
Establish the `Baltic Organizations Network for Funding Science' (BONUS) that will provide coordinated BONUS-169 programme
funding for openly competed, peer-reviewed scientifi c research. This will increase the volume and quality of international
scientifi c publications on Baltic Sea environmental issues.
2
Create an European Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG) to act as a legal entity representing BONUS-169. This includes structures
for programme governance, management, advisory support, coordination of Calls for research proposals and joint evaluation
processes.
3
Coordinated co-funding of joint activities (e.g. workshops, working groups, conferences, inter-calibration exercises) with other
European and global programmes. This will provide more effective exploitation and dissemination of scientifi c results and policy-
related collaboration with other parties.
4
Well-harmonized network for education, training and exchange schemes including development of a BONUS-169 Education and
Training Plan. This will be linked to the existing educational network called the Baltic University Programme and advance the
educational standards of young scientists in an interdisciplinary manner.
5
Intensifi ed networking, knowledge dissemination, communication, and information fl ow. This will involve various scientifi c interest
groups (e.g. universities and research institutes), national, European and wider international funding agencies, policy-makers and
other users of research outputs.
6
More effi cient use and sharing of currently available marine research infrastructures and promoting development of new RTD
infrastructures.
7
Better matching of RTD excellence, funding and infrastructure.
8
Openly accessible, common databases of all data collected by or freely donated to the programme in accordance with the
production of a BONUS-169 Data Policy.
13 Deliverables are work products and constitute the substantiation of programme/project implementation.
14 The defi nition of the EAM, according to HELCOM and OSPAR and agreed by the European Commission, is provided in Section 1 (Back-
ground) of the Science Plan.
11
Funding policy
The RTD activities in BONUS-169 include
funding of openly competed, peer-reviewed
research and analysis, where needs may arise from
science but with clear relevance for redressing the
environmental problems in the Baltic Sea area.
The focus of the funded research is the Baltic Sea
ecosystem. This includes research carried out in the
Baltic Sea drainage area when a clear cause-and-
effect linkage to the environmental problems of the
Baltic Sea can be demonstrated. Important issues
for BONUS-169 are the promotion of innovative
research ideas, new tools and techniques and
integration between human society and a healthy
ecosystem, including socioeconomic analyses.
Jere Riikonen/FIMR
An important overall objective is differentiating
between naturally and human induced pressures,
conceptual sketch of the supply chain running from
and discovering their interactions and combined
scientifi c research to regulation and management is
effects, which change the Baltic Sea ecosystem shown in Figure 2.
and understanding the related consequences (e.g.
impacts, costs and benefi ts) for human commun-
Cooperation across national boundaries and
ities. The programme aims to promote stronger disciplines will be stimulated by prioritizing the
multi- and interdisciplinary research within the funding of research activities initiated and carried
Baltic Sea science community, while retaining core
out by at least two Baltic Sea States. Partners from
activities.
other Community States and third parties may
be funded in collaboration with Baltic Sea States
The programme aims at facilitating the when specifi c expertise or facilities, not existing in
dissemination of the science outputs for use by a
the Baltic Sea States, are brought into the project.
wider public including national and international
Annex 4 provides a defi nition of terms connected
advisory bodies and executive authorities. A with BONUS-169.
SCIENTISTS
ADVISORY
EXECUTIVVE
BODIES
AUTHORITIES
Relevant information
Tools
Scientifi c
Modelling
Predictive
Science-
Regulation and
research
and synthesis
capacity
based advice
management
International
International
International
scientifi c
scientifi c
scientifi c
publications
publications
publications
Figure 2. Summary of the activities and scientifi c output of BONUS-169 (delimited within section marked
`Scientists' with dark arrows) as well as societal use of the knowledge achieved in BONUS-169 (sections marked
`Advisory bodies' and `Executive authorities').
12
BONUS-169 will not fund repetitious baseline monitoring programmes. Such activities can be
and trend data collection within monitoring considered as scientifi c research and analysis and
programmes, such as statutory fi sh-stock
may be funded by BONUS-169.
assessment and water quality monitoring, which
is the task of the appropriate non-competitively Special attention is paid to data issues. BONUS-169
government-funded national and international will develop a Data policy towards open access of
authorities. The border between monitoring and
all programme data. In connection with reporting
science is diffuse by nature; for example, high-
of the research projects, metadata information
quality new scientifi c knowledge can be based on
about the data collected within the project must
analyses of long-term data series collected within
be delivered to BONUS-169. Thereafter, the data
monitoring programmes and new techniques can
must be made available in one or more common
be developed that subsequently can be used in public database(s) to be defi ned by BONUS-169.
Riku Lumiaro
13
4 Research Themes
The aims and issues focused on by the seven research Themes addressed by BONUS-169 are described as
follows:
Theme 1: Linking science and policy
This theme provides the major integrated analyses, syntheses and tools to ensure high usability
of the BONUS-169 research products for human society. The goal is to increase the quality and
relevance of the products for the benefi t of human society, and the responsiveness of the Baltic
Sea science community in supplying them.
The goal will be achieved by holistically synthesizing and widely disseminating sound and
objective scientifi c knowledge for better advice. This should focus on the importance of healthy
marine ecosystems, their relationship to humanity, and communication techniques, approaches
and models linking scientists, stakeholders and decision-makers. This will form a basis for
societal outreach and understanding, which underpins informed public opinion, development
of prudent policies and the political will for their implementation.
An integral part of the outcome includes formulating, evaluating and prioritizing appropriate
management objectives for prevention, mitigation and adaptation to detrimental impacts. This
includes identifying strategies and practical measures to achieve management objectives, as well
as devising tools to monitor progress and evaluate success.
An important foundation for achieving the goal lies in enhancing multidisciplinary cooperation
by bridging and joining together the knowledge bases that comprise the programme's six core
thematic areas (i.e. Ts 2-7). Stimulating the links within and between the constituent natural
and social sciences has a high priority.
BONUS-169 collaborative activities are solicited as individual and integrated projects,
and concerted actions at the overall programme level. Emphasis will be placed on outreach
collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders. Such activities include fostering dynamic and
interactive communication, dialogue and consultations using all available media, arranging
dedicated meetings and hybrid forums, and other opportunities.
BONUS-169 will actively support the mission the elaboration of environmental outlooks,
of the European Commission's Environment scenarios and models for investigating future
Directorate General (DG) and DG Fisheries developments and implications of policy actions,
and Maritime Affairs, HELCOM, the European
including human socioeconomic consequences.
Environment Agency, and the advisory function
Lessons learnt and best practices will be exchanged
of ICES with respect to implementing the Marine
with other European regional seas and regional seas
Strategy and Maritime Policy in the Baltic Sea. elsewhere.
The key programme outputs will advance the
implementation of the ecosystem approach to the
Environmental policy is made within a context
management of human activities15. This includes
of uncertainty and associated risk arising from
15 The defi nition of the EAM, according to HELCOM and OSPAR and agreed by the European Commission, is provided in Section 1 (Background) of
the Science Plan.
14
The sustainability issues are diverse and complex
and so the science and policy interface is shifting
from individualistic discipline/issue and segregated
sector-related science and management to more
holistic (i.e. integrated) and utility-focused. This
must cross sectoral research, management and
governance boundaries. Today research activities
and the funding of gaps in knowledge are shaped
and determined not only by scientists but also
by other actors in society who have various
intellectual and social backgrounds, motivations
and user requirements. This produces an increasing
demand and supply for more timely and practical
value-for-money knowledge that correspondingly
fosters closer, more interactive engagement
between researchers and those who fund and apply
research.
The outcomes of integrated environmental
assessments of current and future developments
will lead to holistic scientifi c information and
advice, lessons learnt and best practices to form the
Riku Lumiaro
basis for management options. All these issues must
imperfect knowledge. Science has a decisive role to
be widely communicated in a more consistent,
play in reducing the extent of that uncertainty. In
coherent and convincing manner in order to satisfy
managing risk and uncertainty, the best available
societal choice and acceptance criteria.
research and scientifi c evidence must underpin the
key knowledge input for all stages of the manage-
Key research issues are:
ment and regulatory cycle. Thus, scientifi c expertise
is a crucial element in the design, implementation
1) Development and application of the
and evaluation of the effi cacy of public policies,
ecosystem approach to management for the
as well as for fi nding ways to remedy and avoid
Baltic
Sea
detrimental effects of human activities.
The ecosystem approach to the integrated
Environmental and socioeconomic sustainability management of human activities (EAM) is
emphasizes the need for knowledge integration internationally accepted as a cornerstone policy for
and mobilization, dialogue and consultation with
promoting sustainable use of the seas by humans
a view to reaching accord, and wider collaboration
and conservation of healthy marine ecosystems18.
to address `real world' problems16. Policy should
The EAM considers the entire ecosystem including
be supported by excellence in marine science and
humans, with the goal of maintaining ecosystems
technology, and integration across all scientifi c
in a healthy, productive and resilient condition
themes and areas is essential for maximizing the
in order to provide a broad suite of the ecosystem
benefi ts from marine research17.
goods and services humans want and need.
16 United Nations 2002. Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development. Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August 4 September 2002. Report
No. A/CONF.199/20.
17 Speech `How can marine research contribute to the Maritime Policy?' by Commissioner Joe Borg at the European Parliament Conference on the Future
of European Marine Scientifi c Research, Brussels, Belgium, 17 October 2005.
18 Browman H.I. & K.I. Stergiou (Eds) 2005. Politics and socio-economics of ecosystem-based management of marine resources. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 300:
241-296.
15
In the European Union, the need for the prompt
Sea ecosystem, major research is needed. The
and effective implementation of the EAM is research outputs must support improved scientifi c
promoted by the 6th Environment Action knowledge and advice, advance holistically
Programme, the Common Fisheries Policy, and the
integrated ecosystem assessments of changing
Water Framework Directive. Moreover, the EAM
status and trends, and promote adaptive and cost-
forms a key element in support of the European
effective ecosystem-based management measures.
Marine Strategy and the European Maritime Policy
Areas of focus include:
through specifi
cally tailored ecoregion action
plans (e.g. Baltic Sea Action Plan of HELCOM).
· Together with Ts 2-7, developing a
The plans focus on the ambient environmental,
comprehensive approach to the concept of
economic, social and political aspects.
ecosystem health20, taking into account the
need to implement the EAM and using a variety
Sound ecosystem-based management must
of complementary measures to conserve and,
be founded on comprehensively and credibly
where necessary restore, the structure, function
integrating scientifi c data and knowledge that
and integrity of coastal and marine ecosystems.
involves the interactions between the ecosystem
It is important to identify and quantify major
and environmental components and the cumulative
naturally and human caused factors/stresses
impacts of different human activities.
that affect ecosystem health, incorporating
further developing and applying indicator-
Guidance on the application of the EAM in the
based systems (e.g. DPSIR21) in an integrated
European marine environment has been provided
manner. In this context, there is a need to
recently by an ICES and European Commission
establish a cohesive and comprehensible suite of
core group, as input to the development of the
indicators with target, precautionary, and limit
European Marine Strategy19. This guidance
reference points that should not be transgressed
covers all relevant notions required to start work
for specifi
ed ecosystem quality objectives.
on implementation of the EAM at regional levels
Also strategies (e.g. actions and measures) for
such as the Baltic Sea, whereby the establishment
achieving targets and ways to measure achieved
of a system of indicators, limits, reference points,
performance are needed. It is also important to
and targets will form the scientifi c basis for
establish `cause-and-effect' relationships, based
operationalizing the EAM.
on causal chain analyses, between those human
activities causing serious impacts on ecosystem
The EAM is an evolutionary and adaptive
components. Management/regulatory measures
process whose concept and implementation must
should aim to redress the causes of the
eventually be made profoundly simple and
pressures and also to achieve desired decreases
understandable to gain political and public support.
in the detrimental ecosystem effects. It is
Thus, the Baltic Sea science community has a vital
highly desirable to highlight the longer term
function in producing the RTD needed to provide
economic consequences of various management
the best available, politically impartial, scientifi cally
decisions.
objective knowledge and advice required by the
EAM. Accordingly, the EAM represents the primary
· Together with Ts 2-7, elaboration and
forum for linking science and policy.
application of novel rapid, cost-effective
integrated surveillance and assessment systems
To realize the aims of actively conserving, and
for the Baltic Sea ecoregion and its sub-systems.
when appropriate restoring, the health of the Baltic
This comprises the analysis of the essential
19 Rice J.R., V. Trujillo, S. Jennings, K. Hylland, O. Hagström, A. Astudillo & J. Nørrevang Jensen 2005. Guidance on the Application of the Ecosystem
Approach to Management of Human Activities in the European Marine Environment. ICES Cooperative Research Report No. 273. 22 pp.
20 Hopkins C.C.E. 2005. The concept of Ecosystem Health and association with the Ecosystem Approach to Management and related initiatives. ICES
BSRP/HELCOM/UNEP Regional Sea Workshop on Baltic Sea Ecosystem Health Indicators. 30 March 1 April 2005. Sopot, Poland.
21 Drivers, Pressures, State, Impacts and Responses assessment framework for organizing causal linkages information on the state of the environment.
DPSIR builds on the existing OECD model, and is applied by the European Environment Agency and HELCOM for analyzing the inter-related factors that
impact on the environment.
16
Futureimagebank.com
characteristics and changing environmental
cumulative effects24. Land- and sea-use planning
status and trends, analysis of the predominant
should bridge the land-sea interface, and indicate
natural and human induced pressures and
where impacts at sea need to be better taken into
impacts, and the social and economic analysis of
account in framing land-based activities. ICZM
use and the cost of environmental degradation.
requires robust indicators of sustainability that
There is a need to develop quick and effi cient
gauge the 'health' of the coast in relation to
systems for communicating the emerging
environmental, social and economic activity,
information and advice, including providing
and which minimize detrimental affects. These
early warnings, in a scientifi cally rigorous but
indicators must be based on rigorous scientifi c,
intelligible manner (c.f. GMES22 and EMMA
social and economic research, and form essential
initiatives).
tools for assessing the state of the coastal
environment. The indicators must be usable
· Together with Ts 2-7, advancing integrated
by managers and policy-makers to measure the
coastal zone management (ICZM) and marine
effectiveness of sustainability strategies.
spatial planning23. These are widely becoming
recognized as tools with a range of potential · Together with Ts 2-7, evaluating strengths and
benefi ts including reconciling different and
weaknesses of existing policies, governance
often competing objectives, delivering agreed
systems and management measures, and
priorities at various scales, better coordination
recommending improvements in organizatio-
between sectoral activities, and tackling
nal, institutional and governance frameworks.
22 Global Monitoring of Environment and Security & European Marine Monitoring and Assessment.
23 In 2002, European Member States adopted a Recommendation on implementing ICZM in Europe ((2002/413/EC).
24 Connolly N., J. de Leew, J. Mees, J.-F. Minster, T. Nepstad, K. Nittis, G. O'Sullivan, M. Ruivo & M. Webb (Eds) 2006. Navigating the future III: Updated
synthesis of the perspectives of marine sciences and technology in Europe. European Science Foundation Marine Board. 32 pp.
