12.3 The nature of the Baltic Sea is under threat
As previously discussed, the nature of the Baltic Sea is unique. However, the biodiversity of the Baltic Sea is under threat from many directions.
As the food chains of the Baltic Sea are short and both the number of species and individuals are relatively small, sudden changes in even one species can cause drastic changes in the organism community of the sea. These sudden changes can happen when a species is fished too extensively, for example.
The rivers of the Baltic Sea's catchment area bring fresh water to the sea. However, this water often contains nutrients and pollutants from inland areas. Because of the high amount of nutrients that accumulates in the Baltic, the sea is prone to large growths of algae and cyanobacteria during the summer. These rapid growths cause eutrophication, which is a problem for the organism community of the marine ecosystem. Pollutants and toxic substances from industrial regions also cause damage to the ecosystem of the Baltic Sea.
Cyanobacteria have accumulated near the shore.
During the autumn, a large part of the the Baltic Sea's organism community dies out, and their biomatter begins to be decomposed by bottom-dwelling organisms. When decomposing dead matter, these organisms use up a lot of oxygen, which can often cause a lack of oxygen in the bottom of the sea. In turn, this lack of oxygen further increases the number of dead organisms. When no constant currents exist, oxygen-rich water cannot reach the deepest regions of the Baltic Sea, causing a decay in the organism population of these areas.
The high amount of traffic on the Baltic Sea also causes challenges for its marine ecosystem. Ships and boats often leak waste water or oil into the sea. Although the regulation and control of shipping in the Baltic Sea has become more strict and effective, the sea still receives a fair amount of oil spills, mostly in the form of waste water from oil tankers. The movement of nutrients and toxic substances is also enhanced by the currents caused by ship propellers.
The Baltic Sea usually freezes over during the winter.
In the past, all kinds of waste material were dumped in the rivers that flow to the Baltic Sea. Today, this activity has been almost completely stopped, thanks to various regulations and agreements made by the nations located on the shores of the Baltic. Ship and boat traffic is also regulated more efficiently now than it was before.
Real-time ship traffic
As the food chains of the Baltic Sea are short and both the number of species and individuals are relatively small, sudden changes in even one species can cause drastic changes in the organism community of the sea. These sudden changes can happen when a species is fished too extensively, for example.
The rivers of the Baltic Sea's catchment area bring fresh water to the sea. However, this water often contains nutrients and pollutants from inland areas. Because of the high amount of nutrients that accumulates in the Baltic, the sea is prone to large growths of algae and cyanobacteria during the summer. These rapid growths cause eutrophication, which is a problem for the organism community of the marine ecosystem. Pollutants and toxic substances from industrial regions also cause damage to the ecosystem of the Baltic Sea.
Cyanobacteria have accumulated near the shore.
During the autumn, a large part of the the Baltic Sea's organism community dies out, and their biomatter begins to be decomposed by bottom-dwelling organisms. When decomposing dead matter, these organisms use up a lot of oxygen, which can often cause a lack of oxygen in the bottom of the sea. In turn, this lack of oxygen further increases the number of dead organisms. When no constant currents exist, oxygen-rich water cannot reach the deepest regions of the Baltic Sea, causing a decay in the organism population of these areas.
The high amount of traffic on the Baltic Sea also causes challenges for its marine ecosystem. Ships and boats often leak waste water or oil into the sea. Although the regulation and control of shipping in the Baltic Sea has become more strict and effective, the sea still receives a fair amount of oil spills, mostly in the form of waste water from oil tankers. The movement of nutrients and toxic substances is also enhanced by the currents caused by ship propellers.
The Baltic Sea usually freezes over during the winter.
In the past, all kinds of waste material were dumped in the rivers that flow to the Baltic Sea. Today, this activity has been almost completely stopped, thanks to various regulations and agreements made by the nations located on the shores of the Baltic. Ship and boat traffic is also regulated more efficiently now than it was before.
Real-time ship traffic