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The document argues that mismatches between management units (TACs) and scientific advice units (ICES) make it difficult to monitor whether fishing levels comply with the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Analysis of 112 comparisons shows that only about 28% are directly comparable, while the majority suffer from area or species mismatches that require additional, non-public data to resolve.

The document examines how the transition from regulating landings to regulating catches under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) landing obligation complicates the monitoring of TACs. It highlights that 'top-up' calculations—adding previously discarded amounts to landings advice—are hindered by missing scientific data on discards, a lack of transparency regarding the European Commission's methodology, and the absence of official records for proposed top-up quantities. The author argues that without accessible data on fleet-segment discards and clear methodology, civil society cannot verify if TACs align with scientific advice or the MSY objective.

The document argues that a lack of transparency and data mismatches hinder the ability of stakeholders to verify if EU fish quotas align with scientific advice and the legal requirements of the Common Fisheries Policy. It specifically highlights issues with spatial mismatches between management and advice units, the opacity of the Council of Ministers' decision-making, and the complexities introduced by the landing obligation's 'top-up' calculations. The author recommends that the European Commission publish its matching methodologies, create a centralised database for TACs shared with third countries, and improve the reporting of progress towards MSY.

The document details the European Commission's process for calculating quota top-ups for 2016, the first year of the demersal landing obligation. It explains how ICES and STECF data are used to estimate discards for specific fleet segments, while highlighting significant gaps in data transparency and the failure to account for post-discard mortality under high survival exemptions. The author argues that the lack of publicly available, fleet-segment-specific catch statistics makes it difficult to verify if Total Allowable Catches (TACs) are aligned with Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) objectives.

The report assesses Poland's compliance with the EU Control Regulation and IUU Regulation. While the 2014 Marine Fisheries Act established a necessary legal framework, the report finds that the system is overly complicated and lacks transparency. Data from 2016 indicates a surprisingly low rate of detected infringements compared to the number of inspections, suggesting a lack of effectiveness in detection or a lack of political will to implement sanctions. The report recommends improving inspection quality, providing guidance on administrative sanctions, increasing public access to the national register of infringements, and simplifying the legal framework.

ClientEarth critiques the European Commission's 2017 fishing opportunity proposals, asserting that using FMSY point values as targets rather than limits fails to meet the legal requirement to maintain fish populations 'above' levels capable of producing MSY. The organization highlights a decline in stocks within safe biological limits between 2013 and 2014 and criticizes the Commission's Article 50 report for being misleading and lacking data on biomass levels. Furthermore, ClientEarth warns that quota top-ups for the landing obligation could increase fishing mortality if not strictly based on validated discard data. The response calls for clearer quantitative criteria for socio-economic derogations and a more transparent, comprehensive reporting framework for the landing obligation.

This background report for the BLASTIC project identifies and classifies land-based sources and pathways of macroplastic marine litter (>25 mm). It emphasizes that approximately 80% of marine litter originates from land, with a particular focus on urban areas. The document proposes a framework for municipalities to map litter sources—such as recreation, general littering, waste treatment, and industrial activities—and their corresponding pathways (human direct dumping, wind, and water) to facilitate the creation of local abatement measures.

The document discusses a legal dispute between the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the Council of the European Union over whether multiannual fisheries plans require co-decision. It highlights a Court ruling that such plans involve policy choices and must therefore be adopted by both the Parliament and the Council under Article 43(2) TFEU, rather than by the Council alone under Article 43(3) TFEU.

The report examines the legal requirements of the CFP Basic Regulation regarding Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY). It argues that to achieve the objective of restoring and maintaining stocks above MSY levels, fishing mortality rates must be set below FMSY, treating FMSY as a limit rather than a target. The document identifies failures in the 2015 TAC Regulation and the Baltic Sea multiannual plan proposal, and recommends that all EU fisheries management, financial aid, and international negotiations be strictly aligned with the 2015/2020 FMSY requirement.

The document asserts that the proposed Baltic MAP is legally inconsistent with the CFP basic regulation because it does not guarantee the restoration and maintenance of fish stocks above levels capable of producing maximum sustainable yield (MSY). It specifically criticizes the phrasing 'aim at contributing to the objectives' as allowing for failure to meet CFP goals and argues that the upper limits of proposed exploitation ranges exceed the fishing mortality rate (FMSY) required to restore stocks. The briefing recommends accepting European Parliament amendments to Article 3(1) of the Baltic MAP to ensure legal compliance.

The report examines the applicability of the 169 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets to Sweden's domestic context. Through a rapid screening and detailed interpretation of selected targets, the authors find that the majority of SDGs are relevant to Sweden, challenging the notion that they apply only to developing nations. The paper highlights significant gaps in areas such as youth unemployment, income inequality, and sustainable consumption. It argues that national implementation requires a political, government-led process to translate vague global targets into specific, measurable national goals, emphasizing the need for policy coherence and cross-sectoral coordination.