17
One of the central issues to be tackled by the
development of the Baltic Sea ecosystem. These
Maritime Policy will be the question of the
can be used for strategic planning and informing
overall governance framework through which
a wide variety of potential users, whereby marine
the users and uses of oceans and seas can be
conservation objectives can be better integrated
regulated. This is provisionally considered
with sustainable socioeconomic goals. The best
in the Green Paper on Maritime Policy, and
knowledge should be assembled with respect to
the governance arrangements foreseen in the
developing scenarios for an approximately 20-
Marine Strategy constitute a fi rst step. A broader
50 year time perspective.
governance framework is expected to also take
account of the highly diverse legal and political
The DPSIR framework needs to include the
specifi cities in the Baltic Sea and the other
following elements: practical application,
European regional seas.
review of social and economic drivers, and
cost and benefi t analyses of the scenarios using
2) Environmental outlooks, scenarios and
integrated biophysical socioeconomic models.
models for investigating future developments
It is important to outline the social, economic,
and implications of policy actions
political and environmental contexts behind
each scenario, as well as to link back changes in
Environmental outlooks, scenarios and models
the environment to socioeconomic drivers and
provide important and complementary approaches
policy options.
to analyzing how complex environmental and
human interactions may plausibly shape current
Estimates should be made of the likely changes
and future developments in the Baltic Sea
in key environmental and socioeconomic
ecosystem. They should include the effects on
variables (e.g. sea and atmospheric climate,
human livelihoods and welfare. Outlooks and
nutrient inputs, fi shing and maritime activities,
scenarios provide indispensable tools for assessing
pollution, changes in coastal landscape, social
options and for creating robust and longer term
attitudes) in order to support possible modelling
strategies for sustainable development25. They
work. The models should also examine wider
generate alternative visions in a complex system
impacts and their consequences, and mitigation
with uncertainty and provide decision-makers and
measures. Scenarios can play a central role in
stakeholders with a range of policy and management
public education and in focusing the policy
options to explore.
debate over what actions should be taken to
tackle current and anticipated changes to the
Environmental outlooks and scenarios provide a
ecosystem and related human activities.
basis for political discussions about which futures
society desires or may wish to avoid. Additionally,
· Together with Ts 2-7, development of
modelling represents an essential methodology
advanced, nested suites of diagnostic and
for actively synthesizing our knowledge of marine
prognostic models and extension of ecosystem
ecosystems. Models provide a potentially more
models, seamlessly integrating across modelling
precise, focused, and quantitative analytical tool
disciplines and the programme's thematic areas
to further explore and better understand the forces
to encompass the whole Baltic Sea basin. The
driving environmental change. They should be
models should include important mechanisms/
able to predict the impacts of recent and projected
processes, couplings, feedback and controls, and
pressures on the marine ecosystem and on human
interactions. The approach should aim to link
society26. Areas of focus include:
the Baltic regional understanding to the other
European regional seas and the wider global
· Together with Ts 2-7, formulating a series of
scale. This will contribute to the development
plausible future outlooks and scenarios for the
of predictive capacity for ocean systems and
25 Used as important sustainable development tools by organizations such as the EEA, GEF, OECD and UNEP.
26 Prandle D., H. Los, T. Pohlmann, Y.-H. de Roeck & T. Stipa (Eds) 2005. Modelling in coastal and shelf seas European challenges. European Science
Foundation, Marine Board Position Paper No. 7.
18
the success of internal and external programme
collaboration. Linking science and policy will be
more effective and comprehensive through access
to appropriate societal outreach schemes. This
relates to internal programme activities, as well
as to external affairs linking the programme with
the outside world and vice versa. Areas of focus
include:
· Together with Ts 2-8, developing and
applying knowledge systems for effectively
compiling and tracking considerable amounts
of complex information relating to the Baltic
Sea environment and ecosystem. This includes
facilitating `recall', integration and linking
information, and developing and providing
tools and networks that will help knowledge
workers obtain information on demand from
the programme. These should contribute to
developing approaches, tools and models for
synthesizing and analyzing information on
multiple marine environmental/ecological
disturbances, and should include quantifi cation
Futureimagebank.com/Pepe Fagerström
of fi nancial costs to society from losses of
sub-systems. Accordingly, the models should
resources, recreational opportunities, and in
provide contributions to the development of a
remedial actions. There should be continuous
comprehensive Earth System Model approach.
updating and sharing of information in relation
They will form an essential tool for assessing
to observed changes.
and predicting the impact of natural and human
induced pressures on the Baltic Sea ecosystem
· Together with relevant Ts 7 and 8 activities
and human society.
including interactions with stakeholders and
external affairs, identifying specifi c types of
Modelling should integrate diverse knowledge
scientifi c information and advice needed for
and data types across appropriate temporal
management and policy development. The
and spatial scales. Accordingly, they must
advice should be matched with research and
be underpinned by sustained, long-term
funding needs expressed by the scientifi c
observations, surveys and integrated community.
assessments of physical, chemical, biological
and socioeconomic parameters for interpreting
· Together with Ts 2-8, promoting active
variability and providing prognoses of future
participation from the programme's personnel in
changes.
scientifi c working groups, etc., in governmental
and non-governmental organizations. This will
3) Making a difference through dialogue,
promote the access by BONUS-169 to timely
consultation, and information exchange and
exchange of information and knowledge on
dissemination
major scientifi c issues of relevance to policy
development, management and regulation.
Development of interactive systems for effective
dialogue, consultation and information exchange,
· Together with Ts 2-7, establishing strategies
besides that more generally associated with
and synthesis activities to ensure that the
information dissemination, are essential for
programme's outputs are well-integrated in
19
a scientifi cally inclusive, rigorously objective
differing views and confl
icts of interest.
and credible manner across the programme's
Consultations between BONUS-169 and
core thematic areas. Thus, engagement in
stakeholders and users are necessary to build
national (e.g. individual Baltic Sea country) and
confi dence via mutual understanding and new
international (e.g. pan Baltic, Baltic Sea linking
partnerships. The scientifi c outputs, including
with other regional seas and with other scientifi c
new communication techniques, approaches
projects and programmes) forums should be
and models, should be published in appropriate
promoted.
scientifi c journals.
Activities can be, for example, seminars/
· In collaboration with Ts 7 and 8, identifying
workshops, study/working groups, education
stakeholders and their interests, concerns
and training courses, conferences, joint research
and motivations, including appropriate
cruises and laboratory exercises, and other
multi-level engagement activities to produce
networking activities, which will holistically
constructive change. This should, in turn, lead
validate, synthesize and discuss results
to the identifi cation of available resources and
concerning threats. Relevant topics could be
collaborative partnerships to achieve strategies.
risks and impacts, policy and management/
regulation objectives, and remedial measures Important aspects for synthesizing and
including combatting and control practices.
mobilizing knowledge for ecosystem-based
management in the Baltic Sea area include
These forums should develop techniques,
developing techniques, approaches and models
approaches and models for meaningful dialogue
for communication and engagement with
and consultations, including exchanges of
key actors in different sectors of society, and
moving across levels of governance and politics;
generating and integrating a diversity of ideas,
viewpoints and solutions; re-conceptualizing
and envisioning the future together with key
societal actors; providing forums for trust
building among actors; initiating projects
and selecting problems that can be turned
into possibilities; describing ways to infl uence
decision-makers to maintain/enhance
governance structures that allow for adaptive
co-management; exploring new system
confi gurations and alternative approaches to
governance; institutionalizing organizational
structures that can facilitate cross-scale
interactions; and development of composite
policies or solutions.
`Shadow networks', characterized by political
independence and out of the fray of regulation
and implementation, potentially represent places
for developing alternative policies, daring to
learn from each other and think creatively about
how to resolve environmental and economic
sustainability challenges. The new scientifi c
outputs, including new communication
techniques, approaches and models, should be
published in appropriate scientifi c journals.
20
Theme 2: Understanding climate change
and geophysical forcing
The goal is to improve the capacity to detect, understand and accurately predict how naturally
and human induced climate change and variability and direct human encroachment27 affects
the geophysical forcing of the biological and biogeochemical characteristics of the sea and
coasts. Such change and variability can be expected to have fundamental impacts on the status,
productivity, sustainability and biodiversity of coastal and offshore ecosystems, as well as on
human communities.
There is a clear need for the development of likely future Baltic Sea scenarios under consideration
of climate change and its interactions with human activities and settlements. A further aim is to
develop strategies for prevention, mitigation and adaptation to detrimental impacts.
· Analyzing the climate mechanisms, variability
Key research issues are:
and change over several centuries and providing
1) Analyses of historical and current climate
short to longer term climate projections for
change and direct human encroachment
the Baltic Sea basin. This includes developing
and validating more accurate oceanland
Climate is a consequence of interactions linking
atmosphere models for predicting future climate
the atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere and oceans,
status including periodic and abrupt variability
involving fl uxes of matter and energy among these
and changes, and distinguishing between natural
compartments28. The understanding of regional
and human-induced causes.
climate variability and change is a major goal of
research in shelf seas oceanography, meteorology
· Analyzing meteorological, oceanographic and
and hydrology.
hydrological forcing factors (e.g. magnitude and
periodicity in the North Atlantic Oscillation
The semi-enclosed Baltic Sea area is greatly
Index), and dynamics and variability of the
infl uenced by natural and human induced climate
processes affecting water mass exchange and
change and variability, and the impacts of direct
renewal (e.g. control of ventilation, residence
human encroachment on coastal and offshore
time of the deepwater, phosphorous and
areas, although their mechanisms and the resulting
nitrogen sinks, and dissolved oxygen
responses are insuffi ciently understood.
concentrations) and the water circulation
patterns in the Baltic Sea.
Our capacity to recognize and predict such change
and variability depends critically on our capability
· Examining the responses at the Baltic Sea
to measure, understand and realistically model the
regional, sub-regional and system levels to
relevant processes determining the water, energy
climate variability and change. These include
and geophysical cycles within and between system
abrupt responses to the shift of storm tracks,
components. Areas of research focus include:
abrupt/extreme climate change and climate
change through North Atlantic North Sea water
27 In the context of T 2, `human encroachment' applies to the physical impact (e.g. due to physical presence including disturbance of currents and water fl ow,
increased noise, vibration, electromagnetic waves) of motile and stationary man-made structures, and landscape/seascape alterations and other mechanical/
acoustical disturbances in coastal and offshore areas. Other aspects of human encroachment are examined in the other thematic areas of the Science Plan.
28 2001 International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Assessment Report; 2006 BALTEX Assessment of Climate Change for the Baltic Basin (BACC)
Initiative; Climate Change in the Baltic Sea area HELCOM Thematic Assessment in 2006: HELCOM Stakeholder Conference on the Baltic Sea Action
Plan, March 2006.
21
exchange affecting the intensity and frequency
ciently understood, such that the following research
of infl ow events, the amount of freshwater run-
areas need to be focused on:
off input and associated sediment/material
discharges, depth of mixing/mixed layer · Improving the understanding of internal
characteristics and boundary level fl uctuations
transport and thermohaline water mass
(e.g. thermocline and halocline), thermal effects
transformation. This includes the dynamics
(e.g. heating and cooling), the duration and
of infl ow events, inter-basin exchange, their
extent of sea-ice cover, the characteristics of
interaction with the ambient waters and their
atmospheric forcing and wave environment,
impact on the Baltic Sea circulation, mixing
including investigations by downscaling from
and hydrography. Other critical processes for
larger scale climate models, reconstruction of
the transport of energy and solutes on time
past Baltic Sea states from sediments, for the
scales ranging from seconds to centuries are
purpose of Baltic Sea climate reconstructions
internal wave dynamics, deep rim currents,
and predictions, and the analysis of natural and
topographically trapped subinertial waves,
human-induced climate changes.
their generation, propagation, transformation
and dissipation mechanisms as well as their
· Investigating and reconstructing the past of
impact on diapycnal mixing, including meso-
the Baltic Sea area by means of palaeoclimate
scale processes as effective isopycnal transport
records on millennium and centennial scales or
mechanisms.
analyzing historical hydrographic data on
centennial and decadal scales, in order to · Analyzing interface and boundary layer
a) comprehend long-term processes in the
dynamics including surface waves and their
region's climate system, with a view to better
impact on air-sea transport of momentum,
understanding current and future developments,
heat, fresh water and matter as well as their near-
including distinguishing between natural
shore effects. This also includes the near seabed
and human induced climate drivers, and b)
dynamics, such as sediment transport and the
understand and predict future developments,
exchange of momentum and matter within the
including changes in sea level and coastlines
bottom boundary layer and through the water-
related to human settlements and sustainable
sediment interface. Directly related to climate
development planning in the coastal zone.
change are processes near the sea surface such
as surface waves, sea-ice dynamics, the radiation
2) Deepening the understanding of processes
budget, the specifi c Baltic Sea winter conditions
relevant for the geophysical forcing of the
and thermodynamics and their impact on air-
ecosystem
sea exchange.
The building of predictive capacity for estimating
· Studying coastal and estuarine dynamics
the impact of naturally and human induced
and processes and interactions with the open
climate change and the impacts of direct human
sea, including the effects of rivers, estuaries,
encroachment on the Baltic Sea system requires
lagoons, straights, bays, islands, banks and other
a comprehensive and robust understanding of
morphology. Important aspects include river
processes relevant for the geophysical forcing
inputs and transport of dissolved and suspended
of the ecosystem. This means that the process
matter, their infl uence on water transparency
understanding must be profound enough to be
and primary production, jet and plume
valid not only under present conditions but also for
dynamics, fl
ooding, marginal fi lter effects
conditions dominant in the geological and more
and littoral-pelagic water exchange, sediment
recent past and for a wide range of conditions that
dynamics including wave-sediment interactions,
are likely to be relevant in the future. Numerous
and coastal erosion. This incorporates
complex processes relevant for the geophysical
prioritizing their role among other physical
forcing of the Baltic Sea ecosystem are insuffi -
factors governing the Baltic Sea ecosystem
22
dynamics and vulnerability to climate change.
An important objective is contributing to the
development of regional and sub-regional
physical-chemical-biological models.
· Improving understanding and modelling
capacity regarding the energy, water and
associated biogeochemical cycles affecting the
Baltic Sea and its surrounding watershed. A key
aspect of this includes setting the conditions
for biological distributions and productivity
modelling in the Baltic Sea.
