Marine ecosystem challenges identified in Baltic Sea following detailed assessment

The marine ecosystem of the Baltic Sea faces significant challenges due to eutrophication and various human-induced disturbances. Generally, the marine environment is in better condition in the Gulf of Bothnia compared to the southern maritime areas of Finland. The primary reasons for the deterioration of the Baltic Sea are human activities both at sea and along the coast, particularly nutrient runoff from catchment areas.

Marine traffic and fishing are particularly detrimental to the sea’s health. While efforts have been made to reduce land-based nutrient loads over the years, these measures have proven insufficient, and nutrient pollution remains the most significant problem for the Baltic Sea. However, such pollution has not increased in any maritime area, and localized pollution has notably decreased.

The number of invasive species in Finland has risen, with the distribution of many harmful non-native species now covering the entire Finnish maritime region. Marine litter is particularly evident along the shores of the Gulf of Finland, the Archipelago Sea, and the Bothnian Bay, although the amount of waste on the beaches has decreased during the monitoring period.

The assessment of the marine environment is based on scientific and verified results, utilizing over one hundred indicators of marine management collected between 2017 and 2022. This evaluation marks the first detailed analysis of marine conditions since 2018.