The Baltic Sea – A sensitive sea in trouble

The brackish-water Baltic Sea is very special. The state of its environment depends on a mixture of strong, natural factors beyond human control, and harmful effects of activities of millions of people on land and at sea.

The shape of the seabed (a shallow sea with some large depths), the limited water exchange with the outside world, the natural formation of strong barriers between surface water and bottom water, and the cold climate, are natural conditions.

However, these conditions also make it more difficult for the sea to cope with disturbances.

The Baltic is the common sea of over 85 million people living withing the large drainage area (parts of 14 countries.). The countries are all heavily industrialized, and many of them also carry out intensive agriculture and forestry over large areas.

Around the Baltic Sea, one finds a considerable number of cities, towns and harbours, and there is abundant sea traffic in almost all parts of the area. The Baltic Sea suffers from eutrophication due to the too high load of nutrients, and from pollution with toxic substances.

The sea is also much affected by transboundary air pollutants transported from most of Europe. Fishing fleets from many countries exploit fish stocks.

The Baltic Sea is neither dead nor dying – but it is a sea in great trouble. Its natural weaknesses will not go away, but we can relieve the pollution pressure from human activites on land and at sea.

The Baltic offers a wide range of values for millions of people and must be protected and managed so that coming generations can also enjoy life in and by the sea.

New lifestyles, new attitudes and new practices are required to safeguard the future health and carrying capacity of the Baltic Sea - a sea which is very much worth fighting for.