INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS AND AGREEMENTS

Here is a list of some international conventions, agreements and codes of conduct/guidelines applicable to the protection of the environment and biodiversity, including fishery resources, of the Baltic Sea region. The list is intended to be illustrative rather than definitive.

Year	Convention/Agreement
2007	HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan, a programme to restore the good ecological status of the Baltic marine environment by 2021.
2004	International Maritime Organization (IMO) International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments.
1995	UN Convention on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, seeks to lay down a comprehensive regime for the conservation and management of such stocks.
1995	FAO Code of Conduct on Responsible Fisheries providing guidelines and principles that promotes responsible fishing and fisheries activities, taking into account relevant biological, technological, economic, social, environmental and commercial aspects.
1992	UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) sets an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to tackle the challenge posed by climate change. It recognizes that the climate system is a shared resource whose stability can be affected by industrial and other emissions of heat-trapping ‘greenhouse’ gases (e.g. carbon dioxide, methane and chlorofluorocarbons). The Kyoto Protocol, an international and legally binding agreement to reduce worldwide the emissions of greenhouse gases, entered into force on 16 February 2005.
1992	Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) promoting the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from the use of genetic resources.
1982	UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) identifying rights and duties of States regarding resource management and protection of the marine environment.
1979	Bern Convention for Conservation of European Wildlife (fauna and flora) and Natural Habitats, giving particular emphasis to endangered or vulnerable species including those that are migratory species.
1979	Bonn Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, including 1991 ASCOBANS to protect and conserve small cetaceans in Baltic Sea and North Sea
1974/92	The Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area, established the Helsinki Commission (Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, HELCOM) with the main objectives of protecting the marine environment of the Baltic Sea area from all sources of pollution, and to restore and safeguard the ecological balance of the Baltic Sea area. The 1992 Convention places greater focus on nature conservation and the protection of biological diversity including conserving natural habitats and protecting ecological processes to ensure sustainable use of natural resources.
1973	Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
1973	Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources in the Baltic Sea and Belts (Gdansk Convention), established the International Baltic Sea Fishery Commission (IBSFC) with the objectives of promoting close cooperation among its Contracting Parties in order to preserve and increase the living resources of the Baltic Sea and Belts and obtain the optimum yield, and to coordinate the management of the living resources of the Convention area by collecting, aggregating, analyzing and disseminating statistical data, including catch, fishing effort, and other information. All of the Convention area applies to waters under national jurisdiction.
1973	MARPOL 73/78 – IMO Convention on Marine Pollution from Ships. Limits operational discharges of oil, noxious liquids, and ship generated garbage including litter.
1972	Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (London Convention, formerly the London Dumping Convention).
1971	Ramsar Convention Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat.
1964	Convention for the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) applying to the North Atlantic and its adjacent seas, including the Baltic Sea, aims to a) promote and encourage research and investigations for the study of the marine environment and its living marine resources, b) draw up programmes for this purpose and organize supporting research and investigations, c) publish or otherwise disseminate the results of research and investigations. In addition, since the 1970s, a major task for ICES has involved the provision of scientific information and advice to intergovernmental regulatory commissions (e.g. HELCOM and IBSFC in the Baltic Sea), the European Commission, and the governments of ICES Member Countries, for purposes of fisheries conservation and the protection of the marine environment.
1946	International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, established the International Whaling Commission (IWC), to provide for the conservation of whale stocks and the orderly development of the whaling industry.