· Development of advanced process-oriented
models, theories, and observation techniques
including remote sensing techniques, which
serve the research areas mentioned above and
which reproduce and analyze the fundamental
Baltic Sea key processes. Many of the standard
numerical models and observational techniques
are applicable for the Baltic Sea only in a limited
way, due to the sea's characteristics: such as the
strong stratifi cation, the narrow and shallow
entrances/exits or the winter water conditions,
which are all challenging for numerical
modelling; or the copious maritime traffi c and
intense fi sheries, the ionic composition of the
· In the area of operational meteorology,
Baltic Sea water, or the transient character of
oceanography and hydrology with respect
the Baltic Sea, which are all challenging to ship-
to climatic and geophysical variability and
based or moored observational techniques.
change, working to a) improve, coordinate
and harmonize observation and information
3)
Developing and applying innovative
systems including remote sensing techniques,
observation strategies, and operational
b) increase the quality of, and standardize, user-
forecasting and modelling systems
orientated operational products, c) provide
high quality data and long time-series required
It is important to make systematic observations of
to advance the scientifi c understanding of the
atmospheric, coastal terrestrial and sea parameters,
Baltic Sea basin, and d) provide data, products
including those of climate and geophysical forcing,
and forecasts for climate change research and
in order to improve integrated forecasting of the
risk management strategies and mitigation of
marine, atmospheric and coastal environments
periodic and abrupt/extreme events (e.g. storms
of the Baltic Sea basin. They are also needed for
and maritime accidents) that can cause serious
consolidating long-term observations for modelling
ecological and socioeconomic impacts. Large
and predictive purposes, establishing and applying
observing/surveillance/operational forecasting/
shared regional databases, and for providing regional
modelling networks should take into account
contributions to international programmes. Areas
GMES29 developments and provide a regional
of focus include:
dimension to G3OS30 and GEOSS31.
29 Global Monitoring for Environment and Security.
30 The three Global Observing Systems: Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS and its Baltic Operational
Oceanographic System, BOOS), and the Global Terrestrial Observing system (GTOS).
31 Global Earth Observing System of Systems.
23
· Integrating observations and knowledge into
harbours, bridges and tunnels, pipelines, wind
predictive models, metrics and indices, including
farms, platforms, piers, opening new high-speed
coupling observationally-driven models across
ferry links, prospecting/excavation/extraction
spatial and temporal scales and model types
of substrates and minerals (including dredging,
providing improved understanding of linkages
mining, oil and gas exploration and production),
between geophysical and biological models (e.g.
dumping, and impeding and diverting water-
regional climate models and food web models,
courses including dam-building, and other
regional climate infl uences on structure and
potential disturbances.
function of ecosystems and their components).
In order to have credible predictive capacity, Likewise, it is important to analyze and assess
operational and forecasting systems need to be
how the above-mentioned activities
based on process-orientated models, theories
constructions may be impacted by climate
and observational techniques (see key research
change and variability, particularly with respect
issue 2 above).
to potential detrimental environmental and
socioeconomic consequences. In all these
· Providing infrastructure and resources for
cases, it is desirable to develop scientifi cally
BONUS-169 programme-related projects
based measures and strategies for prevention,
advancing knowledge of relevance to
mitigation and adaptation to potential
environmental change prediction.
detrimental impacts.
4) Scenarios, predictions, risk assessments and
· Advancing understanding and predictive
response strategies: environmental, ecosystem
capacity about interactions and feedbacks among
and human consequences
climate, biogeochemical cycles and ecosystems,
including sensitivity to change by application
It is not only necessary to understand and predict
of observational, experimental, conceptual and
what the rate, magnitude and direction of natural
numerical modelling studies. Examples include
and human induced climate change and direct
the cycling (e.g. production, remineralization,
human encroachment will be at the regional and
transport and transformation) of matter and
sub-regional scales in the Baltic Sea, but also to
energy within and between compartments of the
assess and predict what the likely key environmental,
food web (e.g. from microbes to top predators)
ecosystem and human consequences of such change
concerning inter alia light, nutrients/nutritional
will be. It is prudent to incorporate scientifi cally-
components, cycles involving carbon and
based scenarios and models of climate and
methane, nitrogen, phosphorous, and sulphur;
variability, and direct human encroachment into
the impacts of harvesting regimes on food
management and regulatory decision-making.
webs, biogeochemical cycles and climate; and
Scenarios and models are needed for decisons
the role of biogeochemistry and ecosystems in
involving the conservation and utilization of
infl uencing the regional climate.
natural resources, and the planning and location of
human constructions. Such an approach provides
An important dimension includes under
-
greater prudence and resilience in tackling current,
standing the biology (e.g. physiology, bioche-
emerging and future challenges. Areas of research
mistry and reproduction) and distribution
focus include:
of marine organisms and biodiversity in relation
to their ambient environment. The marked
· Advancing understanding and predictive
hydrographic, geophysical and biogeochemical
capacity about environmental/ecological impact
gradients in the Baltic Sea area provide unique
and risk, on appropriate spatial and temporal
opportunities for applying both the comparative
scales, of human constructions, of landscape/
approach and controlled experiments in
seascape alterations and other mechanical/
examining organism reactions to changes and
acoustical disturbances in coastal and offshore
variability in environmental conditions and
areas. These comprise, for example, ports/
additionally for testing modelling performance.
24
· Advancing understanding and predictive
the past, present and potential future human
capacity concerning how climatic and
socioeconomic impacts and developments
geophysical changes affects the DPSIR32
connected with climate change and geophysical
system concerning nutrients/eutrophication,
forcing affecting the quantity and quality of
pollution, overexploitation of living resources,
ecosystem goods and services provided by the
and alteration of biodiversity, as well as the
Baltic Sea.
socioeconomic consequences of these changes.
In all cases it is desirable to develop scientifi cally
e)
In collaboration with T 7 and other
based measures and strategies for prevention,
Themes, contributing to the development
mitigation and adaptation to potential
of comprehensive Earth system models
detrimental impacts.
incorporating aspects of atmospheric dynamics,
ocean dynamics, land dynamics and hydrology,
The main areas of cooperation with other
ice dynamics, atmospheric chemistry, land
Themes include:
biogeochemistry and ocean biogeochemistry.
a) In collaboration with Ts 3-5, elaborating the f ) In collaboration with T 1 and other Themes,
climatic and geophysical basis determining
enhancing interactions with human society and
areas of specifi c and important biodiversity and
diverse user groups on climate and geophysical
biological productivity (e.g. sea-ice, upwelling
forcing impact assessments including providing
areas and frontal systems), including relating
information and advice to help mitigate
the importance of these areas/systems/habitats
detrimental impacts.
for microbial and primary productivity, and
associated abundances of secondary producers/
g) In collaboration with T 8, developing communal
grazers and their consumers such as foraging
observational and data acquisition techniques
concentrations of fi sh, waterbirds and marine
and tools including databases, and data quality
mammals.
control and data analysis tools concerning
combined physical and biogeochemical
b) In collaboration with Ts 3-6, developing
measurements that suit the specifi c charact-
coupled physical-biogeochemical models that
eristics of the Baltic Sea environment and the
explain and predict the distribution/prevalence
needs of the Baltic Sea research community.
and transport in the Baltic Sea of microbes
including pathogens and diseases, nutrients/
eutrophication, and pollutants, and pelagic
biota such as phytoplankton (including harmful
algal blooms), zooplankton, fi sh eggs and larvae,
and alien (i.e. non-indigenous) organisms, and
which bridge the gap between fi sh and ecosystem
models.
c) In collaboration with Ts 3 & 5, investigating
how climate change and geophysical forcing
directly and indirectly modifi es the inputs,
transport, dispersion/retention, transformation
and deposition, bioavailability of nutrients and
pollutants.
d) In collaboration with Ts 1 and 3-7, examining
with the aid of integrative scenarios and models
32 Drivers, Pressures, State, Impacts and Responses.
25
Theme 3: Combatting eutrophication33
The goal is to investigate the origins and inputs, transport and distribution, together with
biogeochemical transformation and cycling of nutrients within the ecosystem, with a view
to understanding the causes and impacts of eutrophication at relevant spatial and temporal
scales on the coastal and offshore ecosystems and human communities in the Baltic Sea region.
A further aim is to develop predictive capacity through advanced model systems including
climate change, and to elaborate scientifi cally-based measures for assessing and mitigating
the environmental risks and consequences of eutrophication. The mitigation includes novel
approaches and methods to reduce nutrient inputs.
Interpretation of the results should take account of
· Investigations of hydrological and biogeo-
the special abiotic (e.g. hypoxia, anoxia, low salinity,
chemical processes and biological productivity
low temperature, limited water exchange) and
moderated by climate variability and change
biotic characteristics that predominate at particular
that affect the inputs and loads, origins,
temporal and spatial scales in the Baltic Sea basin
transport and dispersion, fl ux and mass balances
and drainage area.
governing the temporal and spatial (e.g. sub-
regional) prevalence of eutrophication.
Key research issues are:
· Characterization
and
quantifi cation of relevant
1) Inputs and origins, distributions, fl ux and
abiotic and biotic background levels and
mass balances of nutrients
reference conditions in diverse sub-regions,
including long-term historical/retrospective
Eutrophication, caused mainly by excessive
analyses (e.g. paleoecological techniques), as
human-induced inputs of nitrogen and phosphorus
a basis for assessing and understanding past,
since the mid-19th century, is a characteristic
present and future nutrient and eutrophication
feature of most coastal and offshore areas of the
dynamics and trends. The outcome also should
Baltic Sea. Currently, discharges and emissions
contribute to the ability to appropriately defi ne
involving agriculture34 and forestry, aquaculture,
and verify `good environmental status' with
households, industry and traffi c, continue to
respect to nutrients in the Baltic Sea sub-regions
provide substantial loads of nutrients in coastal
under changing situations.
and open waters, via rivers, direct discharges,
diffuse losses, and deposition from the atmosphere.
· Comprehending and predicting how episodic
Forming a foundation for effectively reducing
hydrodynamic events (e.g. run-off, infl ows
eutrophication, advanced scientifi c knowledge
and fl ushing) as well as littoral, benthic and
is needed on the manner in which abiotic and
pelagic ecosystems modify nutrient cycling and
biotic driving forces and pressures in the drainage
its stoichiometry, with respect to patterns of
basin and the sea, including their coupling and
nutrient surplus, balance and limitation. These
interactions, determine the amounts and relative
aspects may be further elaborated through
levels (e.g. elemental ratios) and bioavailability of
modelling scenarios.
macronutrients (N, P, Si) and micronutrients in
the water and sediments of the Baltic Sea. Areas of
· The unique characteristics of the Baltic Sea
focus include:
call for increased understanding of the role of
33 Defi ned by the EC Urban Waste Water Directive (91/271/EEC) as "enrichment of water by nutrients, especially compounds of nitrogen and/or
phosphorus, causing an accelerated growth of algae and higher forms of plant life to produce undesirable disturbance to the balance of organisms present
in the water and to the quality of water concerned"
34 The UNEP 2005 GIWA Regional Assessment No. 17 Baltic Sea identifi es the contribution of nutrients from the agricultural sector as remaining an im-
mediate cause of the eutrophication in the region.
26
the pelagic food web in the context of nutrient
· Developing and verifying analyses and models
limitation and stoichiometry, with nitrogen-
(e.g. dose-response) linking nutrient loads
fi xing cyanobacteria as an important, but not
and elemental ratios to ecological impacts at
an isolated, functional component. Likewise,
different organizational, spatial and temporal
the exceptionally important pelagic-benthic
scales, as a basis for aiding selection of appro-
coupling of the Baltic Sea encompassing the
priate management options. These analyses and
interaction between seafl oor and water column
models also should aim at verifying possible
processes, interplay of sedimentation fl uxes,
non-linear regime shifts within the ecosystem,
bottom water oxygen conditions, and benthic
and be capable of identifying corresponding
nutrient release modifi es nutrient mass
drivers for these shifts.
balances and consequently limitation patterns,
necessitating better comprehension of their ·
Developing integrated ecological-socio
-
controlling mechanisms.
economic analyses, scenarios and models
regarding the cost-benefi t of the historical
2) Effects and consequences of eutrophication in
progression of eutrophication in the Baltic Sea
the ecosystem
as well as the potential effects of eutrophication
abatement options.
The Baltic Sea is pervasively affected by
eutrophication, but there is a lack of innovative
3) Scientifi c strategies for improving
scientifi c knowledge (e.g. cause-and-effect studies,
surveillance, assessment and management
causal chain analyses) that clearly demonstrates
and predicts how eutrophication either alone or
International policy and agreements (e.g. via
together with other environmental pressures alters
EC Marine Strategy and related Directives, and
the structure, function and integrity of the Baltic
HELCOM Convention) for limiting eutrophic-
Sea ecosystem, and affects human communities.
ation in the Baltic Sea aim inter alia at substantially
Areas of focus include:
reducing particular nutrient discharges and emis-
sions with a view to achieving `good environmental/
· Enhancing knowledge on the wide-ranging ecological status'. This requires the implementation
effects of eutrophication on the environment,
of novel and improved (e.g. responsive, coherent
ecosystems and their biota including effects and cost effective) scientifi cally-based measures
on the pelagic and benthic/littoral food in the drainage basin and in the sea, for point
webs and at various levels of biological and and diffuse sources to determine the success of
ecological organization, e.g. opening new management-related actions to meet specifi ed
niches for indigenous, but so far subordinate,
environmental targets. Accordingly, there is a need
species including potentially harmful species for innovative research and development to deliver
(e.g. harmful algal blooms) as well as for an improved capacity to assess and predict the
non-indigenous species introduced to the changing status and trends related to eutrophication
ecosystem.
at the appropriate temporal and spatial scales, and
also to devise sub-regionally and locally applicable
· Understanding and predicting the effects of management and remedial (e.g. load reduction,
eutrophication in relation to system/regime restoration of wetlands) measures. Areas of focus
changes connected with climate variability include:
and change, pollution, overfi shing and
degradation of habitats and altered land-use · Elaborating, harmonizing and verifying
(e.g. agricultural practices), including changing
appropriately justifi ed and effective surveillance
inputs and loadings, transport, retention and
methods and strategies, nutrient scenarios and
transformation of nutrients and associated
models for assessment and predicting human-
modifi cation of biogeochemical and ecological
and naturally induced nutrient loading into
characteristics, processes and responses.
the drainage basin and coastal and offshore
27
· Developing integrated ecological-economic
analyses and models of the causes and mecha-
nisms of nutrient inputs to the Baltic Sea from
point and diffuse sources and developing cost-
effi cient means for eutrophication abatement at
the national and transboundary levels.
The main areas of cooperation with other
Themes include:
a) In collaboration with T 2, investigating how
geophysical forcing, including climatic variabi-
lity and change, directly and indirectly modifi es
the inputs, transport and dispersion of nutrients
at pertinent temporal and spatial scales, with
a view to understanding and predicting sub-
regional and local eutrophication status.
