Oceana concludes second Baltic Sea Expedition

After seven weeks at sea, Oceana’s second Baltic Sea Expedition to document ecologically important areas and analyse their threats, has come to a close.

Press Release Date: June 13, 2012

Location: Madrid

Contact:

Marta Madina | email: mmadina@oceana.org | tel.: Marta Madina

The expedition, which launched in April 2012, covered 4500 miles, carried out 112 ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) operations, 30 scuba dives and collected 41 samples and 20 CTD recordings.

Findings will be used to trigger better conservation of the Baltic Sea ecosystems and improve the management of the human activities which threaten them. Effective fisheries management is needed to guarantee sustainable fisheries and healthy fish stocks.

“In order to secure healthy ecosystem functioning in the long run, more stringent conservation, management and control measures are needed”, states Hanna Paulomäki, Oceana’s Baltic Sea Project Manager. “We need to set aside 30% of the Baltic Sea for meaningfully selected, well-managed marine protected areas. Fisheries must also be better managed and controlled, especially inside marine protected areas. All commercially-caught species must be managed and quotas must be applied to all caught species in order to achieve Maximum Sustainable Yields by 2015.”

Oceana scientists will next process the information along with data collected during last year’s expedition. Findings will be shared with governments, researchers and other NGOs as well as in Oceana’s policy work, which aims to restore the status of the Baltic Sea to one which boasts healthy ecosystems and viable fish stocks.

Oceana’s Baltic campaign and expedition are possible through the generous support of ArcadiaZennström Philanthropies and the Robertson Foundation. Oceana also appreciates Revo for their collaboration.

Learn more: Oceana 2012 Baltic Sea Expedition

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