A delegation representing the Race for the Baltic campaign handed over the more than 25,000 public signatures collected this summer, calling on Baltic environment ministers to take action to improve the health of the Baltic Sea, to the Swedish Minister Lena Ek.
Representatives of FISH, Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB) and Oceana, together with Race for the Baltic (RFTB) coordinator Barbara Jackson handed over a box with over 25,000 signatures to Sweden’s Environment Minister Lena Ek this morning, ahead of the HELCOM Ministerial Meeting in Copenhagen.
The campaign now has the support of over 100 organisations, companies and local governments around the region. We told her how we have travelled across the Baltic Sea region this summer – on bicycles – to inform the public about the serious problems facing the Baltic Sea and the importance of HELCOMs (an environmental convention to improve the environmental health of the Baltic Sea) work to address them.
Along the way, we have organised seminars, meetings and events, and importantly met personally with the Baltic citizens. Over 24,000 of the signatures were collected while meeting personally with people in the region, explaining the key issues and the aims of the campaign to them.
The RFTB call for action is focused on three key issues for the Baltic Sea:
1. REVIVE the biological diversity of the Baltic Sea.
2. RECOVER the natural wealth of the fish stocks in the Baltic Sea to ensure long-term sustainability.
3. RESTORE the water quality through a reduction of nutrients and pollutants flowing into the Baltic Sea.
The delegation also handed over a document reflecting on national implementation of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan, and highlighting national shortcomings.
For Sweden, there is a need to commit more firmly to implement HELCOM requirements for nutrient-balanced fertilisation in farming to reduce eutrophication. Sweden also has one of the highest mortalities for the critically endangered European eel, which the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) advices should be reduced to zero. Finally, Sweden also needs to expand its coverage of marine protected areas (MPAs) from only 6 % to 20 % of its national waters to create an ecologically coherent network.
The Minister emphasised how important the work of the campaign has been to support her efforts in the HELCOM negotiations, as well as implementation at home.
For further information visit: www.raceforthebaltic.com