Maija Huttunen/FIMR
b) In collaboration with T 4, investigating how
waters. This also includes further developing
the aquatic ecosystem associated with fi sheries
and testing normalized indices and ecological
and aquaculture, and seafood, is affected by
quality objectives/indicators, use of new
eutrophication and vice versa.
technologies and analyses, and improved
integration of surveillance and sector-based c) In collaboration with T 5, examining how
information, for demonstrating nutrient and
ecosystems, and the goods and services provided
eutrophication effects in an operational context
by their biodiversity, are affected by and
(e.g. for use with the EC Water Framework
respond to eutrophication on different levels of
Directive and the Marine Strategy Directive,
diversity.
and by HELCOM).
d) In collaboration with Ts 2 & 6, studying how
· Elaborating, harmonizing and verifying
eutrophication interacts with and modifi es
appropriately justifi ed and effective manage-
biogeochemical cycles affecting toxicity of
ment strategies and remedial measures,
pollutants.
including eutrophication abatement/nutrient
load manage ment strategies within the Baltic
e) In collaboration with T 1 and T 7, examining
Sea and its catchment area, and the development
with the aid of integrative scenarios and models
and application of decision support systems
the past, present and potential future human
to calculate and predict the consequences of
socioeconomic impacts and developments
various multi-criteria management decisions on
connected with eutrophication affecting the
the state of the environment and the associated
quantity and quality of ecosystem goods and
socioeconomic costs and benefi ts for achieving
services.
a desired (e.g. target) environmental status.
f ) In collaboration with T 1 and T 8, and other
· Enhancing integration of research, surveillance,
appropriate Ts, synthesizing and preparing
assessment, management and policy operations
information and advice for diverse user groups,
with respect to further developing and applying
including policy- and decision-makers on
a coherent eutrophication-related DPSIR35
the need to combat eutrophication with a
framework/thematic matrix.
view to enhancing the health of the Baltic Sea
ecosystem.
35 Driving forces, Pressures, State, Impacts, and Responses
28
Theme 4: Achieving sustainable fi sheries36
The goal is to develop and transfer scientifi c knowledge for achieving responsible and effective
ecosystem-based management37 of fi sheries and aquaculture, and to develop an improved
information system for producers, processors, retailers and consumers of seafood products that
arise from sustainable practices in healthy ecosystems.
stock/population structure and dynamics
Key research issues are:
in relation to the impact of fi sheries and
1) Developing
the
scientifi
c basis for
environmental/climatic regime changes.
implementing the ecosystem approach to
fi sheries management
· Conducting retrospective analyses to describe,
understand and disentangle the human and
Modern resource management requires broader
naturally induced causes of historical variations
scientifi
c understanding and prediction of
in fi sh stocks and fi sheries-related dynamics. Use
ecosystem effects that go beyond the direct impact
of alternative sources of data, such as historical
of fi shing on commercially important target
records, is encouraged to extend time series.
species38 39. Accordingly, account needs to be taken
of the wider direct and indirect effects of fi shing
· Developing and applying simple yet robust
activities and the impact of particular fi sheries
and informative indicators characterizing
and their deployed gear on target and non-
the sustainability of the fi sheries, involving
target species and their habitats (e.g. seabed) and
ecological quality and socioeconomic reference
on the structure and function of the ecosystem,
points including the target stocks and non-
including the infl uence of environmental change
target species, their environment and habitat,
and variability (e.g. climate and pollution) on
and exploitation levels and their effects (e.g.
the productivity of the harvested stocks and the
viability of the fi sheries, specifi c fi sh stocks and
ecosystems sustaining these stocks. Areas of focus
sustaining endangered migratory stocks).
include:
· The emerging knowledge should be used to
· Acquiring, and integrating, new fundamental
produce advances in the development and
knowledge and data not only on the population
application of single species and multispecies
biology and community relationships of species
fi sh stocks into ecosystem models, with a view
or species groups/assemblages targeted by
to bridging the gap between fi sheries and
harvesters, but also those indirectly affected by
ecosystem models with linkages to lower (e.g.
the harvesting process and those identifi ed as
plankton and benthos) and higher (e.g. water-
critical to food chain dynamics. This embraces
birds and marine mammals) trophic levels.
the acquisition and synthesis of innovative data
and knowledge on life history, vertical and · Developing and applying improved technical
horizontal distribution patterns, trophic and
measures for fi shery management, including
other multispecies relationships, physiology,
selectivity and technological devices, as well as
growth, mortality including pathogens
fi shing practices, that minimize by-catches and
and diseases, reproduction including early
discards of non-target and undersized target
development/recruitment and maturity, habitat
species, and reduce physical impacts on the
utilization, as well as novel information on
seabed and habitats.
36 The EC Common Fisheries Policy includes both capture fi sheries and aquaculture.
37 The EAM is defi ned in Section 1 of the Science Plan.
38 Statement of Conclusions. Intermediate Ministerial Meeting on the Integration of Fisheries and Environmental Issues. 13-14 March 1997, Bergen, Nor-
way.
39 FAO 2003. The ecosystem approach to fi sheries. FAO Technical guidelines for responsible fi sheries No. 4. Suppl. 2. FAO, Rome.
29
·
Investigating the operational activities, · Designing and evaluating alternative policies
behaviour and development of fi shing fl eets,
for effective management of sustainable
including fl eet specifi c effort allocation, capacity
fi sheries, including integrated actions involving
development and catch (including by-catch)
limitation of total effort and catch, better
composition with respect to appropriate spatial
structuring of fi shers rights and responsibilities,
and temporal resolution, as prerequisites for
use of individual fi shing quotas and permits/
the application of fl eet-based spatially explicit
licences and bans (e.g. discarding), application
multispecies assessment models, facilitating
of technical measures including changes of
the estimation of uncertainties in hind-,
selectivity and substitutions of gear, development
now- and forecasting of stocks and fi sheries
of harvest rules, establishment of marine
and considering natural and human induced
protected areas including closed areas and no-
variability and change.
take zones, and implementing ecolabelling/
certifi cation schemes.
· Critical evaluation of the performance of
scientifi c advisory and management systems 2) Assessment and mitigation of the ecosystem
for achieving sustainable fi sheries, involving
impacts of aquaculture
investigations of the strengths and weaknesses
of the scientifi c knowledge production (e.g.
Although there are numerous benefi ts from
research, surveillance, assessment and advisory
aquaculture, the environmental impacts can
processes) and policy and decision-making be diverse and substantial. Accordingly, it is
(e.g. management and regulatory) systems necessary to scientifi cally investigate, identify and
and reaction of stakeholders (e.g. regulatory understand the nature and causes of these impacts
compliance by the fi shery). Clear analyses of the
and to elaborate appropriate mitigatory measures
use of scientifi c advice by managers, including
to ensure that aquaculture activities have minimal
the degree of adherence to the advice and the
environmental impacts. Areas of focus include:
grounds for deviations from the advice, are also
desirable.
Photo: Pauline Snoeijs
30
· Understanding the local ecosystem-related · Documenting the human nutritional and health
effects of nutrients, organic materials and
benefi ts of consuming safe seafood products.
chemicals, including antibiotics and biocides,
from aquaculture facilities and developing · Advancing knowledge concerning contamin-
innovative, cost-effective and environmentally
ation and infection of seafood products by
friendly measures to limit inputs to the eco-
chemical and biological agents (e.g. parasites
system and their effects.
and bacteria), and providing risk-benefi t health
analyses for fi sh consumption.
· Investigations of the dynamics of stock
movements (e.g. introductions and transfers) · Developing operational approaches and
of cultivated species including understanding
technologies to detect, assay and diminish
the effects of the loss of `escapee' organisms that
toxins, contaminants and residues.
may impair gene pools, transfer parasites and
diseases, and compete for food and habitats in
· Developing certifi
cation schemes (e.g.
the wild.
ecolabelling, organic production) to attain
sustainable practices for fi sheries and aqua-
· Conducting investigations of bacterial, viral
culture, offering a market- and information-
and parasitological pathogenesis in and
based system for consumers of products that
around aquaculture systems and developing
are healthy, safe, and of good quality, as well
environmentally friendly and effective methods
as promoting high animal health and welfare
to guard against or control economically
standards.
important pathogens and diseases affecting
aquaculture organisms and spreading to the The main areas of cooperation with other
surrounding environment and ecosystem.
Themes include:
· Developing new and improved diets that are a) In collaboration with T 2, investigating how
from environmentally sustainable sources, cost-
environmental forcing (e.g. climatic variability)
effective and sustain favourable growth.
directly and indirectly affects the living resources
and the aquatic environment upon which
3) Improving food safety and risk assessments,
fi sheries and aquaculture depend.
and developing dependable information
systems for producers, retailers and consumers
b) In collaboration with T 3, studying how
of seafood products.
eutrophication affects fi sh
population
dynamics, the production and sustainability
The consumption of safe and sustainable seafood
of fi sheries and aquaculture, and how fi sheries
products from capture fi sheries and aquaculture
and eutrophication interact to affect the produc-
provides an important contribution to maintaining
tivity and characteristics of ecosystems.
human health, food security and socioeconomic
welfare, as well as providing incentives to conserve
c) In collaboration with T 5, examining how
the quality and sustainability of the environment
the characteristic structure and function of
and ecosystems upon which such products depend
ecosystems, and their associated biodiversity,
on. Accordingly, there is a need to improve
are affected by fi sheries and aquaculture and, in
the collection, analysis and dissemination of
turn, how healthy ecosystems and their
scientifi cally credible information and knowledge
biodiversity support sustainable fi sheries and
about the health, safety, quality and sustainability
aquaculture.
issues connected with the harvesting and
production, processing, retailing and consumption
d) In collaboration with T 6, investigating how
of seafood products. Areas of focus include:
the aquatic environment including fi sh and
shellfi sh, fi sheries and aquaculture, as well as
seafood, is affected by pollution.
31
e) In collaboration with T 7, examining the past,
understanding about the dependence of
present and potential future co-evolution of
sustainable fi sheries and aquaculture on the
fi sheries and aquaculture and their associated
conservation of healthy ecosystems through
human communities, changing natural
application of the ecosystem approach to
resources and their environment.
management of human activities, and also
taking into account the infl uences of naturally
f ) In collaboration with T 1 and T 8, and other
induced environmental variability.
relevant Ts, developing and disseminating
32
Theme 5: Protecting biodiversity40
The goal is to describe, assess and characterize the biodiversity of the Baltic Sea region with
a view to improving our understanding of ecosystem structure and functional dynamics,
evolutionary processes, and the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functions. A
comparative approach should be applied to examining patterns along gradients at a range of
temporal and spatial scales.
A further aim is to advancing our knowledge and predictive capacity concerning the impacts of
naturally and human induced pressures including climate change on biodiversity and on
the goods and services arising from coastal and offshore ecosystem41. There is also a need to in-
vestigate and improve the effi cacy of scientifi cally-based management measures for conserving
and, where appropriate, restoring biodiversity.
change and loss of biodiversity, and identify
Key research issues are:
and quantify the natural and human induced
1) Understanding indigenous biodiversity and
drivers of such change and loss, with a view
assessing status and trends including change
to understanding the causative processes and
and loss
ultimate consequences for biodiversity.
The biodiversity of the Baltic Sea area is · Progressing knowledge (theoretical, experi-
substantially lower in terms of species richness than
mental, and empirical) of evolutionary and
other sea areas of comparable size, refl ecting the
ecological processes that regulate biodiversity
sea's short post-glacial ecological history involving
and affect the resilience and recovery of
colonization by immigrants of marine species,
communities and ecosystems, as a basis for
freshwater species and glacial relicts. Gradients in
enhancing the capability to predict future
the natural environment and ubiquitous human-
biodiversity change. This incorporates
induced pressures affect the biodiversity of the
constructing conceptual and mathematical
Baltic Sea ecosystem, including the spatial and
models on ecosystem functioning, based on new
temporal abundance and distributions of plant
and existing biodiversity data.
and animal species. To conserve biodiversity in the
Baltic Sea area, research focus includes:
· Developing concepts, scenarios and predictive
models to examine the impacts of biodiversity
· Advances in comprehensively measuring,
change at the population, community and
characterizing and providing enumerations
ecosystem levels, including the goods and services
of biodiversity, incorporating essential building
that ecosystems provide, and investigating
blocks such as recognition and understanding
ecosystem resource limits and human societal
of the structural and functional role of
impacts.
biodiversity through applying, and where
appropriate integrating, genetic and molecular,
· Elaborating ecological quality indicators and
taxonomic and biosystematic, biological,
their metrics for evaluating the impacts of
ecological, and population dynamics and
human pressures on biological diversity, as well
bioeconomic methods and approaches. These
as establishing targets and limits for long-term
should improve the capacity to recognize
conservation and remedial measures.
40 In the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity the term means "the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial,
marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of
ecosystems." In essence, biological diversity according to this interpretation is defi ned on the levels of 1) genes, 2) species and 3) ecosystems.
41 Including also the habitats of diadromous species.
33
2) Conservation of habitats and their associated
· There is a need to apply analytical, empirical
species and communities
and modelling tools for establishing inventories
of habitat-related biodiversity in coastal and
Conservation of habitats is vital for protecting the
offshore areas with a view to identifying loss of
species that are dependent on the habitats for their
biodiversity and setting conservation priorities
viability. Substantial degradation, fragmentation,
at the appropriate spatial and temporal scales.
and eventual loss of habitats in the Baltic Sea
area together with associated threats to their · The scientifi c basis should be elaborated for
characteristic faunal and fl oral communities have
developing and evaluating the effectiveness,
become increasingly evident over the past centuries
through trials and experiments, of techniques
due to a range of encroaching human activities and
and practices (e.g. marine protected areas and
changes in climate. Accordingly, the conservation
reserves) for rehabilitating, restoring or creating
of habitats is a rapidly growing need with regard to
productive habitats for fauna and fl ora.
the protection of biodiversity. To conserve habitats
in the Baltic Sea area, research focus includes:
3) Combatting alien organisms42
· Providing enhanced knowledge of the Invasive alien species (IAS, also called introduced,
characteristics of particular pelagic and benthic
non-indigenous, exotic, etc.) are one of the primary
habitats, and the distinguishing features of their
and growing environmental concerns affecting the
associated biological communities, occurring conservation of biodiversity, including impacts
in coastal and offshore areas. With respect to
on ecosystems, habitats and their associated
habitats, this necessitates comprehensively species (Convention on Biological Diversity
integrating information and data regarding the
and HELCOM). IAS threaten biodiversity,
physical, chemical, geological and biological alter ecosystem processes, act as vectors for new
surroundings that support healthy, self-
parasites and diseases, and cause socioeconomic
sustaining populations and communities of consequences for humans.
living resources.
The vectors facilitating the introductions and
· A major aspiration is to reveal the dynamics spreading of aquatic IAS include transport via
of the major coastal and offshore habitats shipping-related ballast water discharge and hull
and biotopes, and to understand the role of fouling, the aquaculture and aquarium industries,
healthy habitats in providing ecological goods
tourism and recreational activities, and removal of
and services, and to quantify the responses of
natural barriers (e.g. construction of man-made
habitats and their biodiversity to natural and
canals).
human induced changes.
The proportion of introduced species, relative to
A key objective is to assess the relative impor -
the total number of indigenous species, is high in
tance of combinations of environmental the Baltic Sea area: since the early 1800s more than
variables in determining the incidence of 100 alien species have been recorded, of which
particular habitats, and to develop, validate more than 50 have been registered in the 20th
and apply techniques to survey, model and century and are colonizing new areas at a rapid rate.
predict the occurrence of habitats, with a In the brackish conditions, horizontal and vertical
view to producing probability maps of habitat
gradients provide the IAS of different origin with
distributions, founded on the interactions an extended range of hospitable conditions. To
between environmental parameters and the combat IAS in the Baltic Sea area, research focus
distribution of biological communities.
includes:
42 Defi ned as a species, subspecies, or lower taxon occurring outside of its natural range and dispersal potential (i.e. outside the range it occupies naturally or
could not occupy without direct or indirect introduction or care by humans) and includes any part, gametes or propagule of such species that might survive
and subsequently reproduce (1999 IUCN Guidelines for the Prevention of Biodiversity Loss Due to Biological Invasion).