The document outlines the 'blue growth' strategy of the European Commission and its application to Estonia, focusing on sectors such as international shipping, fisheries, renewable energy, aquaculture, tourism, minerals, and biotechnology. It highlights the tension between economic expansion—such as the growth in cruise tourism and offshore wind potential—and the ecological vulnerability of the Baltic Sea, which faces pressures from pollution, overfishing, and habitat loss. The briefing emphasizes the necessity of maritime spatial planning to balance these competing interests by 2020-2021.

The document assesses the socio-economic analysis (SMA) methodologies used by four Baltic Sea nations to meet the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive. It identifies discrepancies in baseline scenario development and analytical approaches—specifically between ecosystem services and marine accounting—and provides evidence from case studies in Estonia and Latvia regarding public willingness to pay for environmental improvements. The brief recommends a combined qualitative and quantitative approach to measure the cost-effectiveness of new policy measures and emphasizes the need for cross-border coordination to close 'policy gaps' in marine protection.

The 2014 Sustainable Development Forum addressed the balance between economic growth in the maritime sector and the ecological preservation of the Baltic Sea. Key discussions centered on the 'blue growth' concept, the impact of eutrophication, and the potential for offshore wind energy in Estonia. The event highlighted the necessity of international cooperation, spatial planning, and the integration of scientific data to manage the sensitive marine environment sustainably.

The GES-REG project coordinated efforts between Estonia, Finland, Latvia, and Sweden to implement the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) by 2020. The project identified significant variations in how these countries conducted Economic and Social Analysis (ESA), with Latvia and Sweden using an ecosystem services approach while Estonia and Finland used a marine accounts approach. Valuation studies in Estonia and Latvia indicated a public willingness to pay for environmental improvements, with Estonians potentially willing to pay over EUR 11 million annually and Latvians up to EUR 3.8 million per year to reach GES targets. The brief emphasizes that due to data gaps, initial Programmes of Measures (PoMs) will likely rely on a combination of qualitative expert judgments and limited quantitative evidence. It recommends further cross-border coordination on baseline 'business-as-usual' (BAU) scenarios and the harmonization of ecosystem service classifications to better support ecosystem-based governance of the Baltic Sea.

The study examines pig production in the Neman/Nemunas river basin, covering Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, and Kaliningrad (Russia). It highlights a shift toward large-scale industrial farming, which now constitutes 70-85% of the sector, while noting the continued importance of household farms for food security. The report identifies significant water pollution risks from manure management, particularly diffuse-source pollution, and notes a lack of transboundary coordination. Key recommendations include promoting nutrient reuse by linking pig and crop farms, improving manure handling through technologies like biogas plants and deep-litter housing, and strengthening regulatory frameworks to include small-scale producers.

The report examines water protection in Estonia's Pandivere and Adavere-Põltsamaa nitrate-vulnerable zones (NVZ), highlighting a disconnect between administrative water management plans and agricultural policy. While groundwater generally remains below the 50 mg/l nitrate limit, 45% of surface water bodies in the NVZ are in moderate or poor condition. A survey of 52 farmers reveals that while they acknowledge the impact of point-source pollution (e.g., manure storage), they are skeptical about the impact of diffuse pollution from fertilizer quantities and feel that NVZ restrictions create an unfair economic disadvantage compared to farmers outside these zones.

The document examines the complexities of 'doing participation' in environmental governance, arguing that effective engagement requires moving beyond 'tick-box' exercises to a holistic approach that accounts for power dynamics, social-ecological contexts, and the integration of scientific and local knowledge. It presents various case studies and methodologies, such as Q methodology for stakeholder selection and adaptive co-management frameworks, to address the tensions between representative democracy and deliberative practices.

The report develops a high-resolution global inventory of ship emissions (SOx, NOx, PM, and black carbon) using power-weighted ICOADS data. It argues that a business-as-usual (BAU) growth rate of 4.1% per year, driven by trade globalization and containerization, will likely offset current IMO emission control measures. The authors conclude that fleetwide reductions of at least 60% would be required within two decades to maintain 2002 pollution levels.

ClientEarth's feedback on the EU's Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy emphasizes the need for high environmental standards, public transparency, and regional cooperation. It argues that the strategy must adhere to the 'do no harm' principle and the precautionary principle, ensuring that the deployment of offshore wind and other ocean energies does not compromise biodiversity or ignore the rights of public participation under the Aarhus Convention. The document suggests a regional approach to grid development and targeted financial support for technologies that have not yet reached grid parity, such as wave energy.