This dataset contains pre-core indicator data developed under the HELCOM Third Holistic Assessment of the Ecosystem Health of the Baltic Sea (HOLAS 3).

Observations of Melanogrammus aeglefinus were collected from the Baltic Sea area for HELCOM Red List species list. The HELCOM Red List of Baltic Sea species in danger of becoming extinct (2013) is the first threat assessment for Baltic Sea species that covers all marine mammals, fish, birds, macrophytes (aquatic plants), and benthic invertebrates, and follows the Red List criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Almost 2800 species were considered in the Red List assessment and about 1750 were evaluated according to the IUCN Red List criteria. Melanogrammus aeglefinus has been placed to the Red List category of Near Threatened (NT) species. The map shows the sub-basins in the HELCOM area where the species is known to occur regularly and to reproduce (HELCOM 2012).

This online application serves as a joint regional tool to identify low risk routes for IMO Ballast Water Convention exemptions (A-4) for HELCOM and OSPAR marine areas. Data are provided following the port survey protocol described in the HELCOM/OSPAR Joint Harmonised Procedure. https://helcom.fi/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/HELCOM-OSPAR-Joint-Harmonized-Procedure-for-BWMC-A-4-exemptions_2020.pdf The database contains environmental data recorded from OSPAR and HELCOM ports as well as species observations and applies World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) taxonomy. The data model used is based on Darwin Core format, with required extensions added. The database can be searched, viewed and downloaded using a specific web application. The whole database can be downloaded as a zipped ESRI File geodatabase. The HELCOM/OSPAR Ballast Water Exemptions Decision Support Tool was further developed in the EU INTERREG Baltic Sea Region project COMPLETE, following work developed with funding through the HELCOM ALIENS 2 and 3 and BALSAM projects by the HELCOM Secretariat and Germany (BSH/Brockmann consult). The data contained in the database are resulting from various sources and contains also historical legacy data from old projects. Main sources are listed below: - HELCOM and OSPAR countries national projects - HELCOM ALIENS 2 - HELCOM ALIENS 3 - HELCOM BALSAM

Concentration of phosphorus pressure layer is interpolated from annual seasonal average of total phosphorus measurements from surface waters (0-10 m) extracted from ICES’s oceanographic database, database of Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, EEA’s Eionet database and Data from Gulf of Finland year 2014. The points were interpolated to cover the entire Baltic Sea with Spline with barriers interpolation method. Values were log-transformed and normalised (more detailed description below).

Observations of Calidris alpina schinzii were collected from the Baltic Sea area for HELCOM Red List species list. The HELCOM Red List of Baltic Sea species in danger of becoming extinct (2013) is the first threat assessment for Baltic Sea species that covers all marine mammals, fish, birds, macrophytes (aquatic plants), and benthic invertebrates, and follows the Red List criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Almost 2800 species were considered in the Red List assessment and about 1750 were evaluated according to the IUCN Red List criteria. Calidris alpina schinzii has been placed to the Red List category of Endangered (EN) species. The map shows the species range only during breeding season.

This dataset contains data used for the HELCOM Core indicator State of the soft-bottom macrofauna community for HOLAS 3. Attribute information: "SampleID" = Sample ID "Station" = Station name "Year" = Year of sampling event "Latitude" = Latitude coordinate (WGS84 decimal degrees) "Longitude" = Longitude coordinate (WGS84 decimal degrees) "Depth" = Depth of station (m) "Sentivit" = Sensitivity subset "Sampling_a" = Sampling area (cm2) "Sieve_mesh" = Sive mesh size (microm) "BQI" = Benthic quality index value "Data sourc" = Source of data (national monitoring / other) "Data_origi" = Data providing organization "Country" = Data providing country "Assessment" = HELCOM Level 2 assessment unit where the station resides

This core indicator evaluates the status of abundance of breeding waterbirds in the Baltic Sea region. The breeding waterbirds are considered to reflect good status when at least 75% of the considered species deviate less than 30% downwards (species laying more than one egg per year) or 20% downwards (species laying one egg per year) from the baseline condition during the reference period 1991-2000. This dataset displays the result of the indicator in HELCOM Assessment Scale 1 (Whole Baltic Sea). Attribute information: "Status" = Status of the indicator (“Achieve”, “Fail” or “Not assessed”) "AULEVEL" = Assessment unit level used for the indicator "level_1" = Name of HELCOM scale 1 assessment unit "Common Shelduck" = Results for common shelduck "Eurasian Oystercatcher" = Results for Eurasian oystercatcher "Pied Avocet" = Results for pied avocet "Ringed Plover" = Results for ringed plover "Turnstone" = Results for turnstone "Dunlin" = Results for dunlin "Arctic Skua" = Results for Arctic skua "Common Gull" = Results for common gull "Herrin Gull" = Results for herring gull "Lesser black-backed gull" = Results for lesser black-backed gull "Little Tern" = Results for little tern "Caspian Tern" = Results for Caspian tern "Arctic Tern" = Results for Arctic tern "Goosander" = Results for goosander "Red-breasted Merganser" = Results for red-breasted merganser "Great crested grebe" = Results for great crested grebe "Great Cormorant" = Results for great cormorant "Razorbill" = Results for razorbill "Common Guillemot" = Results for common guillemot "Black Guillemot" = Results for black guillemot "Tufted Duck" = Results for tufted duck "Common Eider" = Results for common eider "Velvet Scoter" = Results for velvet scoter "Mute Swan" = Results for mute swan "Graylag Goose" = Results for greylag goose "Great black-backed Gull" = Results for great black-backed gull "Sandwich Tern" = Results for sandwich tern "Greater Scaup" = Results for greater scaup

