HELCOM
The Helsinki Convention (HELCOM) is the governing body of the "Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area". The EBA has Observer status with HELCOM.Pleasure boating is dealt with by the Maritime Group within HELCOM (HELCOM Maritime). HELCOM makes recommendations which it sends to its members who it hopes will implement them. Among other things HELCOM has made a number of recommendations concerning recreational boating such as:
- Recommendation 9/11 (1988): Guidelines for national counter pollution measures for pleasure craft;
- Recommendation 22/1 (2001): Guidelines for Toilet systems on board existing fishing, working and pleasure craft. All ships built before 1 January 2000, including pleasure craft, shall comply by 1 January 2005;
- Recommendation 29/2 (2008): Monitoring of Marine litter.