Finland's coastal waters, stretching over 46,000 kilometers along the Baltic Sea, are experiencing a worrying decline in biodiversity, according to a recent report by Finnish experts.
The unique brackish, shallow waters of Finland's coastline host species adapted to conditions found nowhere else. However, key keystone species like bladder wrack, eelgrass, and the blue mussel are in significant decline, raising alarms among marine biologists.
\"The diversity of invertebrates that form the basis of food webs in the coastal waters of Finland is inherently relatively low, which makes the ecosystem particularly vulnerable,\" said Christoffer Bostrom, associate professor and co-author of the report. \"If one species disappears locally, there is no species replacing that function.\"
This comprehensive study by the Finnish Nature Panel identified 45 different forms of biodiversity loss, with the local disappearance and reduction of species being the most prevalent issues. Coastal ecosystems play a crucial role in carbon and nutrient sequestration, oxygen production, and maintaining productive fish stocks, making their decline a serious concern.
The primary drivers of this biodiversity loss are eutrophication and climate change. Eutrophication, resulting from excess nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen entering the sea through agricultural runoff, forestry, and wastewater, is the main threat to marine biodiversity. Henri Sumelius, project researcher and lead author of the report, emphasized that none of Finland's coastal areas currently meet good ecological status in terms of eutrophication.
Despite some signs of recovery, Bostrom highlighted that coastal regions have yet to achieve a good ecological status. The Baltic Sea is also changing rapidly due to climate change, adding further pressure on these fragile ecosystems.
To meet international targets aimed at halting biodiversity loss, the Nature Panel recommends stronger protection of marine areas and prioritizing nature in decision-making processes. These actions are essential to preserve the health and productivity of Finland's coastal waters for future generations.
Reference(s):
Report: Worrying biodiversity loss in Finnish coastal waters
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