WCC 2020 Res 019 - Activity Report

Two CCB Member Organizations - Latvian Green Movement and Green Planet (Russia) - have continued CoastWATCH observations in 2021 (citizen science initiative to monitor, protect and ensure sustainable development of coastal areas (erosion, IAS, marine litter)) and have translated and adapted respective manuals to national languages and conditions. The “Save Latvian Dunes” campaign was maintained in 2020-2021 and coupled with Nature Accessibility principles (NaaC). NaaC flags were raised again for the third season on three beaches in North Kurzeme, Latvia (Roja main beach, Mērsrags lighthouse beach and Ķesterciems beach), which fully meet the criteria of nature accessibility and can be used by everyone - from people in wheelchairs to families with young children. Since 2019, the work on marine and other coastal litter has been focused on coastal clean-up events, including its gamification, using e.g., the Clean Games concept that resulted in CCB’s involvement in 2021 Baltic Clean Games Cup – a litter clean-up tournament and public environmental awareness campaign.

Plastic pollution & toxic substances. In 2021 CCB has continued working on developing actions and recommendations on addressing plastic, pharmaceuticals, mercury, Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs), Highly Hazardous Pesticides and other toxic substances as a part of ‘shadow’ BSAP (Baltic Sea Action Plan - HELCOM’s strategic programme of measures and actions for achieving Good Environmental Status of the Baltic Sea) package. It included advocacy on Baltic Sea Region, national and regional levels for proper policy regulation regarding chemicals management. In 2020 CCB has developed an online (instead of a moving, due to the pandemic) exhibition “Live in / Leaving” under the project "Plastic Free Ocean" with educational and informational content about plastic and toxic flows in the BSR and has promoted it across the Baltic Sea Region.