HELSINKI COMMISSION

Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission

     
     
HELCOM RECOMMENDATION 10/1

ABNORMAL SITUATIONS IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT THE COMMISSION

     
     
Adopted 14 February 1989
having regard to Article 13, Paragraph b)
of the Helsinki Convention

NOTING with concern the extensive growth of algae in certain areas of the Baltic Sea Area, especially in the Belt Sea and the Kattegat in May and June 1988 which could be symptoms of ecological imbalance,

RECALLING Recommendation 6/14 concerning establishing of a pollution reporting system for pollution incidents,

RECALLING ALSO that the pollution reporting system, inter alia, contains procedures for early warning of pollution threats,

BEING CONVINCED that the procedures for early warning of pollution threats could also be utilized for early warning of abnormal environmental situations,

RECOGNIZING that nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) introduced into the sea contribute to the excessive fertilization and eutrophication of parts of the Baltic Sea Area,