25.02.2005
The situation for the Baltic Sea worse than expected

It could be possible that the Baltic Sea ecosystem has flipped and is currently locked in a eutrophic state. This is said in a scientific report recently published by the Swedish Environmental Advisory Council.

Eutrophication is one of the largest environmental threats to the Baltic Sea. Nutrients deriving from agriculture, traffic, industry, wastewater treatment plants and from our daily lives as consumers, end up in the Baltic Sea having an adverse effect on its ecosystem, causing algal blooms and anoxic seabeds.

Despite the fact that measures have been taken to decrease the nutrient run-offs to the Baltic Sea, no improvements can be detected. Why is difficult to give a direct answer to. However the report suggests, like previous Swedish reports that such massive changes have occurred in the Baltic Sea ecosystem that the whole system has changed – or, flipped.

When an ecosystem flips, drastic measures are needed to bring it back to normal state – if possible at all. And the report emphasizes that drastic is the word of the day: old measures must be more forceful, new measures must be taken and international cooperation is vital in order to save the Baltic Sea environment.

CCB has taken active part in the outcome of the report together with other important actors from Swedish universities, unions and competent authorities.

Read the full report:

Swedish version
Strategi för hav och kust utan övergödning

English version
A Strategy for Ending Eutrophication of Seas and Coasts