34
· Improving the scientifi c capacity to predict risks
goods and services provided by their biodiversity,
and spreading of IAS, as well as for devising
are affected by and respond to climatic and
optimal measures for regulating, controlling
geophysical forcing on short to longer term
and eradicating IAS.
scales.
· Developing strategies and measures to reduce
b) In collaboration with T 3, investigate how the
risks to biodiversity from introductions and
structure and function of ecosystems are affected
transfers of IAS. Such capability depends
by and respond to nutrient loading.
on enhanced knowledge of life histories and
biology, ecology and multispecies interactions,
c) In collaboration with T 4, examine how the
physiology, genetics and genomics, taxonomy
characteristic structure and function of eco
and biosystematics, area of origin, vector of
systems, and the goods and services provided by
introduction, distribution history in the region
their biodiversity, sustain fi sheries and, in turn,
and specifi c area, ecosystem functioning and
how fi shing activities directly and indirectly
abiotic environmental and habitat preferences,
impact ecosystems and their biodiversity.
risks concerning ecological and socioeconomic
impacts, and best practices for eradication and
d) In collaboration with T 6, examine how
control.
ecosystems, and the goods and services provided
by their biodiversity, are affected by and respond
· Elaborating and applying techniques and
to pollutants on different levels of diversity.
methodologies, including models, for environ-
mental impact assessments and risk analysis e) In collaboration with Ts 1, 7 & 8, strengthening
concerning IAS, comprising quantifying and
interactions with the wider public and decision-
predicting the role of different vectors (e.g.
makers, and outlining and further developing
shipp aculture) and pathways affecting the
schemes for educational, capacity-building
introduction and spread of IAS; establishing
and outreach activities for emphasizing
the scientifi c basis for developing effective
the dependence of human socioeconomic
early warning and rapid response systems
sustainability on ecological sustainability. There
(e.g. developing GIS-based mapping, and
is a need to strengthen interactions with decis-
developing scientifi cally-based surveillance,
ionmakers and wider society, with emphasis on
assessment and information dissemination)
the need to conserve, and where appropriate
for new unwanted (black-listed) introductions,
restore, biodiversity. Better awareness and
including development of prudent and effective
understanding must be promoted amongst a
control, combatting and eradication measures;
wide group of stakeholders in society as to how
and evaluation of legislative systems and their
the goals of numerous international agreements
performance. In addressing these objectives, it is
and instruments concerning biodiversity may
desirable to foster closer collaboration between
be applied at local, national, and regional scales
the natural, technological and socioeconomic
through appropriate research, policies, litigation
sciences.
and regulatory practices.
The main areas of cooperation with other
Themes include:
a) In collaboration with T 2, investigate how the
structure and function of ecosystems, and the
35
Theme 6: Preventing pollution43
The goal is to investigate and forecast the inputs and origins, transport and dispersion,
biogeochemical cycling and fate of key pollutants44 in the Baltic Sea and the effects on the
ecosystem and its biota. A further aim is to elaborate scientifi cally-based measures for assessing
and mitigating the environmental risks from pollution.
Interpretation of the results should take account of
· Detection and quality assured measurements
the special abiotic (e.g. hypoxia, anoxia, low salinity,
of novel and emerging substances and
low temperature, limited water exchange) and
environmental toxins, including development
biotic characteristics that predominate at particular
of rapid and effective assessment techniques.
temporal and spatial scales in the Baltic Sea area.
2) Detecting and predicting effects of pollutants
on populations, communities and ecosystem
Key research issues are:
1) Inputs, distributions, fl ux and mass balances
In order to fully understand the consequences
of pollutants
of pollution on the Baltic Sea ecosystem it is
insuffi cient to collect information regarding the
There is increasing evidence that the Baltic Sea presence and distribution of pollutants in water,
environment is a sink for many pollutants, either
sediments and biota. There is a pressing need
originating from local and regional sources or from
for advanced knowledge about the various
extraneous introduction by advective processes, via
biological and ecological impacts caused by expo-
various vectors including airborne transport and
sure to existing and novel/emerging pollu
tants
land-based run-off. In order to reduce and limit
from the level of sub-cellular systems to ecosystems,
pollution effectively, solid scientifi c knowledge is
including the potential for transfer or accu-
needed inter alia on the identity, sources/origins
mulation in the food web. Areas of focus include:
and amounts and rates of inputs, and accumulation
of pollutants in the environment and biota. Areas
· Enhancing knowledge on the effects of pollutants
of focus include:
on the ecosystem and its biota, including in the
food web and at various levels of biological and
· Studies of inputs, origins, transport, dispersion,
ecological organization.
fl ux and mass balance, and fate of pollutants,
including elaborating biogeochemical cycles · Development and application of biological
of pollutants in sampling matrixes (i.e. water,
effects methods, including biomarkers and
sediment, and biota).
bioindicators (e.g. biochemical, physiological,
pathogenic/parasitological, genetic/mutagenic,
·
Characterization and quantifi cation
of
ontogenic and reproductive, molecular and
background levels and reference conditions for
cellular, organ, individual and population levels)
pollutants.
related to various pollution stressors.
· Historical/retrospective analyses for assessing · Improving risk assessments and environmental
and understanding past environmental
impact assessments of exposures to pollutants,
pollution trends.
including use of integrated ecotoxicological
43 Marine pollution is defi ned as "Introduction of man, directly or indirectly, of substances or energy into the marine environment (including estuaries) re-
sulting in such deleterious effects as harm to living resources, hazard to human health, hindrance to marine activities including fi shing, impairment of quality
for use of seawater, and reduction of amenitie" (GESAMP 1987)
44 For example, heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, artifi cial radionuclides, oil pollution, acoustic pollution, litter and garbage, and sewage. Polluti-
on by excessive nutrients, including related production of organic matter, is considered under Theme 3. Studies regarding the intake of contaminants and
nutritional factors associated with the consumption of fi sh and other aquatic food products by humans and their health implications are considered under
Theme 4.
36
assessments and better forecasting of combined
· Elaborating a comprehensive and integrated
biological effects of current and novel/emerging
`multilevel toolbox' approach for enhancing
contaminants and complex contaminant
assessments, encompassing contaminant
`cocktails' (e.g. synergistic mixtures of substances/
concentrations, biological effects/biomarkers,
chemicals).
bioassays, combined effects of contaminants,
modeling, long-term effects and risk assess-
· Understanding and predicting the effects of
ments.
pollution in relation to system changes, e.g.
climate variability and change, eutrophication,
· Developing more scientifi cally robust appro
-
etc., including modifi
cation of transport,
aches for environmental risk/impact assessment
retention and transformation, bioaccumulation
and management that can be applied pros-
and toxicity of pollutants; effects on naturally
pectively (for prevention) and retrospectively
occurring matter (e.g. humic substances, algal
(for remediation).
toxins, nutrients, metals) and their role in the
transport process of pollutants; and modifi cation
· Developing appropriately justifi ed and priori-
of biological and ecological characteristics,
tized scientifi
cally-based and cost-effective
processes and responses.
remedial measures, including pollution
abatement/waste management strategies for
3) Scientifi c strategies for improving
point and non-point sources.
surveillance, assessment and management
The main areas of cooperation with other
A long-term goal for the Baltic Sea is to progressively
Themes include:
reduce discharges, emissions and losses of pollutants
towards concentrations in the marine environment
a) In collaboration with T 2, investigating how
near background values for naturally occurring
naturally induced environmental forcing (e.g.
substances and close to zero for man-made synthetic
climatic variability) directly and indirectly
substances. This requires the implementation
modifi es the inputs, transport, dispersion/
of timely, responsive and effective measures to
retention, transformation and deposition,
determine the progress of management-related
bioavailability and toxicity of pollutants.
actions to meet agreed targets.
b) In collaboration with T 3, studying how
Accordingly, there is a need for research and
eutrophication interacts with and modifi es
development, including the production of
biogeochemical cycles and toxicity of
appropriate tools, to deliver an improved capacity
pollutants.
to assess and predict the changing status and trends
related to environmental pollution at the appro-
c) In collaboration with T 4, investigating how
priate temporal and spatial scales, and formulate
the aquatic environment associated with
suitable regulatory and remedial measures. Areas of
fi sheries and aquaculture, and seafood, is
focus include:
affected by pollution.
· Elaboration and application of integrated water
d) In collaboration with T 5, examine how
quality and dispersion models for pollutants in
ecosystems, and the goods and services provided
brackish and marine water bodies.
by their biodiversity, are affected by and respond
to pollutants on different levels of diversity.
· Development and application of improved (e.g.
rapid yet sensitive and responsive, cost effective)
e) In collaboration with Ts 1 & 6, examining
surveillance and assessment approaches and
with the aid of integrative scenarios and models
strategies, including use of new technologies
the past, present and potential future human
and analyses, and improved integration of
socioeconomic impacts and developments
surveillance and sector-based information.
connected with pollution affecting the quantity
37
and quality of ecosystem goods and services
information and advice for diverse user groups,
provided by the Baltic Sea.
policy-makers and managers about the biological
effects of pollution on living marine resources
f ) In collaboration with Ts 1 & 8, and other
and human health.
appropriate Themes, synthesizing and preparing
Futureimagebank.com
38
Theme 7: Integrating ecosystem and society
The goal is to provide the social science information needed to support BONUS-169's integrated
ecosystem approach to management (EAM45) of Baltic Sea resources. When developing policy,
management authorities must account for how human activities affect the Baltic Sea ecosystem
properties, and account for how those ecosystem properties affect the well-being of citizens
socially, economically, and culturally.
The goal will be achieved by collecting and assembling data and producing analyses that explain
and forecast human interactions with the natural components of the Baltic Sea ecosystem.
To further aid policy makers, the research programme will assess how humans have been and will
be impacted by the spatial and temporal variations in all components (natural and human) of
the Baltic Sea ecosystem; and assess society's preferences and priorities for conserving, protecting
and restoring Baltic Sea ecosystem resources.
and food processing operations); and recreation
Key research issues are:
and tourism47 48.
1)
Explaining the spatial and temporal
variations in human's uses of Baltic Sea The benefi ts draw people to settle in and visit coastal
ecosystem resources
areas of the Baltic Sea, increasing the crowding
and ecological impact in the coastal areas. The
Applying EAM to Baltic Sea resources requires an
settlement and growth of populations in the coastal
understanding of the fundamental, underlying zone, in conjunction with the associated economic
mechanisms that drive human behaviour, and more
activities, constitute a set of major forces affecting
specifi c knowledge of how humans use and encroach
the Baltic Sea ecosystem.
upon marine ecosystems directly and indirectly for
social, cultural, and economic purposes46.
There are three basic governance mechanisms that
drive and shape humans' use of and encroachment
In the Baltic Sea, the following human activities
upon ecosystem resources: markets, government,
benefi t from, as well as potentially threaten, the
and the institutions and arrangements of civil
marine environment and its living marine resources
society.49 Individually and collectively the three
in coastal and offshore areas: Oil and gas exploration
mechanisms of governance affect how humans use
and production including platforms and pipelines;
and otherwise interact with a marine ecosystem
power generation including wind-farms; shipping
such as the Baltic Sea.
and maritime transport; dredging and dumping
of wastes and litter; mining and mineral and Markets, where goods and services are exchanged by
aggregate extraction; fi sheries and aquaculture; profi t-seeking producers, traders, and consumers,
coastal engineering and land reclamation; human
affect how the environment is utilized, what
settlements and coastal industries (e.g. pulp and
resources are extracted, and the manner in which
paper, iron and steel, chemicals and petrochemicals,
these resources are exploited. In many cases,
45 The Science Plan in Section 1 (Background) stresses that the EAM is the "the comprehensive integrated management of human activities..."...[emphasis
added]
46 Liu J. 2001. Integrating ecology with human demography, behavior, and socioeconomics: Needs and approaches. Ecological Modeling 140: 1-8.
47 UNEP 2005. Lääne A., E. Kraav & G. Titova. Baltic Sea, GIWA Regional Assessment No. 17. University of Kalmar, Sweden.
48 Rydén L., P. Migula & M. Andersson (Eds) 2003. Environmental Science: understanding, protecting, and managing the environment of the Baltic Sea
region. Baltic University Press, Uppsala.
49 Juda L. 1999. Considerations in Developing a Functional Approach to the Governance of Large Marine Ecosystems. Ocean Development and Interna-
tional Law 30: 89-125.
39
Photo: Jerzy Dabraowski
markets do not refl ect the ecological costs of the
The institutions and arrangements of civil society
economic activities that use and encroach upon play a central role in infl uencing behaviour.
ecosystem resources. As a consequence, market-
Social norms and networks (social capital)
driven economic activities are one of the direct shape individual and collective behaviour, and
causes of pollution, overexploited fi shery resources,
also facilitate cooperation among individuals
and of the marine ecosystem's altered productivity
and between groups of individuals. The social
and biodiversity, and poor overall health.
norms and networks can encourage trust, civic
engagement, and enhance effective governance
Government policy and regulation, whether at while reducing management costs. These have
a local, regional, national or European Union considerable potential for advancing the EAM
level, are well recognized mechanisms that can in informal governance systems. The institutions
affect human behaviour. Fiscal policies can and arrangements establish `working rules' that
provide incentives for particular types of conduct
are commonly known, monitored and enforced.50
and, through government spending patterns, a Though different from the legal requirements
substantial portion of society's resources may be
established through governmental processes, they
directed to promote specifi c objectives. Regulatory
are powerful factors that infl uence individual and
efforts, such as zoning and permitting, can channel
group actions.
efforts along desired paths and, with their potential
for unpleasant consequences in the form of fi nes
The violation of patterns of behaviour adopted
or even imprisonment, can discourage undesired
by the formal and informal institutions of civil
behaviour. Governmental institutions are not
society can produce potent peer pressures and,
always perfect, however, and can sometimes ultimately, can lead to isolation or expulsion from
implement policies that are counter-productive the community or even physical retribution. As
and ultimately harm the status of an ecosystem with markets and government, the institutions
(for example, subsidies that aggravate fi shing
and arrangements of civil society are not always
overcapacity).
supportive of sustainable development, since social
50 Ostrom E. 1990. Governing the Commons: The Evolution of Institutions for Collective Action. New York: Cambridge University Press.
