The Greatest Water Management Challenges in the Baltic Sea Region

CCB • August 10, 2023

The new CCB Report “The Greatest Water Management Challenges in the Baltic Sea Region” is now available.

10th August 2023 - The Water Framework Directive (WFD) is one of the most important legislations in place in Europe to protect the aquatic environment and secure water quality for human needs through a holistic and adaptive freshwater governance system.


In our newly published report “The Greatest Water Management Challenges in the Baltic Sea Region”, we present an assessment of the current water management situation in 8 Baltic countries where the data were available. We describe the status of natural retention, how efficient water management planning is and what actions are particularly needed. We address the essence of restoration of natural retention as remedy for current water management problems.


“This new report is an interesting look at the possible challenges and threats to the Baltic Sea from the perspective of Baltic countries that are struggling with various investment and organizational problems, affecting the quality of Baltic waters and ecosystems dependent on surface and ground waters”, commented Prof. dr hab. inż. Tomasz Walczykiewicz, Vice-Chairman of the IMGW-PIB Scientific Council in his opinion (1).


It is known already that the Good Ecological Status (GES) of waters will not be achieved by most countries by 2027, which is the deadline set by the WFD. Our research confirms that the existing model of water resources management does not fully provide a solution to water problems and more - it needs stronger cross-sectoral and transboundary cooperation. It is crucial to remember about our WHY- making and our national efforts. We must also remember that a Good Ecological Status in the Baltic is strongly dependent on the Good Ecolog‍ical Status of the rivers in the catchment.


Therefore, further steps to improve the condition of the Baltic Sea must be pursued in every possible way, such us:

  • Nutrient reduction and implementation of buffer zones as a standard in the BSR
  • Progress in dam removal and re naturalisation of rivers
  • Massive and immediate cessation of drainage of wetlands and reduction of maintenance activities on rivers
  • Improvements in wastewater management
  • Recovery plan for Ukraine's war damages related to water and sanitation


“In order to take action on such a wide scale of needs, investment funds for the cohesion policy and regional development are necessary. It is also necessary to improve water management and to adapt the EU Common Agricultural Policy. Not one river, not one country counts on it”, says Ewa Leś, editor & one of the authors of the Report and CCB Working Area Leader on Eutrophication.


This report is aiming to support and foster positive changes in integrated sustainable water management in the Baltic Sea region countries, through a source to sea approach. 


Furthermore, an extended analysis about major challenges for water management in Poland will be available soon. 


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NOTES

(1) The full opinion is available in the Report´s preface (page 5).

EU Commission upholds Fisheries Law: Finland's 2025 Atlantic Salmon quota reduced after unjustified overfishing in 2024

By CCB • May 7, 2025
7 May 2025 - Yesterday the European Commission took a strong decision to deduct Finland´s 2025 Atlantic Salmon quota due to unjustified overfishing last year. This action is a clear application of the EU fisheries rules - aiming to ensure sustainable fishing practices and compliance with established quotas - and an important precedent for the consistent enforcement of fisheries law. In 2024, Finland was allocated a strict by-catch quota for Atlantic salmon, with direct fishing prohibited, except for some specific, minor exceptions. Despite this, Finland reported catching 3,162 salmon in a targeted fishery, under a claimed derogation stating the fishery was for scientific research purposes. Upon review, the European Commission concluded that these activities did not meet the legal standards for such an exemption and therefore found this claim unjustified. The number of vessels participating, 32, the number of salmon caught as well as the fact that Finland refused to re-release the salmon after conducting the “scientific research” are all reasons why the fishery cannot be considered to have been carried out for scientific research purposes. As a result, the same number of salmon caught beyond the legal limit in 2024 is now being deducted from Finland’s 2025 quota, from the same stock. “ We welcome the Commission's decision to take enforcement action and apply the law as intended. It sends a clear message to Member States that exceeding quotas will have consequences. However, more consistent enforcement is urgently needed across EU waters, especially in the Baltic Sea, where many fish stocks are collapsing and the ecosystem is in a poor state ” said Aimi Hamberg, CCB Marine Policy Officer. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland has already responded to the Commission´s quota reduction for Atlantic salmon by stating that this decision “is not legally justified” and they will consider taking legal action against it. As this matter continues to evolve, it is highlighting the importance of collective responsibility in managing fish stocks sustainably. Species like salmon, herring and cod , are under increasing pressure due to overfishing, climate change and habitat loss. In this context, rule enforcement is not just a bureaucratic step but a necessary action to ensure the long-term sustainability of marine life in the Baltic Sea.

CCB is looking for a Network Officer to join our team at the CCB International Secretariat (closed)

By CCB • April 9, 2025
Coalition Clean Baltic – CCB is a politically independent network, uniting 27 environmental non-profit organizations, as well as partners and experts from 11 countries surrounding the Baltic Sea. The main goal of CCB is to promote the protection and improvement of the environment and natural resources of the Baltic Sea region by encouraging new and constructive approaches and engaging people to become part of the solution instead of part of the problem. CCB Secretariat is based in Uppsala, Sweden.