Policy briefs and fact sheets

Our policy briefs are summaries of scientific knowledge, usually connected to a current managemental development or political proceeding, that aim to enhance engagement in important Baltic Sea issues.

Our policy briefs and fact sheets are distributed to their relevant audience and presented by our experts at events. Please contact us at ostersjocentrum@su.se to receive a printed version (free of charge)

Reducing eutrophication crucial to prevent coastal methane emissions

A large part of the anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide have been absorbed by the oceans, However, many Swedish coastal areas are currently affected by eutrophication, making them a source of greenhouse gases, mainly in the form of methane. Reducing eutrophication is crucial for limiting methane emissions and thus mitigating climate change.

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Reducing eutrophication crucial to prevent coastal methane emissions (layouted pdf with illustrations)

Reducing eutrophication crucial to prevent coastal methane emissions (web text version)

Reducing eutrophication crucial to prevent coastal methane emissions (text version with references)

Ocean acidification poses another threat to the Baltic Sea ecosystem

In the coming decades, ocean acidification is expected to become significant also in the Baltic Sea. For an already stressed ecosystem, it represents an additional pressure, and the cumulative effect of this and other environmental impacts can stress species and reduce biodiversity. Protecting the unique environment and future food production requires both significant reductions in carbon dioxide emissions and measures against eutrophication, overfishing and emissions of hazardous substances.

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Ocean acidification poses another threat to the Baltic Sea ecosystem

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Ocean acidification poses another threat to the Baltic Sea ecosystem

Read on the webb:

Policy brief: Ocean acidification poses another threat to the Baltic Sea ecosystem

Watch or read about our Baltic Breakfast seminar on the subject:

Baltic Breakfast: Ocean acidification – an emerging problem also in the Baltic Sea

Fact sheet: Potential effects of the proposed UWWTD on nutrient inputs to the Baltic Sea

The tightening of the removal requirements proposed in the new Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive is unlikely to have a decisive effect on the nutrient inputs since most wastewater treatment in the total Baltic Sea drainage basin has improved to the proposed requirements in recent decades. The suggested actions on stormwater overflows and urban runoff could, however, be of importance. Further reductions on nutrient inputs from wastewater could be achieved through measures beyond the directive such as regulations on private sewages in scattered dwellings and mandatory tertiary treatment of both nitrogen and phosphorus in the whole drainage basin.

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Effects of the proposed UWWTD on nutrient inputs to the Baltic Sea (5509 Kb)

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Fact sheet: Potential effects of the proposed UWWTD on nutrient inputs to the Baltic Sea

Read the reference version of the fact sheet:

Potential effects of the proposed UWWTD on nutrient inputs to the Baltic Sea (refs) (785 Kb)

Stop all fishing and restocking of European eel

The European eel is under acute threat. Many of the measures that could help it are either missing or being implemented too slowly. The most important measures to promote the eel stock are to immediately stop all eel fishing and restocking of eel, and to intensify efforts to remove migratory barriers and open up migratory routes in inland waters.

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Stop all fishing and restocking of European eel (1426 Kb)

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Stop all fishing and restocking of European eel (with references) (642 Kb)

Understanding how eutrophication is quantified in the HELCOM BSAP

Through the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan, BSAP, the riparian countries and the EU established a joint view on the environmental problems of their shared sea, and agreed to take specific actions to restore it to a healthy and resilient state. This factsheet describes the scientific basis of the eutrophication segment of the plan; how the political vision of a healthy Baltic Sea can be reached via the basin-wise Maximum Allowable Inputs (MAI) and country-wise Nutrient Input Ceilings (NIC).

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Understanding how eutrophication is quantified in the HELCOM BSAP (681 Kb)

Further land-based measures are needed to reach eutrophication targets

In recent decades, the nutrient loads to the Baltic Sea have decreased sharply. Eventually, this is expected to lead to improvements in the sea, but because large amounts of nutrients are stored in the water and on land, it will take time to see the effects. In order to comply with the commitments in the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP), and simultaneously improve the environment in lakes and watercourses, the countries around the Baltic Sea need to continue to take measures to further reduce nutrient loads from land.

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Policy brief: Further land-based measures are needed to reach eutrophication targets (1403 Kb)

Watch a film that explains why the sea doesn't seem to recover:

Healthy coastal ecosystems are crucial to mitigate climate change

The coastal zones are among the most effective areas on Earth at sequestering carbon from the atmosphere. Treated right, these ecosystems are important corner-stones in climate change mitigation, but if degraded, they instead release large amounts of greenhouse gases, re-enforcing global warming. Urgent action is needed to preserve and restore the Baltic Sea coasts and use these systems to work in favor of the climate – not against it.

