Data represent the presence/absence distribution of Benthic species in the Baltic Sea in 1x1km grid. Map is based on data submitted for the HOLAS3 data call and complemented with data from HOLAS2 and HELCOM Biodiversity databases. All datasets are first aggregated to a 5x5km grid and areas deeper than 10m are excluded. For the 5 new species in HOLAS3 (Potamogeton, Myriophyllum, Najas marina, Fontinalis, Callitriche, Zanichellia) only data reported for HOLAS3 and data in the biodiversity database were used. For Mytilus no filtering with depth was made.

This dataset describes fishing intensity for subsurface mobile bottom contacting gear in 2016 based on VMS/Log book data processed by ICES Working Group on Spatial Fisheries Data (WGSFD). ICES secretariat collected during 2017 relevant VMS and logbook data for 2009-2016 to produce, as a technical service to HELCOM, updated spatial data layers on fishing intensity/pressure. Improved data quality control checks were implemented. Submitted data across the HELCOM area have improved in quality compared to previous data 2009-2013 published in 2015. Standardized methods were used to produce the requested data layers. The code used to create the data products is available here: https://github.com/ices-eg/wg_WGSFD For further technical information on the advice request, see http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Advice/2017/Special_requests/helcom.2017.18.pdf HELCOM secretariat did the following processing to the shapefile provided by ICES: - Conversion to ETRS89LAEA coordinate system - Added feature and attribute "Reported" to display unreported areas. Dataset attribute information: c-square: Unique reference of the c-square polygon Year: Year of fishing activity mid_lat: latitude coordinate of the centroid of c-square inWGS84 decimal degrees mid_lon: longitude coordinate of the centroid of c-square inWGS84 decimal degrees SurfaceSAR: Surface area ratio (Swept area, < 2 cm penetration depth of the gear components) Subsurface: Subsurface area ratio (Swept area, subsurface =>2 cm penetration depth of the gear components) totweight: Total Weight (kg) totvalue: Total value (Euros) Kw Fishing Hours: (Kw*h) Fishing hours: (h) Reported: Yes=Reported data. No= No reported data (area that does not contain effort/intensity value due to lack of reported data). Please note that this dataset was updated (v2) in January 2019, see further details below in the lineage section.

This dataset describes fishing intensity for OT DMF mobile bottom contacting gear in 2010 based on VMS/Log book data processed by ICES Working Group on Spatial Fisheries Data (WGSFD). ICES secretariat collected during 2017 relevant VMS and logbook data for 2009-2016 to produce, as a technical service to HELCOM, updated spatial data layers on fishing intensity/pressure. Improved data quality control checks were implemented. Submitted data across the HELCOM area have improved in quality compared to previous data 2009-2013 published in 2015. Standardized methods were used to produce the requested data layers. The code used to create the data products is available here: https://github.com/ices-eg/wg_WGSFD For further technical information on the advice request, see http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Advice/2017/Special_requests/helcom.2017.18.pdf HELCOM secretariat did the following processing to the shapefile provided by ICES: - Conversion to ETRS89LAEA coordinate system - Added feature and attribute "Reported" to display unreported areas. Dataset attribute information: c-square: Unique reference of the c-square polygon Year: Year of fishing activity mid_lat: latitude coordinate of the centroid of c-square inWGS84 decimal degrees mid_lon: longitude coordinate of the centroid of c-square inWGS84 decimal degrees SurfaceSAR: Surface area ratio (Swept area, < 2 cm penetration depth of the gear components) Subsurface: Subsurface area ratio (Swept area, subsurface =>2 cm penetration depth of the gear components) totweight: Total Weight (kg) totvalue: Total value (Euros) Kw Fishing Hours: (Kw*h) Fishing hours: (h) Reported: Yes=Reported data. No= No reported data (area that does not contain effort/intensity value due to lack of reported data). Please note that this dataset was updated (v2) in January 2019, see further details below in the lineage section.

Observations of Cottus gobio 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. Cottus gobio 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).

