BSEP116B Biodiversity in the Baltic Sea - Helcom

NOx emissions and
sewage
Macrophytes
Phytoplankton
Waves along
shipping lines
MARITIME TRAFFIC
Species
introductions
(e.g. ballast water)
Zooplankton
Benthic invertebrates
Oil spills and leakages
Fish
Breeding disturbance
Birds
Porpoises
Seals
Figure 6.2.4. A conceptual model of the impacts of maritime traffic on components of Baltic biodiversity.
Eutrophication resulting from NOx pollution is not covered as models exist elsewhere (see, e.g., HELCOM
2009a).
ing maritime transportation in the area, including
tanker traffic. However, the smaller spills which
are frequently observed also have considerable
negative effects. Although most of the shipping in
the Baltic Sea follows narrow routes through the
sea area, nearly every corner in the Baltic Sea is to
some extent used by shipping, as shown by the
recent AIS (Automatic Identification System) data
(Figure 6.2.1). To meet the challenges posed by the
increasing maritime traffic, a comprehensive crosssectoral
approach should be established, implementing
the principles of Marine Spatial Planning
and including a Baltic-wide risk assessment (Formal
Safety Assessment) of maritime traffic.
tracting Parties during recent years. The marine
areas considered suitable for mining resources
from the seabed have until recently been
restricted to areas less than 80 m deep, but currently
depths down to 100 m can be exploited
cost-effectively owing to more efficient and powerful
dredgers (UNEP GPA 2008).
In 2006, the volume extracted in Denmark
(HELCOM area) was 1.6 million m 3 , in Finland
2.2 million m 3 , and in Germany (HELCOM area)
1.4 million m 3 . In Estonia, the volume in 2004 was
1.4 million m 3 and in Poland it was 0.5 million m 3
in 2002 (ICES 2003, 2005c, 2007a).
6.3 Physical damage and
disturbance
Human activities discussed in this section can be
classified into three major types: extraction of
sand and gravel, dumping of dredged spoils, and
effects of various types of construction works. The
harmful effects of these activities are caused by
largely similar processes: resuspension of nutrients
and hazardous substances, increased turbidity,
siltation and habitat loss. The operation of different
installations is linked to diverse effects including
disturbance from underwater noise, magnetic
fields and also by the introduction of new habitats.
After the construction of the Öresund bridge
between Sweden and Denmark, there has been no
permitted marine sand extraction in Sweden. The
amount extracted in that project in the Swedish
EEZ was 2.5 million m 3 . When the fairway to the
Gothenburg harbour was deepened in 2003,
12 million m 3 was dredged (ICES 2006a). In
general, port constructions and enlargements are
among the largest dredging and landfill projects.
For example, during the enlargement of the Århus
port in Denmark, 8 million m 3 of sand was dredged
from Århus Bight and in the new port of Helsinki,
Finland, the volume was 4 million m 3 . An overview
of Baltic ports shows that there are enlargement
plans for most of them (BPO 2007).
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6.3.1 Extraction and disposal activities
in the Baltic Sea
Extraction of bottom substrates
Extraction of sand and gravel from the seafloor
has increased markedly in many HELCOM Con-
Disposal of dredged material at sea
It is difficult to obtain an overview of the current
volume of disposal of dredged material at sea in
the HELCOM area. HELCOM Contracting Parties
have an obligation, based on Article 11 and Annex
V of the Helsinki Convention and the associated