The new framework is divided into 4 goals (or visions) of what the world should look like in 2050, and 23 targets on how to achieve those goals by 2030. Among the most important targets that should have an immediate effect on EU and national marine policy are the ones covering marine protection, to halt extinction and maintain genetic diversity, to reduce pollution and eutrophication, sustainable fisheries and biodiversity friendly practices.

Marine protection

Today Sweden has protected 14% of marine areas.  Many of these still lack effective management to conserve the area’s biodiversity. For the new targets to be reached for the Baltic Sea, more areas need to be protected and also restored. Priorities for such areas are already clearly set out in a new report from The Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management, on how to develop a network of 30% of Sweden’s waters being covered by marine protected areas, MPAs. Reaching the target of protected areas will benefit from a swift adoption of the European Commission’s proposal for a Nature Restoration Law. It aims at filling the gap between the Birds Directive, The Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the Species and Habitats Directive by restoring at least 20 % of the EU's land and sea areas by 2030, and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050.

Check out our scientists’ policy brief on how to raise the quality of marine protected areas

Halt extinction and maintain genetic diversity

The halting of genetic diversity loss in wild populations was a new target and something that researchers from Stockholm University among others have fought for during many years. Linda Laikre, professor in population genetics, explains why this target is so important at one of our latest Baltic Breakfast seminars:

Baltic Breakfast: Scientists ahead of COP15

The European eel is a well-known threatened species in the Baltic Sea which should be protected through implementation of this target. Both the immediate halt of fishing and stocking, and measures in dams and hydropower plants to reduce mortality and increase connectivity to important fresh water habitats are necessary actions. The Baltic Sea also contains many genetically distinctive populations of salmon, herring and sea trout, that are in need of measures to improve their status. Once lost, a genetically distinct population can never be restored.

Reduce pollution and eutrophication

In comparison to the Aichi target on pollution, this target is much more elaborate and mentions, aside from nutrients, also pesticides, plastics and highly hazardous chemicals. For the Baltic Sea this is great news as this is one of the most polluted seas in the world. This inclusion is also something that professor Marlene Ågerstrand at the Department of Environmental Science has worked for. Read more here:

Researchers: Additional chemicals need to be considered in the new Global Biodiversity Framework

For the successful implementation of this target, we hope for a very ambitious EU agenda including the welcomed PFAS ban proposal that Sweden has been pushing, an adoption of the Commission proposal of 50% reduced pesticide use  and an agreement of a fourth cleaning step of waste water in the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive to reduce micropollutants.

Also, the 50% excess nutrient reduction target can prove to be important when implemented into EU and national law. Again, the revamp of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive will be important, as well as the implementation of the new Common Agricultural Policy. For more information, we have both Baltic Breakfasts and policy briefs on the topic.

Watch comments from our scientists at the Baltic Breakfast on how to combat eutrophication for a cleaner Baltic Sea

Read our policy brief on land-based measures that are needed to reach eutrophication targets

Sustainable fisheries and biodiversity friendly practices

The implementation of sustainable fisheries and biodiversity friendly fishing practices, would be possible in the Baltic Sea. Most Baltic countries are part of the EU and should abide to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (implemented through the Common Fisheries Policy) when setting fisheries quotas and fisheries rules. Hence, the impacts on both the age and size structures of the populations should guide fishing quota decisions and together with the ecosystem approach – ensure that fishing takes into account the need of other species in the whole ecosystem.

A policy brief and an analysis explaining why it is important to reduce bottom trawling and why politicians must be precautious when setting quotas:

Bottom trawling threatens European marine ecosystems

Analys: Stort risktagande med strömmingen och Östersjön (in Swedish) 

TARGET 21 in the agreement reads ”Ensure that the best available data, information and knowledge, are accessible to decision makers, practitioners and the public to guide effective and equitable governance, integrated and participatory management of biodiversity, and to strengthen communication, awareness-raising, education, monitoring, research and knowledge management …” As a scientific body with a special task to aid the improvement of the Baltic Sea environment, we at the Baltic Sea Center will try our best to live up to this part.

So all hands on deck, let’s get to work!

Text: Ellen Bruno

Further reading

Report from The Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management: Nätverk av marina skyddade områden i Sverige: Ramverk och metod för utformning och förvaltning, Rapport 2021:12, Havs- och vattenmyndigheten

The European Commission Proposal for a Nature Restoration Law

Policy Brief: Stop all fishing and restocking of European eel

PFAS restriction proposal

The European Commission: Sustainable use of pesticides

Proposal for a revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive

The common agricultural policy