State of the Baltic Sea 2023
How is the Baltic Sea ecosystem doing?
The 2021 HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) includes measures that HELCOM countries have agreed on as highly important to halt the deterioration of the Baltic Sea environment.
HELCOM carries out holistic assessments every six years to follow up on how well the agreement is functioning, focusing on how the Baltic Sea ecosystem is doing. These assessments cover ‘moments’ in time over the dynamic life history of the Baltic Sea.
The third HELCOM holistic assessment (HOLAS 3) focuses on the years 2016-2021 and includes results at various levels of detail, including monitoring data, indicator reports and thematic assessments.
State of the Baltic Sea 2023 is a synthesis report that builds on, and integrates, results from a wide range of assessment products produced within the third HELCOM holistic assessment. The role of this summary report is to link information from the underpinning assessment products together, thus highlighting the holistic aspects.
How to access the report
The report is accessible as a downloadable PDF and in a printed format. This website is built around the summary report and serves as an alternative method for gaining familiarity with the study. However, it does not duplicate the complete report. The website's structure differs from the chapter arrangement in the report. For a comprehensive reading of the State of the Baltic Sea 2023 study, we recommend downloading the PDF.
State of the Baltic Sea 2023 — The third HELCOM holistic assessment (HOLAS 3)
State of the Baltic Sea 2023 is a synthesis report that builds on, and integrates, results from a wide range of assessment products produced within the third HELCOM holistic assessment. Its role is to link information from the underpinning assessment products together, thus highlighting the holistic aspects. With this in mind, the summary report focuses on presenting the results and on an in-depth look at why we are seeing these results, providing over-arching context and analysis. The report helps develop a clearer picture of where we are and how things are connected, supporting coordinated and effective measures to strengthen the Baltic Sea environment.
