Getting the measure of eutrophication in the Baltic Sea: towards improved assessment principles and methods
2011
The
eutrophicationstatus of the entire
BalticSea is classified using a multi-metric indicator-based assessment tool. A total of 189 areas are assessed using indicators where information on reference conditions (RefCon), and acceptable deviation (AcDev) from reference condition could be combined with national monitoring data from the period 2001–2006. Most areas (176) are classified as ‘affected by
eutrophication’ and only two open water areas and 11 coastal areas are classified as ‘unaffected by
eutrophication’. The classification is made by application of the recently developed HELCOM
EutrophicationAssessment Tool (HEAT), which is described in this paper. The use of harmonized assessment principles and the HEAT tool allows for direct comparisons between different parts of the
BalticSea despite variations in monitoring activities. The impaired status of 176 areas is directly related to nutrient enrichment and elevated loads from upstream catchments.
Baltic
Sea Stateshave implemented
nutrient managementstrategies since years which have reduced nutrient inputs. However,
eutrophicationis still a major problem for large parts of the
BalticSea. The 2007
BalticSea Action Plan is projected to further reduce nutrient inputs aiming for a
BalticSea unaffected by
eutrophicationby 2021.
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