40
norms are not always consistent with conserving
2)
Integrated modelling for forecasting the
marine ecosystem resources, protecting habitats
trajectory of the Baltic Sea ecosystem under
and the quality of the aquatic environment.
various scenarios for management policies,
environmental variability, and human
Humans also respond to changes in the status of
actions
marine ecosystem components. The growth of the
population and economic activities that occurred
As the EAM is applied to the Baltic Sea ecosystem,
along the coast of the Baltic Sea during the 20th
there will be increased demand by managers for
century has been due in large part to economic
spatially- and temporally-dynamic models of
and quality of life advantages of the Baltic Sea human activities that are explicitly linked to the
marine ecosystem. Human encroachment in natural components of the Baltic Sea ecosystem.
the Baltic Sea's drainage basin has, in turn, led Such models will need to be nested within larger
to degradation in ecosystem health that has and more complex ecosystem models, or at least be
resulted in detrimental socioeconomic impacts systematically linked to other component models.
in the region. Such changes in ecosystem health
For example, ecological models can be combined
will likely induce human responses that have with economic models to investigate nutrient loads
signifi cant consequences for changes in population
to the Baltic Sea.
size and composition, types of economic activities,
and distribution of incomes in coastal areas. As another example, economists working with
Other responses, such as changes in perceptions,
fi shery scientists can develop bioeconomic models
values, innovations, laws and other institutions, of fi shing activity that can be linked to models of
also shape the overall well-being of society and climate variability to demonstrate how this form
human interactions with the environment. Areas
of environmental forcing affects human use of fi sh
of research focus include:
resources and, in turn, how the fi shing community
is affected by climate-induced changes in yields
· Documentation and analysis of the spatial from the fi shery. Since the feedback does not
and temporal variations in the uses of and necessarily stop with the fi shing community, the
encroachment upon the principal ecosystem bioeconomic model could be linked to models
resources (e.g. land use, waste disposal, of land use and other human activities in coastal
extraction of living marine resources, recreation
watersheds which, when varied, will affect the
and tourism) in the Baltic Sea ecosystem. This
coastal environment in different ways. Areas of
will require research (in the social science research focus include:
areas of geography, demography, sociology
and anthropology, social psychology, political · Explore options for developing spatially-
science, and economics) that focuses on
and temporally-dynamic models of human
developing scientifi c explanations of the spatial
activities that are explicitly linked to the natural
and temporal variations in human activities
components of the Baltic Sea ecosystem and that
that affect, and that are affected by ecosystem
can both explain and forecast those activities.
resources.
3) Estimating society's values for conserving,
· Documentation and explanation of the human
protecting and restoring Baltic Sea ecosystem
responses to changes in the Baltic Sea ecosystem
resources
that tend to occur over large spatial and long
temporal scales. These issues are best examined
The policies directed at managing the human
by a large, diverse body of research that includes
activities that impact the Baltic Sea ecosystem will
demography (population size and structure), no doubt be shaped in large part by the public's
sociology (perceptions, attitudes, values, social
preferences and priorities. Market prices are good
institutions), economics (market and non-
indicators of the public's preferences and priorities
market outcomes), and political science and law
in cases where markets work reasonably well.
(laws, regulations, processes).
However, markets generally do not refl ect the
41
full ecological costs of using ecosystem goods and
what conditions lead to government successes and
services, and additional information is required on
failures.51
public preferences and priorities that can be used in
decision making for ecosystem management. Areas
Of particular interest are the conditions
of research focus include:
that encourage social and technological
innovations leading to improvements in the
· Assembling and producing information on state of the environment. With such analysis and
public priorities and preferences that can be understanding, it is possible to prescribe ways
used in EAM decision-making. For this purpose,
(such as co-management approaches) to correct the
structured surveys are needed that specifi cally
obstacles in the public sector that lead to failures of
ask respondents to make trade-offs, such as government processes and policies; these obstacles
stated preference methods, (e.g. contingent are expected to be common when governments
choice and contingent valuation). Another is the
are faced with the complex trade-offs inherent in
more labour-intensive ethnographic fi eldwork
ecosystem approaches to integrated management.52
to provide in-depth assessment of values and
Areas of research focus include:
the degree to which they are strongly or weakly
held. This will require development of improved
· Documentation and analysis of how govern-
social science (anthropology, economics,
ment policies and regulations are produced,
sociology, social psychology) methods for
how management services are produced;
producing information on public priorities and
investigation of the conditions that lead to
preferences that can be used in EAM decision-
government successes and failures; and analyses
making. This work will require assessment of
of the emergence of social and technological
the market and non-market value of human
innovations that have improved the state of the
uses of, and the natural services of ecosystems in
environment.
each region, and assessment of the benefi ts and
costs of conserving, protecting, and/or restoring
The behaviour of individuals and agencies in
ecosystem resources (e.g. habitats, marine
the public sector can be analyzed to understand
mammals) in each region; and assessment of
and explain whether the underlying conditions
the sociocultural values of the uses of ecosystem
promote government failure or success. This
resources and services in each region.
requires social science (political science, public
administration, economics, and legal) research
4) Developing the scientifi c basis for improving
to assess how government (through its laws,
governance of the Baltic Sea ecosystem
regulations, processes) infl uences the uses of
ecosystem resources and services, diagnose
Governance processes produce government
sources of governance failure, and identify
policies, regulations, and incentives the principal
the necessary and suffi cient conditions for
mechanisms for managing human behaviour.
producing successful EAM-related polices and
By encouraging certain behavioural patterns and
innovations.
discouraging others, governance is a matter of
central importance to managing human behaviour
· Estimate the ecological costs of the human
in an ecosystem context. To make an ecosystem
activities that are harming the marine ecosystem
approach to management effective, experts must
and otherwise altering the environment. This
apply the common tools of governance and socio-
work will require integrating the socioeconomics
economic analysis to analyze how government
research with natural science research on
policies and regulations are produced, and to ask
fi
sheries, pollution and ecosystem health,
51 Olsen S.B., J.G. Sutinen, L. Juda, T.M. Hennesssey & T. A. Grigulanans 2006. A Handbook on Governance and Socioeconomics of Large Marine Ecosys-
tems, University of Rhode Island (downloadable from www.iwlearn.net/abt_iwlearn/pns/learning/b2-2lme/riworkshop) provides more details on these
tools and their application.
52 Sutinen J.G. & M. Soboil. 2003. The Performance of Fisheries Management Systems and the Ecosystem Challenge. In: M. Sinclair & G. Valdimarsson
(Eds), Responsible Fisheries in the Marine Ecosystem. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
42
and productivity. Once the ecological costs of
economic processes that affect the Baltic Sea
resource extraction, pollution, and reduced environment. These data need to be available in a
productivity are calculated, scientists and policy
common format and easily accessed by the broad
makers can examine ways for factoring the research community.
ecological costs into market forces.
The main areas of cooperation with other
In addition, there is a major need to
Themes include:
5) Acquire, assemble, and archive time series data
a) In collaboration with T 2, investigating how
(i) on all human uses and other interactions
environmental forcing directly and indirectly
with ecosystem resources; (ii) on perceptions,
infl uences human uses of ecosystem resources
attitudes and values of the ecosystem; and (iii)
and affects humans' social, cultural, and
on local laws and regulations that govern the
economics values derived from the Baltic Sea
use of land, water, fi shery and other ecosystem
ecosystem.
resources
b) In collaboration with T 3, T 4, T 5, and T 6,
To improve the understanding of and ability to
exploring options for developing spatially-
explain variations in those human activities that
and temporally-dynamic models of human
impact habitats, pollute, cause eutrophication,
activities that are explicitly linked to the natural
and over-exploit the ecosystem's natural resources
components of the Baltic Sea ecosystem.
the social science research community needs
readily accessible time series data that will support
c) In collaboration with T 1 and T 8, and
investigations of these human activities.
other relevant Ts, participating in public
outreach efforts to disseminate the scientifi c
Data on market and non-market values are critical
understanding of humans' interactions with the
for supporting broad-based ecological decision
Baltic Sea ecosystem.
making, and for understanding the social and
BONUS
43
5 Programme governance and support,
funding and implementation systems
Theme 8: Strengthening collaboration and
use of common resources
The goal is to enhance the capacity of the Baltic Sea science community to respond to the
objectives, goals and research needs described under Themes 1-7 of the BONUS-169 Science
Plan. The goal will be achieved by creating the necessary structures for the programme governance
and management, for networking, information fl ow and data archiving and exchange, as well
as for capacity building and synergistic use of marine research infrastructures.
Integral parts of these structures include forming the `Baltic Organizations' Network for
Funding Science' via establishing the legal entity of an `European Economic Interest Grouping',
creating inter alia: thematic and crosscutting clusters of consortia; a governance, management
and supporting advisory structure; a web portal and an internal data inventory to facilitate the
extensive exploitation of results achieved within the programme; a joint education and training
plan; and a mechanism for shared use of research infrastructures and facilities.
An important foundation for achieving the goal lies in work already done by the BONUS
ERA-NET project, in the existing regional scientifi c associations, biennial Baltic Sea Science
Conferences, ICES Baltic Committee with its Working Groups, the Baltic University Programme,
ongoing EC funded research projects, integrated projects, networks of excellence and various EC
and Nordic funding instruments to enhance mobility of researchers and training activities.
· The BONUS-169 Programme Steering
Key activities are:
Committee (PSC), presided by the BONUS-
1)
Programme governance, management, 169 Chairman and comprising senior offi cers of
advisory support, and measuring progress,
the national research funding and management
success and impacts
institutions of the nine participating States. The
PSC is the highest authority of BONUS-169,
The `common structure' is set out as an European
forming its decision-making body and board
Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG53) called
governing its dedicated legal structure.
BONUS Baltic Organizations' Network for Funding
Science. The BONUS EEIG is founded by the nine
· The Programme Secretariat, headed by
Baltic Sea States, comprising the eight European
the Executive Director, to implement the
Community States (Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
decisions of the PSC and act as the principal
Germany, Latvia Lithuania, Sweden and Poland)
representative of the programme to both
and the Russian Federation. The BONUS EEIG
the European Commission and the national
is the executive structure and manages BONUS-
funding agencies.
169 through its Programme Secretariat. The main
programme structures and relationships, and · The Secretariat is responsible for the overall
collaborative linkages to external parties are shown
coordination and monitoring of the programme
in Figure 3. Areas of focus include establishing:
activities, including:
53 EEIG established by Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2137/85 by the Members States.
44
a) Organizing Calls and evaluations;
the quality of its research outputs. The AB
b) Carrying out the everyday management of the
also provides counsel on capacity building,
programme;
networking, and the relevance of the work to
c) Implementing the programme communi cations
achieve the objectives of the programme, and
strategy;
acts as advocates of the programme. It may
d) Ensuring timeliness and quality of outputs;
contribute towards reviews and evaluations of
e) Preparing progress reports and annual pro-
research proposals and progress reports, and
gramme reports, and overseeing the preparation
advise on their merits.
of all substantive and operational reports
required;
· Systems for measuring progress, success and
f ) Preparing terms of reference for any engaged
impacts of individual projects and project
consultants, contractors and technical person-
clusters.
nel;
g) Managing the overall budget, and chairing · Ad hoc forums and panels, steering/working and
appropriate administratively related manage-
technical groups, workshops, and conferences as
ment meetings connected with the smooth
required (c.f. other sections below).
running of the programme;
h) Supporting the work of the programme's internal
2) Programme funding, Calls for submissions of
bodies: Advisory Board, Project Evaluation
research proposals, evaluation process, and
Panels, Forum of Consortium Leaders, Data
fi nancial and progress reporting
Management Steering Group, Forum of
Infrastructure Managers, Forum for Training Having agreed on the overall Science Plan,
and Education, etc.;
BONUS-169 will launch common coordinated
i) Supporting networking among the members, Calls for project proposals, and the applications will
internal bodies and projects;
be evaluated through a joint evaluation procedure.
j) Liaising with collaborating national and The basis for arriving at mutually accepted best-
international activities and organizations to practices was reviewed in BONUS Publication No.
ensure maximum synergy and cooperation, 254 and BONUS Publication No. 455
avoid unnecessary duplication, and also ensure
continued funding and political commitments;
The funding of the programme is established by a
and
Virtual Common Pot (Annex 5). The programme is
k) Periodically reporting to the PSC and the proposed to have a duration of fi ve years (i.e. 2008
European Commission on the progress and 2012). The nine Baltic Sea States have pledged a
fi nancial aspects of the programme.
total of EUR 95 millions in funding contributions.
The total budget for the Virtual Common Pot of
· An Advisory Board (AB) to support the PSC
the joint programme is anticipated to be EUR 189
and Secretariat. Its members are scientists of millions, including the European Community
high international reputation and include contribution. Actions to implement a Joint Call
representatives of relevant stakeholders (e.g. include:
HELCOM, ICES). The role of the AB is to
provide independent advice, guidance and · PSC determines the contents and focus (e.g.
recommendations, and strategic planning
thematic priorities) of the specifi c Call.
regarding scientifi c and policy related issues
of the programme. These include advising on
· The PSC decides on the budget and funding
the objectives, priorities and direction of the
proportions of the specifi c published Calls for
programme, and on ways of strengthening the
research proposals. The minimum proportion
programme's performance and delivery and
between national and EU funding of BONUS-
54 BONUS 2005. The Joint Baltic Sea Research Programme Best Practice, Possibilities and Barriers. BONUS Publication Nr 2.
55 BONUS 2006. Guidelines for a Common Evaluation Scheme for a Joint Baltic Research Programme. BONUS Publication Nr 4.
45
169's direct R&D activities for each Call for
with regard to approved programme guidelines
project proposals is set by the PSC, depending on
that include the scientifi c quality, originality and
the overall proportion of national and European
relevance of the project, the expected outcome
Community funds in the programme budget.
and benefi ts to the scientifi c fi eld, feasibility of
Based on the outcome of the Call evaluation
the research plan, expertise of the researcher/
(i.e. project proposals received), the PSC issues
research group, national and international
binding instructions on the distribution of the
networking and cooperation, researcher training
national funds and allocates the Community
and educational perspectives. The composition
funding, and the BONUS-169 dedicated
of the PEPs may vary depending on the Themes
structure distributes the agreed amount of the
and focus covered by the specifi c Calls. The
Community contribution to the participating
PEPs make justifi ed recommendations on the
funding agencies. The proportions between
rating of the project proposals. The PSC decides
national and EU funding may not be lower than
on the ranking of proposals, which serves as the
the previously agreed percentage. The successful
basis for funding decisions.
research groups receive the appropriate mix of
national and EU funding to implement direct
· All funding organizations and the European
R&D activities.
