This core indicator evaluates the status of the marine environment based on the reproductive status of seals in the Baltic Sea. Quantitative thresholds are used to evaluate if core indicators status is Achieve, Fail or Not assessed. Good status is achieved when the annual reproductive rate (i.e. pregnancy/birth rate) is at least 90% for five years and older (harbour seals) and six years and older (grey and ringed seals). Currently, a full status evaluation has only been carried out for the grey seal based on Finish and Swedish data. The indicator is applicable for all species of seals and marine mammals that occur in the Baltic Sea, however the amount of data have so far been insufficient for an evaluation of other marine mammal species. This dataset displays the result of the indicator in HELCOM Assessment Scale 1 (Whole Baltic). Attribute information: "Species" = Species "CODE" = Code of the assessment unit "Assessment" = Assessment unit name "Threshold" = Threshold value of core indicator "Result value" = Result value of core indicator "Binomial proportion confidence interval" "Status" = Status for the whole indicator "Notes" = Additional information "AULEVEL" = Assessment unit level used for the indicator "ConfA" = Confidence of classification "ConfT" = Temporal confidence of classification "ConfS" = Spatial confidence of classification "ConfM" = Methodological confidence of classification

This core indicator evaluates the status of the marine environment based on the presence of hazardous substances in the bottom sediments. The rate of embryo malformations indicates reproductive toxicity due to the presence of hazardous substances in the bottom sediments. The threshold value has not been achieved on all stations within each basin indicating that toxic effects of contaminants may be present. The variability of the malformation rate is much greater within a basin than between the Bothnian Sea and the Baltic proper. This dataset displays the result of the indicator in HELCOM Assessment Scale 2 (Division of the Baltic Sea into 17 sub-basins). Attribute information: "HELCOM_ID" = Code of the HELCOM scale 4 assessment unit "level_2" = name of subbasin "Area (km2)" = Area of the HELCOM scale 2 assessment unit "L2" = ID for the HELCOM scale 2 assessment unit "AULEVEL" = Assessment unit level used for the indicator "STATUS" = Status of the indicator (“Achieve”, “Fail”, "Not assessed" or “Not applicable”)