The Baltic remains in a bad shape, but there are some signs of improvement

Helsinki, 3 March (HELCOM Information Service) – A new HELCOM assessment reveals that although the overall status of the Baltic remains unacceptable, there are encouraging signs of improvement. Excessive pollution loads of nitrogen and phosphorus from the catchment area to the Baltic are still driving overgrowth of algae and plants in most of the Baltic Sea. This phenomenon which is also known as eutrophication is prevalent in all parts of the Baltic Sea except for certain places in the Gulf of Bothnia and the Kattegat. But there is also a decreasing trend in the pollution loads, and at least part of this decrease has been estimated to be a result of the management measures taken in Baltic Sea countries.

The HELCOM integrated thematic assessment of eutrophication in the Baltic Sea (2001-2006), which is a result of over three years of work by tens of experts from all the coastal countries around the Baltic Sea, was launched today in Helsinki at the Fourth Stakeholder Conference on the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action. The assessment is intended to support the implementation of the plan which aims to drastically reduce pollution to the marine environment and restore its good ecological status by 2021. The action plan identifies eutrophication as one of the four main environmental problems to be addressed to improve the health of the Baltic Sea environment.

For the first time such an assessment compiles and synthesizes all available information concerning the eutrophication status of the Baltic Sea and provides a classification of the eutrophication status of almost 200 areas around the Baltic Sea. According to the report, most of the areas in the Baltic Sea were classified as having a moderate, poor or bad eutrophication status. Only 13 of them located in the Gulf of Bothnia and in the Kattegat were classified as being “eutrophication non-problem areas”. Apparent signs of eutrophication are high quantities of planktonic algae which often also form mass occurrences, low water transparency, diminished belts of bladderwrack and eelgrass, as well as oxygen depletion in the sea bottom.

“The overall outlook on eutrophication, however, is not completely dark since nutrient inputs to the Baltic seem to have decreased,” says Maria Laamanen, Professional Secretary at HELCOM. “There appears to be a slightly decreasing trend in the riverine and direct point-source loads of both nitrogen and phosphorus in the Baltic Sea catchment between 1990 and 2006.” Estimated annual average waterborne inputs to the Baltic Sea were approximately 641,000 tonnes of nitrogen and approximately 30,200 tonnes of phosphorus for the period 2001–2006. However, the target input levels indicated in the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan have not yet been reached for either of these nutrients.

The external inputs of nutrients to the Baltic Sea come from the drainage basin via riverine inputs and in case of nitrogen also via atmosphere as deposition onto the sea. Excess nutrients originate from municipal and rural human sources and particularly from agricultural activities. In case of nitrogen, emissions originate in transport on land and the sea, from combustion activities, and result in deposition onto the Baltic Sea.

“The eutrophication status will only improve if loads of both nitrogen and phosphorus are significantly further reduced,” notes Maria Laamanen. “The key to improvement is the progressive reduction of loads, especially from agriculture.” Climate change creates an extra challenge because precipitation is projected to increase especially in the northern part of the Baltic Sea catchment area, which may, in combination with increasing winter temperatures, lead to increased winter runoff and leaching of nutrients. Ultimately, the effects of climate change could make the HELCOM strategic goal on eutrophication ‘Baltic Sea unaffected by eutrophication’ impossible to attain using currently agreed reduction targets. Further reductions are evidently required in order to reduce eutrophication effects, especially under a changing climate.

Follow-up:

Eutrophication in the Baltic Sea - An integrated thematic assessment of the effects of nutrient enrichment in the Baltic Sea region. Executive Summary (BSEP 115 A, 2009):

http://www.helcom.fi/stc/files/Publications/Proceedings/bsep115A.pdf

Note to Editors:

The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM), is an intergovernmental organisation of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Community working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region.

HELCOM is the governing body of the "Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area," more usually known as the Helsinki Convention.

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Nikolay Vlasov

Information Secretary

HELCOM

Tel: +358 (0)207 412 635

Fax: +358 (0)207 412 639

E-mail: nikolay.vlasov@helcom.fi