1. Theme 3 – Physical loss and damage to the seafloor
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2. BalticBOOST Theme 1 - Biodiversity
development of a biodiversity assessment tool and improving data arrangements for the biodiversity elements where this is limited
Theme 2 - Hazardous substances 
Refine an existing HELCOM tool for assessing the status hazardous substances
Theme 3 - Physical loss and damage to seabed habitats
Theme 4 - Noise 
Review existing knowledge, explore acceptable levels and survey possible management measures
​Theme 5 - Joint documentation of PoMs 
Support the development of a joint document on regional coordinated Programmes of Measures and a system to follow-up actions agreed by HELCOM. ​
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3. What?
Analyze physical loss and impact to the seafloor and explore ways to determine how much disturbance from different activities specific seabed habitats can tolerate while remaining in Good Environmental Status (GES)
WP 3.1 Continue the development of environmental targets in HELCOM by developing a methodology for integrating impacts from multiple pressures and guidelines for setting environmental targets
WP 3.2 Continue the BALTFIMPA project by producing a quantitative estimation of fishing gear impacts on seafloor habitats, with test-case examples
WP 3.3 Define information needs on pressures and activities that affect the seabed habitats
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4. Why?
Improve regional coherence in the implementation of marine strategies 
The outputs will also support the HELCOM holistic assessment (HOLAS II) in the assessment of impacts to the seafloor
The outputs of WP 3.1 can be used by Contracting Parties to develop coherent national environmental targets
The outputs of WP 3.2 could be used by natural resource managers around the Baltic to evaluate current fisheries management practices
The outputs of WP 3.3 will be used to provide support to this Theme as well as future assessment of pressures impacting the Baltic Sea
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5. Who?
The project is coordinated by HELCOM and has 10 partners from the HELCOM EU Member States and one international organisation (ICES)
Theme 3 members
The project implementation is guided by HELCOM groups, as well as HELCOM workshops carried out as part of the project.​
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6. How? Literature and data based approach For fisheries (WP 3.2):
Use fishing pressure and habitat data to assess impact
For other impacts (WP 3.1):
Use literature information to assess the extent of impacts
Test cases (both WPs):
Use real data on a limited scale to groundtruth general findings
Linkages:
Integration of fisheries and other impacts is still under investigation, possibility to use Baltic Sea Impact Index (BSII) ad a bridge between impacts and a connection with HOLAS II
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7. When? Project started 15 September 2015 and will end 15 December 2016
Theme 3 runs throughout the project duration
In the past months the Theme held joint and WP specific meetings to define the work methodology and documents were submitted to relevant HELCOM Groups for guidance
Draft outputs of the work are expected for September 2016
Draft outputs are going to be reviewed by ICES external experts and relevant HELCOM Groups; their comments will be integrated in the final version of the Theme outputs, which is to be ready at the end of the project in December 2016
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8. What now?
How to ensure that fisheries and non-fisheries impact categories will match in sensitivities?
How to integrate fisheries and non-fisheries impact in the work of 3.1?
What is the final approach to follow in WPs 3.1 and 3.2?
Are there other case studies that could be used for fisheries/non-fisheries impacts?
How, and by whom, could the results be used?
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10. How much pressure a site can tolerate and still remain in GES?
Proposal to use Benthic Quality Index (BQI) for offshore waters, and EU WFD vegetation indices for national waters, to assess distance from GES
In practice, many simplifications and assumptions based on expert knowledge will be needed and there will likely be difficulties to distinguish the impacts of physical pressures from other pressures, such as eutrophication, chemical pollution and changes in food web structure
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