BALTIC SEAENVIRONMENT PROCEEDINGS No. 59 - Helcom

life. This objective, which can be interpreted as biological
effects monitoring, is at presently not covered by the BMP.
Diseases and physical anomalies in fish, birds and marine mammals
which might be related to the exposure to pollutants are not
treated in any detail. Thus, more weight should be given to
process- and effect-oriented research efforts. Sensitive
biological methods for effect monitoring should be developed. This
type of monitoring aims at assessing the state of health of marine
biota through the measurement of the reaction of these organisms
to the changes in environmental quality.
Furthermore, vital research suggested by GESPA is given below:
Investigations on the causes and conditions of major inflows of
saline water into the Baltic Sea should be intensified. This
includes modelling activities. Attention should be given the
studies on the exchange processes across the permanent halocline
and between the open sea and the coastal zone.
Estimations of the mass balance of nutrients and trace elements
should also be improved as well as detailed studies on the
biogeochemical nutrient cycles in the Baltic Sea.
More informations should be obtained about biological production
and decomposition rates.
Research should be promoted on the effects of environmental
conditions on the early stages of fish.
The implementation of international monitoring programmes always
causes great difficulties. However, contrary to the monitoring
activities performed on a national level, the joint monitoring
programme has the advantage of enhancing the use of the same
methodology in a large number of geographical areas and for an
extended period of time.
80