PERMAGOV is going to Helsinki for the 14th Baltic Sea Science Congress (BSSC)! This year's edition covers seven areas, two of which - a clean Baltic Sea, and a healthy and resilient Baltic Sea - are relevant to our case studies on marine litter and seabed integrity, respectively.
We will present the case studies at a poster session scheduled for the 22nd and 23rd of August. The exact details are:
Tuesday 22 August 2023 from 14:00 to 15:30
Wednesday 23 August 2023 from 16:00 to 17:30
In case you can't make it to the BSSC, no worries. Both case study descriptions and the poster are provided below. Do get in touch with us if you would like to collaborate on either of them.
PERMAGOV case study on seabed integrity
This case study investigates practices and related challenges to implement regional sea commitments to protect benthic habitats. It scrutinises the Baltic Sea countries’ collaboration to reduce human pressures on the seabed integrity that are caused by multiple human activities and sectors.
The main focus is on the regional commitments agreed in the updated BSAP. The study focuses on intersections between the related sectoral and environmental policy frameworks and in the practical implementation of the policies at regional sea and national levels, while also paying attention to policy developments at the EU and international levels. An important target for PERMAGOV results is to support the implementation of BSAP through the forthcoming coordinated governance response expected in 2026. The study identifies gaps and barriers to successful implementation, and designs and develops proposals for collaborative and/or digital strategies to tackle these institutional challenges.
The analysis of current data platforms and assessment frameworks will help to increase HELCOM's collaborative and e-governance capability. The case will be conducted by the Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) and the HELCOM Secretariat.
PERMAGOV case study on marine litter
This case study focuses on cross-sectoral and multi-level governance approaches that aim to tackle marine litter in the Baltic Sea. Sea-based sources of pollution are prioritised, particularly abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), and lost cargo. It is still under consideration whether other issues may be addressed in this case study for comparison with a case study on marine litter in the Mediterranean Sea.
The interplay between different sectoral governance regimes will be investigated, and lessons for overcoming institutional barriers that are essential for governance in combatting marine litter identified, including under the European Green Deal and the future global plastics agreement supported by the UN Environment Assembly.
The results from the case study will contribute directly to the ongoing work of the Sea-based Pressures Working Group and Marine Litter Expert Groups, and in particular to the implementation of the Baltic Sea Action Plan (actions HL31 and HL32) and the revised 2021 HELCOM Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter (actions RS6-RS15). The case study is coordinated by the Research Institute for Sustainability – Helmholtz Centre Potsdam (RIFS) and the HELCOM Secretariat.
PERMAGOV Baltic Sea poster
