Global Warming and Human Waste Deepen Threats to the Baltic Sea
Climate Change and Pollution Strain a Fragile Marine Ecosystem
Marine life in the Baltic Sea faces increasing pressure from global warming, nutrient pollution, and intense human activity. Due to its nearly enclosed geography and limited water exchange, the sea remains especially vulnerable to environmental damage.
Nine coastal countries — Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, and Denmark — are working largely through EU-led cooperation to address these risks.
Regional Cooperation to Protect the Sea
The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM) continues to enforce the Baltic Sea Action Plan, which has guided regional protection efforts for the past five years. The plan focuses on safeguarding fish stocks, seabirds, marine mammals, and critical habitats.
As part of its ongoing coverage, Anadolu’s “Baltic Sea” series examines environmental threats and the policy responses adopted by coastal states.
Eutrophication Remains a Major Challenge
One of the most serious threats to the Baltic Sea ecosystem is eutrophication, which occurs when excess nutrients — mainly nitrogen and phosphorus — enter the water from agriculture, sewage systems, and industrial waste.
These nutrients fuel large algal blooms that block sunlight from underwater plants. As the algae die and decompose, they consume oxygen in deeper waters, creating low-oxygen zones where most marine life cannot survive.
Moreover, scientists note that the Baltic Sea’s low salinity continues to decline. As a result, oxygen shortages may intensify, and water acidity could increase, further stressing marine organisms.
Reducing Land-Based Pollution
Speaking to Anadolu, Anna Klemela of the Finland-based Baltic Sea Action Group (BSAG) emphasized that reducing nutrient runoff from land remains one of the most effective ways to protect the sea.
She explained that most nutrients come from agriculture and forestry. In response, authorities are working to limit sewage discharge and regulate the use of artificial fertilizers, which often reach the sea through groundwater.
To support these efforts, HELCOM promotes better fertilizer use and sustainable farming practices across the region.
Overfishing and Waste Harm Marine Life
In addition to pollution, human activities such as overfishing and poor waste management continue to damage the Baltic ecosystem.
Overfishing has sharply reduced cod populations and led to a noticeable decrease in fish size, often by around 20 centimeters. According to Germany’s GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, heavy fishing pressure has also caused long-term genetic changes in cod.
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) reports that many fish species remain under threat. The European eel now faces near extinction, while only about 500 harbor porpoises survive in the Baltic Sea.
Long-Term Outlook Remains Uncertain
Monitoring and modeling studies by HELCOM and BSAG show that the Baltic Sea would be in far worse condition today without nutrient reduction measures introduced since the 1980s.
Nevertheless, underwater biodiversity continues to decline. When combined with ongoing eutrophication and accelerating climate change, risks such as oxygen loss, habitat changes, and species decline continue to grow.
Experts warn that the ecosystem reached its degraded state over decades and that full recovery will take a long time.
EU Action and Seabed Security
Under the updated Baltic Sea Action Plan adopted in 2021, EU-HELCOM cooperation aims to complete key environmental actions by 2030. The nine coastal states remain committed to reducing pollution, improving water quality, and strengthening ecosystem resilience through binding agreements and regular monitoring.
In addition, the EU provides financial support to remove unexploded ordnance, chemical waste, and shipwrecks from World War II that still threaten marine life and underwater infrastructure.
The 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions further exposed the vulnerability of subsea energy systems. As a result, the EU has increased scrutiny of seabed security and expanded investments in environmental cleanup efforts.
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