Commission require appropriate reporting
and evaluation of the funded projects and
· Establishing international Project Evaluation
programme as a whole. The BONUS-169
Panels (PEPs) of independent, external evalua-
dedicated structure will collect inputs from
tors recruited from the scientifi c community,
the national funding agencies in a standardized
private organizations, industry, etc., to rate the
form that ensures approved fi nancial reporting
project applications responding to the Calls.
to the European Commission. The progress of
The rating is given for each project proposal
the funded projects will be reviewed based on
BONUS
46
annual reporting from the involved researchers,
implement, and refi ne strategies that build
and will include descriptions of the major
effective collaboration across the work of the
scientifi c discoveries and results, the status
constituent clustered projects.
of any proposed collaboration, education
and publications, and divergences from the · Integrating BONUS-169 Conferences with
original plan or timetable. A Final Report will
the biennial Baltic Sea Science Conference. A
be prepared by the programme and its involved
new component which BONUS-169 can bring
projects/clusters, and approved by the PSC.
into the Conference structure is a session of
socio-economic-policy aspects of the Baltic Sea
3) Networking, information exchange,
research, arising for example from Themes 7
knowledge dissemination and outreach
and 1 of the Science Plan. The Conference will
be the main forum for the BONUS-169 funded
The existing Baltic Sea structures for scientifi c
community to be brought together with other
networking (e.g. ICES, Baltic Marine Biologists,
scientists and stakeholders, to present and discuss
Conference of Baltic Oceanographers, and
their research results. It will also strengthen
Baltic Sea Geologists, and HELCOM), which
collegiality and wider personal relationships,
were primarily established on the basis of more
build confi dence, and provide critique and
traditionally independent scientifi c disciplines,
feedback regarding progress. Additionally, the
should be strengthened and closer linked and
programme will contribute to the ICES Baltic
complemented with a view to facilitating
Committee sessions and its working groups, and
multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary exchanges and
co-sponsor relevant Baltic Sea Theme Sessions
developments (c.f. T 1). Additionally, overarching
at the ICES Annual Science Conferences.
knowledge management and outreach activities,
including exchange and dissemination, form vital
· Developing an External Communications and
aspects of the programme that will be coordinated
Outreach Plan for the programme in consult-
and implemented via Theme 8. Areas of focus
ation with relevant institutions from the public,
include:
private sectors (including non-governmental
organizations) and international organizations.
· Establishing a Forum of Consortium Leaders
Potential stakeholders comprise a wide range
(FCL) to act as the core organ for the
of private and public organizations from the
scientifi
c coordination of the programme.
environmental, shipping/maritime, aquaculture,
The coordination structure should encourage
fi sheries, health, agriculture/forestry, travel and
collaboration and interdisciplinarity within
transport, tourism and recreation, and trade
and across the Science Plan's Themes. The
and commerce sectors, as well as municipalities
FCL will be responsible, in cooperation with
and local communities. Outputs will include
the Secretariat, for creating the programme's
newspaper articles and popularized scientifi c
coordination structure after the selection of the
articles made available in a widely accessible
funded consortia.
form, TV and radio presentations, DVDs/CDs/
Videos, and brochures and posters.
· Forming thematic and/or crosscutting clusters
of projects on the basis of the coordination · Expanding the existing web-based BONUS
plan prepared by the FCL. Each cluster should
Portal to better refl ect the information needs
have an appointed Cluster Leader (CL). The
of the Baltic Sea science community and the
distribution of the cluster leadership should
wider public. The portal shall form the major
take into account balanced geographic/regional
information source about the programme and its
representation and selected on the basis of
stakeholders, its goals and its activities including
their scientifi c and managerial competency.
ongoing research, contact information, elec-
The overall goal of the CL is together with
tronic publication of reports and a newsletter,
the pertinent Project Coordinators and their
existing infrastructures, relevant national,
supporting Principle Investigators to develop,
European and other international policies,
47
additional research funding sources outside
(e.g. data fl ow and monitoring including use
BONUS-169, as well as a tool for searching
of best available quality control and exchange
for new partners for collaborative projects,
standards and formats, and follow-up
shared use of infrastructures and data collected
procedures) with national and international
within the programme. The BONUS Portal
data banking and management bodies and
will be synergistically linked to other relevant
programmes (e.g. IODE of IOC/UNESCO,
marine research and policy information portals,
SCOR/IGBP, BOOS/GOOS, ICES, GODAR,
e.g. European Commission, EEA, EurOcean,
WDC-MARE).
FAO, HELCOM, ICES, OceanPortal of IOC/
UNESCO and SEA-SEARCH.
The foundation for this includes the
establishment of a BONUS-169 Data Policy
· Publishing the majority of research and policy
and guidelines on data banking, exchange and
documents in peer-reviewed scientifi c journals,
use of data, information and results obtained
thereby raising the quality of the product and
during the programme, including the creation
assisting the training of young scientists to
and maintenance of the BONUS-169 meta-
engage in this publication process. Progress
database. The database should include effi cient
towards this will be measured by bibliometric
search functions for all relevant keys, and
studies. Guidelines, protocols, codes of practice
provide information about the quality aspects
and management recommendations, after being
of the data.
vetted by the programme, will be distributed
to interested parties with need to know, learn
· Archiving and managing the data as the basis
from, and understand and discuss interests.
to drive the development of holistic, integrated
Information dissipation should maximize use
assessments of the changing status and trends
of the existing communication media of the full
of the Baltic Sea ecosystem, including natural
range of stakeholders.
and human induced effects, as required by the
programme.
4) Data archiving and exchange
5) Education, training and exchange schemes:
The BONUS-169 programme will produce a
developing a convergent cross-cutting
considerable amount of data, which must be made
knowledge base for tomorrow's needs
widely and conveniently available as soon as possible
to the science community and stored for posterity,
Education and training is an integral part of the
after its primary publication. Thus, effective data
Baltic Sea science mission, as new knowledge
management and exchange including data arising from research including lessons learnt and
mining/archaeology and use of relevant data best practices must be fed-back into appropriate
stored beyond the programme (e.g. before its start,
levels of the education, training and human
or by other programmes and institutions), and resources development system. It is imperative
contributions to other ongoing programmes and
that tomorrow's scientifi c community more fully
initiatives are key issues to be addressed at both
understands the need for responsible and sustain-
the BONUS-169 programme and project levels.
able use of the seas, the role of the seas in human
Areas of focus include:
welfare, and the important linkages between
science, policy and society.
· Establishing a Data Management Steering
Group (DMSG) to plan, initiate and oversee
Furthermore, as research is becoming increasingly
the creation and maintenance of the BONUS-
interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary, opportu-
169 meta-database and implementation of nities for collaboration should be stimulated in
the BONUS-169 data management work education and training that cross the traditional
programme, including facilitating effective boundaries between disciplines, issues, and
collaboration, coordination and compatibility academic and maritime industrial sectors.
48
Jerzy Dabraowski
Areas of focus include:
boundaries, including between academia
and industry, through the promotion of
· Establishing a Forum for Education and Training
multidisciplinary research. There is a need to
(FET) to plan and facilitate the education,
improve human potential/resources, including
training, and professional development of
provision of training/transfer of knowledge,
researchers and technicians at all developmental
career development opportunities, fostering
levels through advancing intellectual, tech-
mobility schemes, and integration into a joint
nological, information integration and team-
international research project. In all cases,
building skills in a large but cohesive multi-
appropriate infrastructural facilities must meet
disciplinary forum. This should include devel -
current and future needs.
oping a BONUS-169 Research and Training
Network (RTN, c.f. Marie Curie programme)
· Developing a broad-based BONUS-169
with a view to enhancing the capacity of
Education and Training Plan, in close
scientists and technicians connected with the
collaboration with the Baltic University
programme. The RTNs should each consist of
Programme, as a strategic contribution towards
a consortium of teams that are complementary
capacity building in the Baltic Sea States,
and located in different countries, proposing a
fl exibly accommodating new drivers (internal &
common research project to serve as a vehicle for
external) as they come into play. The initiative
providing training and transfer-of-knowledge.
should involve research and teaching institutions
and other potential partners (e.g. maritime
A key aim is to achieve a critical mass of
industries), and should aim at providing a
qualifi ed researchers and technicians that are
harmonized and commonly accepted system of
specialized and/or fragmented, and contributing
electives, credits/diplomas and inter-comparable
to overcoming institutional and disciplinary
gradings.
49
· Facilitating awarding of individual stipends/
· Developing a Baltic Sea Research Infrastructure
grants to researchers and technicians for
Strategy for synthesizing national and European
study/research/training and exchange schemes,
strategic views on future regional needs. It may
involving persons resident from the Baltic Sea
lead to initiatives addressed to the EC and
States and visiting persons from outside bringing
Members States to enhance new jointly funded,
sought after knowledge into the region.
owned and/or operated Baltic Sea research
infrastructures.
· Supporting the establishment, with appropriate
justifi cation, of a system of Centres and
· Maintaining and updating the already
Networks of Excellence that will progress
established infrastructure directory on the web-
application of interdisciplinary approaches of
based BONUS Portal. The inventory should
relevance to BONUS-169.
have effi cient search functions, information on
possibilities to barter/charter equipment as well
6) Mechanism for optimal sharing of marine
as all necessary contact information.
research infrastructure
7) Regional seas research policy collaboration:
Scientifi c infrastructure forms a major expense in
Current and future developments for
marine research covering environmental, fi sheries,
exchanging lessons learnt and best practice
oceanographic and meteorological sciences. These
infrastructures include research vessels of different
As BONUS-169 aims to develop and promote a
sizes, autonomous observational, surveillance model for collaboration in integrating research and
and early warning buoys and moorings, drifters policy related to ecosystem-based management,
and gliders, offshore platforms, fi eld stations,
it is important that the lessons learnt and best
laboratory facilities, data centres and unique capital
practices arising from the Baltic Sea programme
equipment.
are exchanged reciprocally with the European Seas
(e.g. Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, and Black Sea)
It has been estimated that 50 percent of national
and other relevant international initiatives. Areas of
budgets for marine science is required for focus include:
operating and replacing marine infrastructure
assets. Accordingly, there is a need for improved
· Identifying key institutional actors (e.g. projects,
coordination and management of infrastructures:
programmes, and international organizations)
major synergisms can be achieved by widening the
having overlapping interests with BONUS-
access, avoidance of overlap and duplication, as well
169 regarding developing ecosystem-based
as cost-sharing the development and replacement
management, including implementation of
of major infrastructures. Areas of focus include:
the European Marine Strategy and Maritime
Policy.
· Establishing a Forum of Infrastructure
Managers (FIM) to exchange information and
· Using wherever possible existing opportunities,
synchronize annual deployment schedules of
and practical mechanisms and forums (e.g. via
research vessels and other infrastructure use. The
the European Commission, CIESM, FAO,
FIM goal is that the infrastructure needs arising
GEF, ICES, IOC/UNESCO, UNDP) with
from collaborative research projects should be
these actors for coordination, cooperation and
fulfi lled in the optimal, most synergistic and
the establishment of joint partnerships and
cost-effi cient way.
activities, including the establishment of ad hoc
scientifi c groups, workshops, and the production
of joint reports.
50
BONUS - BALTIC ORGANIZATIONS NETWORK FOR FUNDING SCIENCE - EUROPEAN ECONOMIC INTEREST GROUPING
FORMED BY THE NINE BALTIC SEA STATES:
DENMARK, ESTONIA, FINLAND, GERMANY, LATVIA, LITHUANIA, POLAND, SWEDEN & RUSSIA
BONUS-169
PROGRAMME STEERING
COMMITTEE
(PSC)
- FUNDING AGENCIES & OBSERVERS
EXPLOITATION OF
RESULTS, & REGIONAL
SEAS RESEARCH &
ADVISORY BOARD
PROJECT
POLICY
(AB)
EVALUATION PANELS
COLLABORATION
(PEPs)
WITH OTHER PARTIES
THEME 8
PROGRAMME
SECRETARIAT
(PS)
FORUM OF
FORUM FOR
CONSORTIUM
EDUCATION &
LEADERS
TRAINING
(FCL)
(FET)
FORUM OF
DATA
INFRASTRUCTURE
MANAGEMENT
MANAGERS
STEERING GROUP
(FIM)
(DMSG)
THEME 1
CLUSTER
CLUSTER
CLUSTER
PROJECT
PROJECT
PROJECT
PROJECT
PROJECT
PROJECT
THEMES 2-7
Figure 3. BONUS-169 organogram showing the main programme structures, relationships, and collaborative
linkages to other parties. (It should be noted that the actual numbers of Clusters and Projects are purely for
illustrative purposes.)
51
6 ANNEXES
Annex 1. Process for developing the BONUS-169 Science Plan
FLOW CHART BONUS ERA-NET TASK 2.5: DEVELOPING THE BONUS-169 SCIENCE PLAN
OVERSEEN BY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF BONUS ERA-NET
START 1 MAY 2005 - ICES
TASK 2.5: DEVELOP SCIENCE
PLAN. CO-TASK LEADERS
CHRIS HOPKINS & JAN THULIN
PRODUCE
QUESTIONNAIRE
AS REPORTING
FORMAT FOR
CONSULTATIONS
PRODUCE
SCIENCE PLAN FRAMEWORK (SPF)
DOCUMENT: 8 THEMES
COMPLETED MID-JUNE & PLACED ON
BONUS WEBSITE IN LATE AUGUST 2005
SEPTEMBER 2005
SEPTEMBER 2005 -
INTERNATIONAL
JANUARY 2006
CONSULTATION
ARRANGE 1st
VIA TASK 2.1
NATIONAL
(SOPOT,
CONSULTATIONS:
POLAND)
- DENMARK
- ESTONIA
MARCH 2006
- FINLAND
ARRANGE
- GERMANY
INTERNATIONAL
- LATVIA
E-MAIL
- LITHUANA
CONSULTATION
- POLAND
ON THEME 7
- SWEDEN
'Integrating
- RUSSIA
Ecosystem &
Society'
PRODUCE COMPILATION
PRODUCE DRAFT
DOCUMENT FOR EACH THEME (1-8):
PRODUCE DRAFT
FINAL SCIENCE
RESULT OF FEEDBACK FROM OVER
TEXT-BOXES FOR
PLAN DOCUMENT
800 BALTIC SEA SCIENTISTS &
THEMES 1-8
COMPRISING
STAKEHOLDERS
INTRODUCTION,
PROGRAMME
GOALS,
DELIVERABLES,
FUNDING POLICY,
FLOW CHART KEY
RESEARCH
ESTABLISH
THEMES (1-8),
ADVISORY
ANNEXES
JULY - SEPTEMBER
EXPERT GROUP
Start/End
2006 ARRANGE 2nd
FOR EACH
NATIONAL
THEME (1-8)
CONSULTATIONS:
- DENMARK
- ESTONIA
- FINLAND
Process
NETWORK STEERING
- GERMANY
COMMITTEE (NSC),
- LATVIA
JUNE 2006,
- LITHUANA
REVIEW OF DRAFT
- POLAND
FINAL SCIENCE PLAN
-SWEDEN
Decision
- RUSSIA
Sequence
PRODUCE FINAL REVISED
NSC, NOVEMBER 2006,
BONUS-169 SCIENCE PLAN
APPROVAL OF
BONUS-169 SCIENCE
Milestone
PLAN
END
ULTIMO 2006
52
Annex 2. International conventions, agreements and codes of conduct/guidelines
concerning the environment and biodiversity, including conservation of
fi shery resources, of the Baltic Sea region
The list is illustrative rather than defi nitive.
Year
Instrument
1964
Convention for the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), which was established in 1902, applying to the North Atlantic
and its adjacent seas, including the Baltic Sea, aims to a) promote and encourage research and investigations for the study of the marine
environment and its living marine resources, b) draw up programmes for this purpose and organize supporting research and investigations,
c) publish or otherwise disseminate the results of research and investigations. Since the 1970s, a major task for ICES has involved the
provision of scientifi c information and advice to intergovernmental regulatory commissions (e.g. HELCOM and IBSFC in the Baltic Sea), the
European Commission, and the governments of ICES Member Countries, for purposes of fi sheries conservation and the protection of the
marine environment and its associated biodiversity and ecosystems.
