Project title: “Improving knowledge on the state of the marine environment”
Financed by European Maritime and Fisheries Fund 2014-2020
Lead by Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of the Republic of Latvia
Consultative support by Baltic Environmental Forum-Latvia
Project Nr.: 17-00-F06803-000001
Duration: 06/2017-06/2022
Aim: to improve the knowledge of the marine ecosystem, the state of the marine environment and the pressures to achieve and maintain good environmental status in the marine environment in accordance with Directive 2008/56 / EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive) and Latvian marine legislation and governance.
To achieve the project goal, the state of the marine environment, marine ecosystem, pressures affecting the marine environment and their interactions are researched as well as socio-economic analysis of marine use and assessment of socio-economic benefits of marine uses are studied to justify and develop proposals for measures to achieve good marine environmental status and conservation in marine waters under the jurisdiction of Latvia.
Study “Improving knowledge of the marine ecosystem, the state of the marine environment and the pressures affecting it” (2017-2022), implemented by the Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology. The study covers 11 topics to characterize the state of the marine environment and the causes and trends of its changes, to assess the elements of the marine ecosystem and biological and physical pressures affecting the marine environment, as well as to identify and quantify key ecosystem values, non-monetary assessment of marine degradation.
Study “Building a knowledge and information base of economic and social analysis of the use of marine waters and achievement of the marine environmental targets” (2017-2021), implemented by AKTiiVS Ltd. The study includes an economic and social analysis of marine use, an assessment of the costs of marine degradation, an assessment of potentially necessary additional measures and their cost-effectiveness analysis, an assessment of the socio-economic benefits of the sea and the use of ecosystem services.
Study “Determination of nutrient loads to the Baltic Sea from major land-based pollution sources to define effective measures for pollution reduction” (2018), implemented by the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre. The study includes an analysis of information and data on the assessment of pollution loads from the territory of Latvia to the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga, Latvia's progress in reducing pollution loads and meeting HELCOM targets for improving the ecological status of the Baltic Sea.
Study “Study on sediment flow and application of indicators on the qualitative descriptor “Hydrographical conditions” for determining the good environmental status” (2019), implemented by Center of Processes´ Analysis and Research Ltd. The study evaluates the nature of sediment movement and geomorphological changes in the part of the sea area under the Latvian jurisdiction, approbating indicators of the qualitative descriptor of good marine environment status “Hydrographic conditions” specified in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
Study “Report on the Rīga wastewater treatment plant, Daugavpils wastewater treatment plant and Liepāja City and Harbour for the removal from the HELCOM “hot spots” list” (2020), implemented by the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre. The study supplemented the existing information with the latest available data and concluded that the Riga city wastewater treatment plant complies with the existing criteria for the removal of the Riga WWTP from the HELCOM list of “hot spots”*. The only aspect that hinders the removal of Daugavpils WWTP from the HELCOM list of “hot spots” is the long-lasting problem with the treatment of stored sewage sludge as well as with the clean-up of sewage sludge disposal territory in accordance with environmental requirements. Liepāja WWTP should also be proposed for removal from the list of “hot spots”, but the amount of accumulated pollution in the Liepāja Harbour (Karosta canal) is still assessed as significant, and therefore deleting the site from the HELCOM list of “hot spots” would be difficult.
* The Riga WWTP has been deleted from the list of “hot spots” by the decision of the 59th meeting of HELCOM Heads of Delegation (7.-8.12.2020).
Contact information: Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of the Republic of Latvia, Department of Environmental protection, Water resources division, senior expert Ms. Baiba Zasa, email: baiba.zasa@varam.gov.lv
More information about the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund available on the European Commission website: https://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/cfp/emff/
