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Box 3.1 The Baltic Sea Action Plan

In addition to the obligations linked to the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the Baltic Sea coastal states (which include several EU Member States and Russia) collaborate to specific targets for nutrient emissions as part of the Baltic Sea Action Plan. The Plan was adopted  in 2007.  It incorporates the latest scientific knowledge and innovative management approaches into strategic policy implementation around the topics of eutrophication, biodiversity, hazardous substances and maritime activities.

Improving the Baltic Sea eutrophication status continues to require reductions in nutrient loads.  Nutrient emissions to the Baltic Sea declined by 22% for phosphorus and 25% for nitrogen between 1995 and 2014.  Load reductions have primarily been attributed to reductions in point source pollution.

The 2014 assessment indicated that diffuse sources mainly from agricultural activities. constitute the major part, making up 46% of the total riverine nitrogen load and 36% of the total riverine phosphorus load to the Baltic Sea. The variability of utilised agricultural area within the catchment is reflected in the variability in contributions. High impact is found in the Gulf of Riga (57% for nitrogen, and 42% for phosphorus), and for nitrogen also in the Danish Straits (68% for nitrogen), and Kattegat (59% for nitrogen).

While these load reductions are considerable they have not been sufficient to achieve the desired environmental improvement of the sea. This is because negative feedback mechanisms in the sea continue to release phosphorus from sea floor sediments during anoxic conditions, slowing down its environmental improvement. Phosphorus in the sea floor stems from historical anthropogenic releases.

Source: (Sonesten et al., 2018)