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Read the policy brief as a layouted pdf: Policy brief: Healthy coastal ecosystems are crucial to mitigate climate change (2741 Kb)

Read the policy brief with references: Policy brief: Healthy coastal ecosystems are crucial to mitigate climate change (with references) (271 Kb)

Watch a film where researcher Florian Roth explains his research on greenhouse gases in the Baltic Sea:

Watch a webinar about this topic:

Adapt herring fisheries to scientific uncertainty

The scientific assessments of the fish stocks in the Baltic Sea are characterized by great uncertainty. In the last five years, the size of the Central Baltic herring stock has been greatly overestimated - which has probably contributed to excessive catch quotas. It is time to introduce a larger buffer for the scientific uncertainty in management and quota decisions.

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Policy brief: Adapt herring fisheries to scientific uncertainty (2254 Kb)

Watch a short film that explains scientic uncertainty in fish stock assessments:

Measures improve the Baltic Sea environment – even in a changing climate

A changing climate makes it even more important to reduce the nutrient supply to the Baltic Sea. In the coming decades, continued reductions in emissions of nitrogen and phosphorus from land will yield better oxygen conditions and improved water quality - even in the face of major climate change. These measures also make the Baltic Sea ecosystem more resilient to the changing climate.

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Policy brief: Measures improve the Baltic Sea environment – even in a changing climate (860 Kb)

More policy breefs and fact sheets

Bottom trawling threatens European marine ecosystems

Fishing with bottom trawls has extensive effects on marine life and threatens seafloor integrity. It also impacts areas not directly trawled, since suspended sediment can travel far. Recent research on bottom trawling effects points to the need for establishing larger trawl-free areas in all types of habitats to protect sensitive ecosystems and live up to principles of ecosystem-based management.

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Policy brief: Bottom trawling threatens European marine ecosystems (2228 Kb)

Bottom trawling threatens European marine ecosystems (with references) (130 Kb)

Reduce coastal trawling to protect the Baltic herring

Increased herring catches close to the Swedish Baltic east coast, and the negative trend for several herring stocks accentuate the need for reduced fishing pressure and more detailed knowledge about herring subpopulation structure.

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Policy brief: Reduce coastal trawling to protect the Baltic herring (361 Kb)

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Call for better management of micropollutants in wastewater

Urban wastewater treatment plants are important collection points for many chemical contaminants, often called micropollutants, which are widespread in the aquatic environment. Currently, this issue is not being sufficiently addressed by regional policy and EU-wide legislation. The EU’s Zero Pollution Ambition, the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability and the likely revision of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive now provide opportunities to address this issue. Measures to prevent the emissions of micropollutants via wastewater treatment plants are needed both up- and downstream, to ensure policy coherence between EU water and chemicals legislation.

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Call for better management of micropollutants in wastewater (1942 Kb)

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Call for better management of micropollutants in wastewater (with references) (210 Kb)

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Fishing ban and more knowledge required to save the European eel

If the endangered European eel population is to recover there is an urgent need for a fishing ban, increased environmental monitoring and fewer obstacles to migration. Furthermore, the estimates of spawning biomass and of the impact of coastal fishing used in eel management today should be independently reviewed and revised.

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Policy brief: Fishing ban and more knowledge required to save the European eel (1667 Kb)

Watch a shirt film about how the fishing for eel continues – despite scientists recommendations:

Watch a short film about the eel's lifecycle and the need for a fishing ban:

Time for smarter and safer chemical management

Today’s massive flow of chemicals places new demands on risk management. Managing chemicals in groups and introducing mixture risk assessments into all chemicals legislation are two key measures to protect health and the environment.

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Time for smarter and safer chemical management – grouping and mixture risk assessment in European chemicals legislation

Emerging ocean acidification threatens Baltic Sea ecosystems

More jellyfish but fewer mussels – the expected spread of ocean acidification can have major effects on species composition in the Baltic Sea. It may also make the water slimier and less attractive for swimming. To protect unique ecosystems and future food production, carbon dioxide emissions must be dramatically reduced and measures must be taken against eutrophication, overfishing and releases of hazardous substances.

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Policy brief: Emerging ocean acidification threatens Baltic Sea ecosystems (1187 Kb)

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European chemicals regulation needs greater transparency

To meet the challenges of chemical risks in everyday life, risk assessments under the REACH registration process must be improved. One key element in this transformation is to introduce greater transparency.

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Policy brief: European chemicals regulation needs greater transparency (1711 Kb)

Read an interview with the Marlene Ågerstrand, one of the authors:

New changes welcome but insufficient

For cod’s sake – cut back fishing on herring and sprat

In the negotiations for next year’s fishing in the Baltic Sea,the EU Member States could take a number of important decisions to address the cod crisis, such as major reductions in quotas for catches of flatfish, herring and sprat in the southern Baltic.

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Policy brief: For cod’s sake – cut back fishing on herring and sprat