NewsNov 8, 2023

Baltic Nations Fall Short on Marine Protection Commitments Amidst Declining Sea Health

Today’s biogeographical seminar will gather Baltic Sea member states, the European Commission, as well as stakeholders and scientists to assess national pledges for marine protection in line with EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and the Global Biodiversity Framework. WWF is concerned over Baltic countries’ lack of commitment to marine protection, with five nations (Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland) failing to submit pledges, and three countries (Denmark, Germany and Sweden) falling short of an adequate level of protection to meet 2030 conservation targets protecting 30% of national marine waters, including 10% under strict protection (30×10%). This highlights a disturbing gap in Baltic Sea conservation efforts.

These pledges are urgently needed to protect the Baltic Sea which is in a dire environmental state. The sea contains the most oxygen-depleted coastal zones globally, with over 94% of the sea affected by eutrophication due to human activities on land, leading to the depletion of biodiversity and marine ecosystems. Iconic species like cod and the European eel are in peril, and the Baltic Harbour porpoise is critically endangered. A warmer and more degraded Baltic Sea could even contribute to climate change.

A recently released report from the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (Helcom) shows that the state of the Baltic Sea is not improving, however, measures to enhance Baltic Sea ecosystems and species, such as marine protected areas, work when they are implemented. The problem is that they are not being implemented and it will not only be the environment that pays. The report also suggests that degraded marine conditions are already estimated to cost the region’s population 9 billion euros per year for foregone recreation opportunities alone.

“The seminar is a crucial opportunity to underscore the pressing need for a paradigm shift in how the European Union and its Member States approach marine and coastal conservation in the Baltic Sea. We need to bend the curve on biodiversity loss in the Baltic Sea and to do this we need immediate action. Voluntary MPA pledges are simply not enough,” urges Johanna Fox, Director of the WWF Baltic Ecoregion Programme.

WWF calls upon Member State representatives at the seminar to understand the gravity of the situation and take concrete steps to meet the 2030 conservation pledges. The Baltic Sea cannot afford further delays or insufficient commitments. It is high time to prioritize the restoration and protection of coastal habitats and species to help the Baltic ecosystem recover. Such measures enhance ecosystem resilience and can be 0åcost-effective solutions to reduce the impacts of eutrophication and enhance carbon sequestration.

Additionally, we urge the European Commission representatives to adopt a strong stance during the seminar and hold Member States accountable for their delays and inadequacies. Concrete next steps should be proposed, including workshops on best practices and capacity-building funding to support the development and submission of MPA pledges. We also propose that by 2027, the minimum 30×10% conservation target become legally binding.

Antonia Leroy, Head of Ocean Policy at the WWF European Policy Office explains the importance of obligatory biodiversity targets, “We can’t solve the climate crisis without tackling the biodiversity crisis. Protection of marine ecosystems will not only bring Europe’s nature back, but also contribute to improving the resilience of our seas to limiting climate change. Our seas are in crisis, that’s why we urgently need to reinforce political commitments and make the minimum 30×10% target legally binding”

The Baltic Sea’s ecological crisis is a stark reminder of the urgency and gravity of our environmental challenges. The EU and its Member States must act decisively by submitting their pledges without further delays, with concrete and legally binding commitments, to protect this vital ecosystem. The time for bold action is now.