Indicators and scientific knowledge in regional Baltic Sea environmental policy

Since the 1990s, indicators have emerged as key tools used by the Helsinki Commission ( HELCOM) for drafting regional Baltic Sea management actions and monitoring their implementation. The central role played by indicators in recent years can readily be seen in the 2007 Baltic Sea Action Plan ( BSAP), where they have been used for de. ning quantitative targets and management actions and for providing background information. Similarly, the currently available, annually updated, web-based indicators include performance indicators with quantitative reference and target values, and descriptive indicators without such values. In addition to good indicators, implementation of the ecosystem approach, as is the aim of the BSAP as well as the newly adopted European Marine Strategy Framework Directive, requires extensive implementation of the precautionary principle and related concepts.