Everyone seems to agree: we want a healthy Baltic Sea. And that’s a good thing. But what does that actually mean? BalticWaters clarifies the concept, explains why a shared and realistic vision is important, and shares our vision of a healthy and vibrant inland sea.
The Baltic Sea is often described as a sick sea affected by overfishing, eutrophication, environmental toxins and climate change. Most people agree that our sensitive inland sea needs help to recover. But what do we actually mean by a “healthy Baltic Sea”? And why do we need a vision to strive towards?
A realistic vision of a healthy Baltic Sea, based on the best available knowledge, is important for protecting and restoring the unique ecosystem of our inland sea. Working to ‘restore’ the sea’s ecosystem and its functions is not about bringing back the sea as it looked a hundred years ago. Human impact has changed the environmental conditions of the sea and the conditions for many species. Nevertheless, with the right measures, it is possible to gradually build a healthy, although different, Baltic Sea.
So what might a healthy Baltic Sea look like in the future? Based on research and scientists’ reasoning about what is reasonable and possible, BalticWaters has developed the following vision:
- Nutrient loads are lower than today, which reduces problems with algal blooms and makes oxygen-depleted seabeds significantly less extensive.
- The water along the coasts and in the bays is relatively clear. The vegetation is varied and provides habitat for a rich bottom fauna and fish that spawn and grow up in shallow environments.
- Fish stocks are viable and have a natural size structure, with plenty of both large and small fish. Watercourses that flow into the sea have few migration barriers, allowing fish to reach their natural spawning grounds.
- Predatory fish and top consumers – such as cod, seals and white-tailed eagles – are numerous and in good condition.
- Levels of environmental toxins are significantly lower than today, meaning that fish from the Baltic Sea can be eaten without risk.
- The marine ecosystem helps to sequester carbon in plants, bottom sediments and fish biomass. This makes the sea more resilient to climate change and ensures its function as a carbon sink – rather than a potential source of greenhouse gas emissions.
Conclusion
BalticWaters’ vision of a healthy Baltic Sea means a sea with lower nutrient loads, fewer algal blooms and less oxygen-depleted seabeds. The water is clearer, the ecosystems are robust with viable fish stocks. Top consumers are numerous and in good condition, and lower levels of environmental toxins mean that more fish can end up on our plates. The marine ecosystem acts as an effective carbon sink and is resilient to further climate change.
The Baltic Sea of the future will not be a copy of the past, but with long-term efforts based on the best available knowledge, we can reverse the negative trend and build a healthy and vibrant inland sea.
Hopefully, the waters feel a little clearer now!
Would you like to know more about BalticWater’s vision for a healthy Baltic Sea – and what measures we consider to be important steps along the way?
Read an English summary of our report Vision for a healthy Baltic Sea, based on current knowledge and interviews with researchers in various fields. The full version in Swedish is available here.
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