Assessing the effectiveness and coherence of the existing network of marine protected areas and developing measures to improve their coherence; developing and implementing a monitoring programme for marine protected areas. Making changes in the network of marine protected areas in order to increase coherence and efficiency (changing the boundaries of protected areas, introducing changes to the conservation management plans of protected areas according to the results of the efficiency analysis). Determining which measures other than the conservation management plans of marine protected areas contribute to the protection of species by evaluating the use of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECM) in the Estonian sea area. Participating in the development of HELCOM MPA management guidelines and evaluating the effectiveness of Estonian measures according to developed methodology by 2025 and publicizing the results, including providing the necessary input to HELCOM. Prepare a compliance assessment of Estonian marine protected areas according to the updated HELCOM instructions, including assessing: 1. national and regional coherence of Estonian marine protected areas, management efficiency and representation of protection regimes; 2. sufficiency of marine protection management plans or other area-based conservation measures for the protection of HELCOM Red Book species and their habitats; 3. sufficiency of conservation management plans or other area-based conservation measures for the protection of threatened and declining species; 4. sufficiency of conservation management plans of marine protected areas or other area-based conservation measures related to fishing intensity; 5. the need to establish conservation measures for areas important for biodiversity and ecosystem resilience that are not directly rare or endangered [by 2025] Development of protection measures based on the compliance assessment of Estonian marine protected areas, including forwarding of national input to HELCOM [by 2027]

1) Support testing and applying new techniques to reduce bycatch (i.e. catching non-target fish species, birds and mammals). 2) Developing and implementing financial support measures to reduce bycatch. One of the sub-activities is to support the introduction of seal deterrents to reduce marine mammal bycatch in commercial fishing gear. 3) Identify problems related to bird bycatch, plan possible voluntary and regulatory measures, especially for important bird areas, to prevent bird bycatch [by 2027].

The main factor affecting biodiversity and abundance of fish populations, the status of industrial fish stocks and the structure of food webs is fishing. The studies so far have indicated that the large number of fishing gear potentially in use and for which licences have been issued to fishermen in Estonian maritime areas is one of the main reasons that prevents achieving GES. Thus, it is necessary to reduce the number of fishing gear potentially in use, but at the same time, it is necessary to develop a concept of how to implement the change in a way to reduce the possible negative socio-economic impact. The concept must propose various solutions to achieve the target.

The aim of the measure is to prevent or reduce possible negative environmental impacts to marine ecosystems caused by offshore infrastructure developments; including fish farms (e.g. non-indigenous species; ecological and genetical impacts to local fish communities; introduction of antibiotics; other pharmaceuticals and hazardous substances; implementing HELCOM recommendation 37/3). As for the blue economy development projects, there are no minimum EIA requirements and there is also no standard for monitoring during operational phase. As these are mostly maritime areas for which the existing information is extremely patchy, it is not possible to rely only on the existing information. Within the measure, EIA minimum requirements for development projects (description of the necessary information to conduct an EIA) and an EIA-SAE ex-post assessment system will be prepared. Preparing guidance document (standard) for monitoring during the operational phase of blue economy projects.

The aim of the measure is to ensure that all the Estonian national regulations are up to date for implementing international, EU and regional measures. Activities: All needs to supplement regulations related to the implementation of updated BSAP will be thoroughly reviewed, updated and enforced.

The aim of the measure is to ensure Estonia's participation in international cooperation in the field of marine environmental protection within the frameworks of HELCOM, IMO, EU, etc. Activities: Participating in international cooperation in the field of marine environmental protection within the framework of HELCOM, IMO, EU, etc. For example participating in implementing HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) measures or activities, HELCOM recommendations and HELCOM Science Agenda.

The aim of the measure is to inform and involve stakeholders, other target groups and wider public in marine environment protection activities. Specific actions will be planned during the work. The initial focus will be on the areas of wastewater/sewage water, plastic waste, hazardous substances and pharmaceutical residues.

The aim of the measure is to improve the collection and management of environmental and anthropogenic pressure data, to provide more adequate data for environmental- and status assessments, to ensure better availability of environmental information and ease the use of databases. Activities: - IT developments in updating databases; - Developing relevant environmental information services (spatial information, status, data) for the general public (environmental portals, etc.) and for joint use of data with competent national institutions, universities and the private sector; - Development of methodologies and models for assessing the status of marine environment, including increasing the role of remote sensing in status assessments; - Participation in international cooperation projects (HELCOM, ICES, EEA, JRC, CMEMS, EOOS, etc.) to improve data exchange and management and to develop relevant data exchange services; - Formulating proposals for the legislation changes to improve data exchange; increasing awareness and knowledge of the interest groups and promote the involvement of citizen science.

As a result of straightening and damming of the rivers, and vegetal overgrowth in small bays and shallow sea areas, the quantity and quality of accessible spawning grounds for many fish populations (e. g. pike, ide, dace, roach, burbot, sea trout, Atlantic salmon, whitefish, eel) have decreased. In order to achieve the good environmental status of biodiversity, distribution of fish in the coastal sea areas, the status of commercial fish populations and food webs, it is necessary to improve the respective degraded wetlands (e.g. river estuaries, coastal lagoons, shallow sea areas) and migration routes (e. g. straits between coastal lagoons and the sea) to ensure migration routes for fish to their spawning grounds, stimulate populations and update protection measures (e. g. updating the regionally coordinated eel management plan) and develop and implement new measures to improve the status of the population (e. g. stocking juvenile fish into the coastal sea, introducing additional catch limits or regulating the number of traps used).

The existing measure „Compiling regional aquaculture plans to manage environmental pressures“ provides the preparation of regional aquaculture plans based on solutions that are nutrient neutral or remove nutrients from the marine environment. The purpose of supplementing it is to prevent also increases in the loads of hazardous substances from marine aquaculture. Activities: - Regional studies on the possible environmental impact of hazardous substances from aquaculture. Both traditional hazardous substances and substances related to fish farms and fish feed (including pharmaceuticals) are considered as hazardous substances; - Conducting a risk assessment of hazardous substances from aquaculture; Taking into account the possible environmental impacts of pollutants in preparing regional aquaculture plans.

Removing hydrological factors, reducing nutrient/organic accumulation and improving environmental conditions in local areas, including, if necessary, removal of nutrient-rich sediments or decomposing algae. The local areas are the coastal area along Pirita road in Tallinn Bay and Haapsalu Tagalaht bay. Proposing technical solutions, preparing and implementing of technical projects for improving local conditions. One of the technical solution is to improve the water exchange and eliminate areas with stagnant water.

As a result of the construction of the road dam of Väike Väin (Väike Strait), the exchange of water between different parts of the strait has been disturbed, which has caused the water quality to deteriorate, and many fish species (e.g. Baltic herring, whitefish, ide, perch, pike, etc.) cannot pass through this natural migration route. Therefore, it is necessary to construct the largest possible passageways into the road dam of Väike Väin (Väike Strait) to ensure the free passage of fish between their spawning grounds and feeding areas.