BSEP116B Biodiversity in the Baltic Sea - Helcom

sena polymorpha affects cooling systems and fouls
beaches with its sharp shells, and the barnacle
Balanus improvisus and the colonial hydroid Cordylophora
caspia are sessile biofoulers common on
boat hulls and underwater installations. The boring
shipworm Teredo navalis has expanded its range in
the southern Baltic and threatens, e.g., the numerous
and well-preserved historical wrecks and other
wooden structures.
The recent findings (in the early 2000s) of dense
populations of Conrad’s false mussel (Mytilopsis
leucophaeata) in the cooling water discharge areas
off Finnish nuclear power plants must be taken
seriously. This species has its original distribution in
the subtropical and temperate Gulf of Mexico area
and is tolerant to the entire salinity range found in
the Baltic Sea. In Western Europe, it has become
a serious biofouling organism in cooling water
systems, with economic impacts for water-dependent
industries (Laine et al. 2006). The species may
benefit from the future expected climate changeassociated
temperature increase.
Some of the aquatic alien species are beneficial (e.g.,
in the Baltic, the North American rainbow trout in
aquaculture). Perhaps more importantly, many nonnative
species and their larvae play an important role
in the coastal food webs, serving as food sources for
commercially important native species.
indigenous or cryptogenic species in the Baltic
Sea and a list of HELCOM target species that may
impair or damage the environment, human health,
property or resources in the Baltic Sea have been
developed, based on the Baltic Sea Alien Species
Database (www.corpi.ku.lt/nemo) and the report
to HELCOM by Leppäkoski & Gollasch (2006).
These lists will serve as an aid in the implementation
of the specific provisions of the BWM Convention
and the related IMO Guidelines, e.g., related
to risk assessments, and they will be updated on a
regular basis and their accuracy enhanced as new
information becomes available.
All HELCOM countries have agreed to join the initiative
by the OSPAR Commission to request vessels
transiting the Atlantic or entering the North-East
Atlantic from routes passing the West African
Coast to conduct, on a voluntary basis, ballast
water exchange before arriving in the OSPAR area
or passing through the OSPAR area and heading
towards the Baltic Sea, and the IMO was notified
of this action (BWM.2/Circ.14). The General Guidelines
on the Voluntary Interim Application of the
D1 Ballast Water Exchange Standard in the North-
East Atlantic have been applicable from 1 April
2008. Similarly, Guidelines to address vessels
leaving the Baltic and transiting through the OSPAR
maritime area to other destinations are being
6.7.2 Major international frameworks
that address invasive species
Eradication of established aquatic alien species is a
challenging and often hopeless task. Prevention of
further arrivals is the most effective way to address
alien species introductions and, thus, is a crucial
issue for the biosecurity of the Baltic Sea area.
Ships are currently the most important vectors
for alien species. The 2004 International Convention
for Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast
Water and Sediments (BWM Convention) under
IMO will be the global instrument to regulate the
management, treatment and release of ballast
water once it enters into force.
The comb jelly Mertensia sp.
A road map for the implementation of the BWM
Convention in the HELCOM area was included in
the BSAP with the ultimate goal of ratifying the
Convention by all Baltic Sea countries by 2013 at
the latest. As part of the road map, a list of non-
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