1971
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat.
1972
Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (London Convention, formerly the London
Dumping Convention). Prohibits dumping at sea, and bans disposal of radioactive waste at sea.
1973
MARPOL 73/78 IMO Convention on Marine Pollution from Ships. Limits operational discharges of oil, noxious liquids, and ship generated
garbage including litter.
1973
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) aims to ensure that international trade in
specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
1974/92
The Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area, established the Helsinki Commission (Baltic Marine
Environment Protection Commission, HELCOM) with the main objectives of protecting the marine environment of the Baltic Sea area from
all sources of pollution, and to restore and safeguard the ecological balance of the Baltic Sea area. The 1992 Convention places greater
focus on nature conservation and the protection of biological diversity including conserving natural habitats and protecting ecological
processes to ensure sustainable use of natural resources.
1979
Bonn Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, including 1991 ASCOBANS to protect and conserve small
cetaceans in Baltic Sea and North Sea
1979
Bern Convention for Conservation of European Wildlife (fauna and fl ora) and Natural Habitats, giving particular emphasis to endangered
or vulnerable species including those that are migratory species.
1982
UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) identifying rights and responsibilities of States regarding resource management and
protection of the marine environment.
1992
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) promoting the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the
fair and equitable sharing of the benefi ts from the use of genetic resources.
1992
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) sets an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to tackle the challenge
posed by climate change. It recognizes that the climate system is a shared resource whose stability can be affected by industrial and
other emissions of heat-trapping `greenhouse' gases (e.g. carbon dioxide, methane and chlorofl uorocarbons). The Kyoto Protocol, an
international and legally binding agreement to reduce worldwide the emissions of greenhouse gases, entered into force on 16 February
2005.
1995
FAO Code of Conduct on Responsible Fisheries providing guidelines and principles that promotes responsible fi shing and fi sheries activities,
taking into account relevant biological, technological, economic, social, environmental and commercial aspects.
1995
UN Convention on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks seeks to lay down a comprehensive regime for the conservation
and management of such stocks.
1998
UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Aarhus Convention ensuring access to information, public participation in decision-making
and access to justice in environmental matters.
2004
International Maritime Organization (IMO) International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and
Sediments.
53
Annex 3. Some European Community instruments applicable to the protection
of the environment and biodiversity, including conservation of fi shery
resources, of the Baltic Sea region
The list is illustrative rather than defi nitive.
Year
Instrument
1976
Directive on Bathing Water (76/160/EEC) sets cleanliness standards for bathing water.
1976
Directive on Dangerous Substances (76/464/EEC) aims to reduce or eliminate pollution from chemicals.
1979
Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds (79/409/EEC) establishes special conservation measures to protect habitats of rare or vulnerable
species including migrants.
1979
Directive on Shellfi sh Growing Waters (79/923/EEC) aims to protect and, where necessary, improve the quality of waters where shellfi sh
grow and contribute to high quality of directly edible shellfi sh products.
1983
Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), applying to fi sheries and aquaculture, aims to ensure exploitation of living aquatic resources that provides
and
sustainable economic, environmental and social conditions. Recent reforms of the CFP have inter alia aimed at greater integration of
ongoing
environmental and biodiversity concerns into fi sheries policy, including implementation of the ecosystem approach to management.
1985/97
Environmental Impact Directive (85/337/EEC superseded by 97/11/EC) requires developer to provide information to competent authority
about likely signifi cant environmental effects.
1991
Directive on Aquaculture Animals and Products (91/67/EEC) aims to increase productivity, introduce health rules, and limit the spread of
infections and contagious diseases.
1991
Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) addresses the major point sources, namely the municipal waste water discharges,
and sets minimum standards for the collection, treatment, and disposal of waste water dependent on the size of the discharge.
1991
Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC) concerning the protection of surface and ground waters from pollution caused by the application and
storage of inorganic fertilizers and manure from diffuse agricultural sources (farmland).
1992
EC Directive on Conservation of Natural Habitats and Wild Fauna and Flora (92/43/EEC) designates and implements conservation measures
for Special Areas of Conservation
1997
Amsterdam Treaty, strengthens previous environmentally orientated declarations, sets environmental policy objectives by explicitly
stating, as Community tasks, `a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment'.
2000
Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) (WFD), promotes the integrated management of all water-related operations in fresh and marine
waters, including coastal waters. The WFD will apply the ecosystem approach, and enhance conservation and where necessary recovery
and restoration of ecosystems and their habitats, by establishing measures to terminate or phase out discharges, emissions and losses
of pollutants including nutrients, with the ultimate aim of achieving concentrations in the marine environment near background values for
naturally occurring substances and close to zero for man-made synthetic substances. The WFD requires classifi cation of the quality status
of coastal marine waters. By 2013, several aspects of EC water legislation will be streamlined and subsumed into the WFD.
2005
European Marine Thematic Strategy for the Protection and Conservation of the European Marine Environment' (COM (2005) 504) recognizes
and
that diverse human activities pose major threats that impact the marine environment and its associated ecosystems. The Marine Strategy,
ongoing
and its supporting Marine Strategy Directive `Establishing a Framework for Community Action in the fi eld of Marine Environment Policy'
(COM (2005) 505), aim to cover all the actions needed to ensure that all human activities impacting upon the oceans and seas are managed
so that marine biological diversity and critical habitats are conserved and human use of them is sustainable. The Strategy and Directive
focus on the application of an integrated ecosystem approach to management, aiming to achieve good environmental status of the
Community's marine waters by 2021 and to protect the resource base upon which marine-related economic and social activities depend.
The Strategy constitutes the environmental pillar of the emerging Maritime Policy, as envisaged in the Maritime Green Paper: Towards
a Future Maritime Policy for the Union: A European Vision for the Oceans and Seas (COM (2006) 275) that is designed to achieve the full
economic potential of oceans and seas in harmony with the marine environment. The Marine Strategy Directive will establish European
Marine Regions on the basis of geographical and environmental criteria. Each Member State, in close cooperation with relevant other
Member States and third countries within a Marine Region, will be required to develop Marine Strategies for its marine waters. The Marine
Strategies will contain a detailed assessment of the state of the environment, a defi nition of `good environmental status, at the regional
level and the establishment of clear environmental targets and monitoring programmes. Each Member State will draw up a programme of
cost-effective measures. Impact assessments, including detailed cost-benefi t analysis of the measures proposed, will be required prior to
the introduction of any new measure.
54
Annex 4. Defi nition of terms connected with BONUS-169
The BONUS Science Plan is a framework programme defi ning the strategy for funding Baltic Sea Research
by BONUS Baltic Organization's Network for Funding Science.
Themes are the subdivisions of the science plan describing its thematic areas.
Calls for proposals are based on the funding strategy of the science plan and its themes. They defi ne all
conditions which are necessary for the scientifi c community to formulate detailed applications to BONUS-
169. The applications are the basis for evaluation including peer reviewing.
Project is an entity, which addresses the scientifi c goals described in the call for proposals. A project is
typically composed of several workpackages.
Consortium is a group of at least two institutes, universities, companies or other entities, which have
agreed to submit a project proposal to BONUS-169 programme and to jointly implement the work
described in the project proposal.
Participant is a research institute, university, company or other entity, which is a part of a consortium and
implements part of the work described in the project proposal. It is also the receiver of the research funds
(mixed EU and national funds) from the national funding agency.
Project coordinator is a participant chosen by the consortium, who has overall responsibility and authority
over a project in relation to the project management towards participants and towards BONUS general
management.
Principal scientist is in charge of the project in each institute and has the responsibility over his/her Task
in relation to the participant institute and the national funding agency.
Workpackage is a thematically circumscribed contribution to a project. It may consist of one or more
tasks.
Task is a contribution of a principal scientist and his/her group to a workpackage.
Deliverables are work products and constitute the substantiation of programme/project implement-
ation.
Stakeholders are all those persons/institutions that have an interest in the Science Plan and its outputs.
Users are those stakeholders that will practically make use of the outputs from the Science Plan.
55
Annex 5. Schematic presentation of the BONUS-169 Virtual Common Pot
and
explanations
EUROPEAN
COMMUNITY
CONTRIBUTION
(EU)
NATIONAL FRESH
MONEY
CONTRIBUTION
(NF)
MANDATORY CONTRIBUTION
(MC)
IS
RR
EU EU contribution: Added on top of the
as 20%56 of doubled57 national fresh money
consolidated national research funds to
contribution.
assist EU Member states jointly implement IS In kind contribution by the programme
a research activity in accordance with Article
partners to run research infrastructures that
169.
are directly involved in projects funded by the
NF National fresh money contribution: National
programme. For pre-estimation purposes, each
research funding agencies participating in
of the programme partners shall estimate the
the programme must commit themselves to
typical proportion between fresh money value
hand over their contribution in a binding
of competed research projects and additional
way over the programme duration (e.g. 2008
running costs of infrastructures directly used
2012), under the sole restriction of budget
to support these projects. The most obvious,
availability. These funds will remain with
and potentially large, portion of infrastructure
the particular national research funding
costs is ship-time. If, for instance, partner X
agency, but will be governed and distributed
typically awards A millions EUR fresh money
strictly and completely according to the PSC
grants/year for Baltic Sea research projects, and
recommendations
these grants are subsidized by B millions EUR/
MC Mandatory contribution: In the case of a
year of ship-time contribution from other
successful research project proposal, the
sources, e.g. from the State budget to research
eligibility rules concerning project proposals
institutes, specifi c infrastructure funds, local
will stipulate the mandatory in kind
governments, etc., then IS (ships) is calculated
contribution by the funded institutions as a
as 21) × NF × B/A. Another example of an
percentage of the fresh money obtained by
infrastructure contribution is administration
them from the programme. For pre-
costs by national research funding agencies.
estimation purposes, the amount of the
Again, if for instance, partner X typically
mandatory contribution shall be calculated
awards A millions EUR of fresh money
56 For pre-estimation purposes it is assumed that the programme awards will be distributed evenly between university structures and other kind of research
institutes.
57 It is assumed that the EU contribution will be at least equal to the national fresh money contribution (NF).
56
grants/year, and spends B millions EUR/
RR Related research: A situation may occur
year to administrate the associated projects,
whereby a project proposal, whose consortium
IS (administration) is calculated as 258 ×
comprises a team or researcher related to the
NF × B/A. Partners also may identify other
particular national funding agency, is positively
substantial infrastructure units, e.g. databases
evaluated as meeting programme objectives
or computational facilities, data acquisition
and scientifi c quality criteria but is not awarded
facilities, experimental facilities. Partners are
a grant due to budgetary limitations. In this
advised to: a) include only infrastructures
case, the national funding agency may decide
that really can be fi nancially substantiated
to fund the project from its own resources.
and that realistically can be justifi ed as direct
Such funding then may be designated as RR.
contributions to the programme, and b)
It is not possible to pre-estimate the amount
check carefully that contributions identifi ed
of RR. The applicable proportion will be
as MC do not overlap with the declared IS
identifi ed from the partner's fi nancial reports
contribution.
and applied during further years.
58 It is assumed that the EU contribution will be at least equal to the national fresh money contribution (NF).
57
Annex 6. Explanation of acronyms used in the document
AB
Advisory Board
ASCOBANS
Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic and North Seas
BACC
BALTEX Assessment of Climate Change (for the Baltic Sea basin)
BALTEX
Baltic Sea Experiment
BONUS
Baltic Sea Organizations Network for Funding
BONUS-169
Joint Baltic Sea Research and Researcher Training Programme, under Article 169 of the European Community Treaty
BMB
Baltic Marine Biologists
BOOS
Baltic Operational Oceanographic System (of GOOS)
BSG
Baltic Sea Geologists
BSRP
Baltic Sea Regional Project
CBD
Convention on Biological Diversity
CBO
Conference of Baltic Oceanographers
CD
Compact Disc
CFP
Common Fisheries Policy (of the European Union)
CIESM
International Commission for Scientifi c Exploration of the Mediterranean Sea
CITES
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
CL
Cluster Leader
DDT
Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (insecticide)
DG
Directorate General of the European Commission
DMSG
Data Management Steering Group
DPSIR
Driving forces, Pressures, State, Impacts, and Responses
DVD
Digital Versatile Disc (formerly Digital Video Disc)
EAM
Ecosystem Approach to Management of Human Activities
EC
European Commission/European Community
EEA
European Environment Agency
EEIG
European Economic Interest Grouping
EMMA
European Marine Monitoring and Assessment
ERA
European Research Area
ERA-NET
European Research Area Network
ESR
Early Stage Researcher
EU
European Union
FAO
Food and Agriculture Organization (of the United Nations)
FCL
Forum of Consortium Leaders
FET
Forum for Education and Training
FIM
Forum of Infrastructure Managers
FP6
Sixth Framework Programme (for Research and Technological Development) of the European Community
GCOS
Global Climate Observing System
GEF
Global Environment Facility
GEOSS
Global Earth Observing System of Systems
GESAMP
Joint Group of Experts on the Scientifi c Aspects of Marine Environment Protection
GIS
Geographic Information System
GIWA
Global International Waters Assessment (of UNEP)
GMES
Global Monitoring for Environment and Security
GODAR
Global Oceanographic Data Archaeology and Rescue
GOOS
Global Ocean Observing System
GTOS
Global Terrestrial Observing system
G3OS
The three Global Observing Systems: Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS and its
Baltic Operational Oceanographic System, BOOS), and the Global Terrestrial Observing system (GTOS).
58
HELCOM
Helsinki Commission -- Baltic Marine Environmental Commission
IAS
Invasive Alien Species
IBSFC
International Baltic Sea Fishery Commission (now disbanded)
ICES
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
ICZM
Integrated Coastal Zone Management
IGBP
International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme
IOC
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (of UNESCO)
IODE
International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (of IOC)
IMO
International Maritime Organization (of the United Nations)
IPCC
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (of the World Meteorological Organization)
OECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
OSPAR
OSPAR Commission for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic
PCB
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
PEPs
Project Evaluation Panels
PSC
Programme Steering Committee
RTD
Research and Technological Development
RTN
Research and Training Network
SCOR
Scientifi c Committee on Oceanic Research (of the International Council for Science)
UNCLOS
United Nations Convention on the Law Of the Sea
UNDP
United Nations Development Programme
UNECE
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
UNEP
United Nations Environment Programme
UNESCO
United Nations Educational, Scientifi c and Cultural Organization
UNFCC
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
WDC-
World Data Center for Marine Environmental Sciences
MARE
WFD
Water Framework Directive
59
ISBN 978-951-715-646-4
Orders: Academy of Finland
P.O.Box 99, FIN-00501 Helsinki,
Finland
BONUS -169 BALTIC SE A SCIENCE PL AN AND
IMPLEMENTATION STR ATEGY
B O N U S P u b l i c a t i o n N r. 5
Bonus_Publ_V_kannet.indd 2
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18.2.2007 18:42:55