This dataset was prepared within the COMPLETE project (Completing management options in the Baltic Sea Region to reduce risk of invasive species introduction by shipping, 2017-2021), funded by the EU Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme, includes partner institutions from Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Sweden, as well as HELCOM (https://www.balticcomplete.com/). The dataset includes only cleaning companies, which offer capture and filtration of the cleaning waste according the COMPLETE project recommendations. The administrations of the ports have to be contacted to check if cleaning is permitted and what requirements for a cleaning have to be fulfilled. There is included data layer of effective, environmentally sustainable, and appropriate antifouling systems for ships and boats operating in the Baltic Sea and summary of aspects concerning IWC of commercial ships and leisure boats. All information is without guarantee. We endeavour to ensure that the information presented here is complete, but despite regular follow-up checks and research, we cannot guarantee it. If a company is not listed, you can contact us any time and we will check whether it is included in the database and in the map. Our contacts: biofouling@bsh.de; solvita.strake@lhei.lv

Observations of Molva molva 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. Molva molva has been placed to the Red List category of Endangered (EN) species. The map shows the sub-basins in the HELCOM area where the species is known to occur regularly and to reproduce (HELCOM 2012).

The dataset contains information on commercial gillnet fishery in Baltic Sea in 2007 (Lithuanian data from 2008). Total catches/landings are given per ICES rectangle in tons. The dataset contains information on commercial gillnet fishery in Baltic Sea in 2007 (Lithuanian data from 2008). Total catches/landings are given per ICES rectangle in tons. Gillnet gears (included in the gear category 3, coastal and stationary gears) includes falling gears, live-bait gears set gillnets, trammel nets, handlines and pole-lines. The catches/landings per ICES rectangle are also given per species. Data was requested from HELCOM contracting parties through HELCOM HOLAS project. Landings/ catches data from Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia is based on national data, while Russian data is based on the ICES report "Report of the Baltic Fisheries Assessment Working Group (WGBFAS)" (2008). Commercial fishery data was reported by the following persons/authorities to HELCOM Secretariat: Germany:Dr. Christopher Zimmermann (Institut für Ostseefischerei (OSF), Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut (vTI), Bundesforschungsinstitut für Ländliche Räume, Wald und Fischerei) Lithuania: Open sea: Irina Jakovleva (Fisheries Reguliation Division, Baltic Sea Fisheries Department, Fisheries Department under the Ministry of Agriculture); coastal: Rimantas Repecka (Head of Laboratory of Marine Ecology, Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University) Sweden: Jarl Engquist (Avdelningen för fiskerikontroll, Swedish Board of Fisheries) Latvia: Marina Fettere (Fishery and Information section, Latvian Fish Resources Agency) Finland: Pirkko Söderkultalahti (Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute) Estonia: Ministry of Agriculture Denmark: Troels Pade (The Danish Directorate of Fisheries, Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries) Russia: no contact person, data from ICES reports Poland: Malgorzata Marciniewicz-Mykieta (Departament Monitoringu i Informacji o Srodowisku, Glówny Inspektorat Ochrony Srodowiska) Abbreviation of species ABK=White Bream; ACC=Ruffe; ACH=Charr; ALR=Bleak; ANE=European anchovy; ANF=Anglerfishes; BLL=Brill; CAT=Rockfishes; CGO=Goldfish; COD=Cod; CRA=Marine crabs; CRE=Edible Crab; CSH=Common shrimp; DAB=Dab; DGS=Sourdog/Spint Dogfish; ELE=Eel; ELP=Eelpout; FAS=Asp; FBM=Bream; FBR=Freshwater breams; FBU=Burbot; FCC=Crucian carp; FCP=Common carp; FGR=Grayling; FID=Orfe (=Ide); FIE=Common dace; FLE=Flounder; FLX=Flatfishes; FPE=Perch; FPI=Pike; FPP=Zander (Pikeperch); FRD=Rudd; FRF=Freshwater fishes; FRO=Roach; FRU=Ruffe; FSB=Silver bream; FTE=Tench; FVE=Vendace (Cisco); FVI=Freshwater Vimba; GAR=Garfish; GPA=Gobies; GTA=Three-Spined Stickleback; GUG=Grey Gurnard; HAD=Haddock; HAL=Halibut; HER=Herring; HKE=Hake; HOM=Horse Mackarel; JAX=Jack and horse mackerels; LAR=River lamprey; LAU=Sea lamprey; LBE=European Lobster; LEM=Lemon Sole; LIN=Ling; LUM=Lumpfish; MAC=Mackerel; MLR=Thicklip Grey Mullet; MON=Monkfish; MQS=Four Spined Sculpin; MTL=Thick-lipped Mullet; MUL=Grey mullets; MUS=Blue mussel; MUX=Surmullets (= Red mullets); MZZ=Marine fishes; NBU=Round Goby NEP=Norway lobster; NOP=Norway pout; OTH=Other sp; PLA=Long-rough dab; PLE=Plaice; PLN=European Whitefish; POK=Saithe; POL=Pollack; PPZ=Common Prawn; PRA=Northern Pink Shrimp; SAL=Salmon; SAN=Sandeels; SKA=Skates, rays; SKB=Sticklebacks; SME=Smelt; SOL=Sole; SPR=Sprat; SQU=Squids; SRA=Atlantic searobins; SRE=Rudd; TAS=Twaite Shad; TGQ=Fourhorn Sculpin; TRB=Rainbow Trout; TRO=Trouts; TRR=Rainbow Trout; TRS=SeaTrout; TSD=Twaite Shad; TUR=Turbot; UNK=Unknown Catches; USK=Tusk; WEG=Greater Weever; WHB=Blue Whiting; WHF=Whitefish, Houting, Powan; WHG=Whiting; WIT=Witch; VIV=Vimba bream