Summary Estimated observations of the biotope 1130 were collected from the Baltic Sea area by expert judgements for HELCOM Red List of biotopes, habitats and biotope complexes. Description Estuaries The HELCOM Red List of Baltic Sea underwater biotopes, habitats and biotope complexes (2013) is an updated and improved version of the Red List assessment of marine and coastal biotopes and biotope complexes published in 1998. The classification of the report follows the proposed International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria and assessment principals but with some modifications for the Baltic Sea.Altogether, the HELCOM Underwater Biotope and habitat classification (HELCOM HUB) includes 209 biotopes of which 59 were red-listed. Many of the red-listed biotopes are located in deep areas of the Baltic Sea due to oxygen-free nature as well as in the southwestern Baltic Sea due to the salinity restricted distribution of species in certain biotope. The HELCOM assessment relies heavily on expert judgment and inference, and the questionnaire data represents the estimated presence-absence data not in-situ measured data. This must be taken in account when observing the map presentation. The biotopes are shown on the map using the EEA 100 km grid. This dataset displays estimated presence of the biotope 1130 according to HELCOM RED LIST assessment experts:Estuaries are present in the entire Baltic Sea area. Examples of river mouth areas in Denmark: Gudenåen-Randers Fjord, Horsens Fjord, Vejle Fjord, Kolding Fjord Sweden: Bräkneån, Hagbyån, Virån, Loftaån, Finland: Porvoonjoki river mouth area, Kymijoki river mouth area, Merikarvianjoki, Aurajoki river mouth area, Russia: Neva estuary, Germany: Trave estuary, Warnow estuary, Peene mouth area. The known occurrences of the estuary biotope complex in a 100x100 km grid (Naturvårdverket 2011, EUNIS Database, HELCOM 1998)(Data (expert judgements) collected in HELCOM RED LIST project, released in May 2013)

Summary Estimated observations of the biotopes AA.E1F1 and AB.E1F1 were collected from the Baltic Sea area by expert judgements for HELCOM Red List of biotopes, habitats and biotope complexes. Description Baltic photic or aphotic shell gravel dominated by vase tunicate (Ciona intestinalis)The HELCOM Red List of Baltic Sea underwater biotopes, habitats and biotope complexes (2013) is an updated and improved version of the Red List assessment of marine and coastal biotopes and biotope complexes published in 1998. The classification of the report follows the proposed International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria and assessment principals but with some modifications for the Baltic Sea.Altogether, the HELCOM Underwater Biotope and habitat classification (HELCOM HUB) includes 209 biotopes of which 59 were red-listed. Many of the red-listed biotopes are located in deep areas of the Baltic Sea due to oxygen-free nature as well as in the southwestern Baltic Sea due to the salinity restricted distribution of species in certain biotope. The HELCOM assessment relies heavily on expert judgment and inference, and the questionnaire data represents the estimated presence-absence data not in-situ measured data. This must be taken in account when observing the map presentation. The biotopes are shown on the map using the EEA 100 km grid. This dataset displays estimated presence of AA.E1F1 and AB.E1F1 according to HELCOM RED LIST assessment experts:The biotopes are known from German waters in the Baltic Sea, but may also occur in other areas in the southwestern Baltic Sea where the vase tunicate (Ciona intestinalis) occurs. The distribution map indicates the area in the 100 x 100 km grid where biotopes are known to occur. The biotopes may potentially occur in other areas with high salinity on shell gravel covered bottoms, but are currently not known from other locations.(Data (expert judgements) collected in HELCOM RED LIST project, released in May 2013)

Observations of Amblyraja radiata were collected from the Baltic Sea area for HELCOM Red List species list. The HELCOM Red List of Baltic Sea species in danger of becoming extinct (2013) is the first threat assessment for Baltic Sea species that covers all marine mammals, fish, birds, macrophytes (aquatic plants), and benthic invertebrates, and follows the Red List criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Almost 2800 species were considered in the Red List assessment and about 1750 were evaluated according to the IUCN Red List criteria. Amblyraja radiata has been placed to the Red List category of Least Concern (LC) species. The map shows the sub-basins in the HELCOM area where the species is known to occur regularly and to reproduce (HELCOM 2012).