2015-11-02

Physical loss and damage to the sea floor: marine sediment extraction in the Baltic Sea

HELCOM’s Initial Holistic Assessment of Ecosystem Health of the Baltic Sea (BSEP122) considers dredging and marine sediment extraction as pressures, which can have large impacts on local marine environments. Such impacts include smothering of benthic organisms, abrasion of the sea bottom, as well as increased siltation and resuspension of contaminated bottom sediments caused by dredging/extraction activities. Scientific studies, underwater observations and hydrographic surveys have shown that impacted bottom sites can take decades to recover, if at all do so.

Read statement here: 7J-5 Physical loss and damage to the sea floor marine sediment extraction in the Baltic Sea