This dataset depicts risk of oil spill from overtaking and head-on collisions. The modeled risk is calculated for the scenario year 2020 based on predicted shipping traffic density. The area of the bubbles corresponds to the risk of spill of oil and hazardous substances. The unit of the risk is average tonnes per year. This dataset has been produced by Albrecht Lentz, COWI (http://www.cowi.dk) for the BRISK project (Sub-regional risk of spill of oil and hazardous substances in the Baltic Sea, http://www.brisk.helcom.fi/). The dataset is a model result from a software code owned and operated by COWI. BRISK and BRISK-RU provide information on spatial distribution of risks of pollution from ships in the six sub-regions of the Baltic Sea, according to different types of accidents and spill sizes. The assessment takes into account the existing risk control measures as well as the prognosis for future maritime traffic. Groundings and ship-to-ship collisions are by far the most likely types of accidents resulting in pollution. Other kinds of incidents, such as fire, collisions with fixed objects, spills from offshore platforms, as well as illegal discharges have minor contribution to the risks. Further, the oil impact has been modelled. The oil impact can be described as the amount of spilled oil that is expected on the sea surface. The effects of oil drift, weathering and fate, as well as the oil recovery are taken into account. Field descriptions: LON: Longitude (center of ellipse) LAT: Latitude (center of ellipse) SPILLALL: Risk [average tonnes per year], sum of all spills. Used for visualization. SPILL12: Risk [average tonnes per year], small size spills. SPILL34: Risk [average tonnes per year], medium size spills. SPILL123: Risk [average tonnes per year], small & medium size spills. SPILL4: Risk [average tonnes per year], medium size spills. SPILL1234: Risk [average tonnes per year], small & medium size spills. SPILL567: Risk [average tonnes per year] large spills.

Summary EC Council Regulation (EC) No 1098/2007 of 18 September 2007 establishing a multiannual plan for the cod stocks in the Baltic Sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks (amending Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 779/97). Description EC Council Regulation (EC) No 1098/2007 of 18 September 2007 establishing a multiannual plan for the cod stocks in the Baltic Sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks (amending Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 779/97). According to Article 9 of the regulation: 1. It shall be prohibited to conduct any fishing activity from 1 May to 31 October within the areas enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the following positions, which shall be measured according to the WGS84 coordinate system: (a) Area 1: . 55 45 N, 15 30 E . 55 45 N, 16 30 E . 55 00 N, 16 30 E . 55 00 N, 16 00 E . 55 15 N, 16 00 E . 55 15 N, 15 30 E . 55 45 N, 15 30 E (b) Area 2: . 55 00 N, 19 14 E . 54 48 N, 19 20 E . 54 45 N, 19 19 E . 54 45 N, 18 55 E . 55 00 N, 19 14 E (c) Area 3: . 56 13 N, 18 27 E . 56 13 N, 19 31 E . 55 59 N, 19 13 E . 56 03 N, 19 06 E . 56 00 N, 18 51 E . 55 47 N, 18 57 E . 55 30 N, 18 34 E . 56 13 N, 18 27 E 2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, fishing with gillnets, entangling nets and trammel nets of a mesh size equal to or larger than 157 mm or with drifting lines shall be permitted. No other gear shall be kept on board. 3. When fishing with any of the gear types defined in paragraph 2, no cod shall be retained on board.

This data set contains the most up-to-date reported data about zoobenthos monitoring stations in the Baltic Sea. It was collected during the HELCOM MORE project. The data set was updated in 18 February 2015 with Finnish and Swedish monitoring stations reported by the end of 2014 as requested in HELCOM STATE 1-2014 meeting. Following update was done in 11 September 2015 regarding Polish stations following update request in HELCOM STATE & CONSERVATION 2-2015 meeting. The Finnish monitoring stations were updated in December 2020.