Baltic Sea Health Worsens, Faces Environmental Challenges & Biodiversity Degradation, Says Reports

According to a report, the Baltic Sea faces “critical challenges” as a result of the climate crisis and biodiversity loss, as Sweden’s coastguard tried to control the consequences of an oil spill, off the country’s southern shore.

Specialists working for the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (Helcom) announced on Tuesday that there has been “little to no improvement” in the health of the body of water between 2016 and 2021, based on the most thorough audit of its kind to date.

Fish supplies were critically low, while pollution, land use, and extraction of resources continued to place pressure on the sea.

After a ship ran aground three times near Hörvik in southern Sweden, the Swedish coastguard retrieved roughly 20 cubic meters of oil from the Baltic on Monday, bringing the entire quantity to about 50 cubic meters.

The coastguard announced on Tuesday that it aimed to recover the Marco Polo on Wednesday and transport it to a port in Karlshamn to avoid more oil spills.

The Baltic Sea, which is surrounded by nine nations, including Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Russia, is a unique maritime habitat due to its fairly shallow, low-saline, brackish confined water.

Because of these characteristics, it is particularly vulnerable to contamination and changing environmental circumstances.

Per the State of the Baltic Sea 2023 report, despite attempts to enhance the environment, overall conditions have not improved, and some indicators have worsened.

Jannica Haldin, Helcom’s deputy executive secretary and report coordinator, stated, that the results serve as an alarming reminder that the Baltic Sea suffers serious obstacles due to human activities.

“Transboundary cooperation, a change toward truly environmentally sustainable methods, and long-term commitment are all critical.”

The report highlights that human activities such as pollution, overfishing, and habitat loss had a negative impact on the ecosystem, resulting in a decline in biodiversity overall.

Reference: icsf.net

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Source: Maritime Shipping News