When will eutrophication problems affect the Bothnian Bay?
Eutrophication is one of the biggest environmental problems facing the Baltic Sea. However, the Bothnian Bay has so far been spared the harmful effects of eutrophication. Now, results from Swedish environmental monitoring suggest that phosphorus levels in the Bothnian Bay are on the rise, which in the long term could lead to the same eutrophication problems as in the rest of the Baltic Sea.
The cause of the rising phosphorus levels is not entirely clear, but it is likely that they are carried in with inflowing water from the Bothnian Sea. The aim of the project is to clarify how the transport of phosphorus from the Bothnian Sea affects the Bothnian Bay, how this process works, and whether or when the Bothnian Bay may be affected by eutrophication.
The project is being carried out by Umeå University. Through BalticWaters’ program for research projects and pre-studies, the project has been awarded a grant of SEK 912,480.
Project materials
Article: Could the Bothnian Bay also be hit by eutrophication? (2025-06-09)