Policy Area Nutri
PA Nutri works towards reducing nutrient inputs to the Baltic Sea and mitigating eutrophication.
The continuing problem of eutrophication is one of the most serious and difficult environmental challenges facing the Baltic Sea. Eutrophication is caused by excessive input of nutrients to the marine environment that increases the primary production of the sea, leading to reduced water clarity, oxygen depletion, toxic algae blooms, excessive growth of filamentous algae and a number of other harmful ecosystem changes.
The Policy Area Nutri’s aim is to reduce nutrient inputs to the Baltic Sea to acceptable levels to mitigate eutrophication and to achieve a good environmental status.
PA Nutri is coordinated by the the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for Southwest Finland and the State Water Holding Polish Waters.
Actions
PA Nutri serves as a cross-border and cross-sectoral policy tool for cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region. The actions are designed to reduce nutrient losses and manage nutrients more efficiently to mitigate eutrophication and climate change.
Reduce nutrient emissions from agriculture and other diffuse sources.
Action 1 aims to limit nutrient emissions from diffuse sources and reduce their pressure on the Baltic ecosystem. The Action also strengthens European action to fight against climate change. Several measures are envisaged.
Actively encourage the sectors (from agriculture, aquaculture and forestry) generating nutrient leakage from diffuse sources to mitigate their influence on eutrophication by showing economically and/or timely attractive measures and/or practices reducing nutrient pressure. Promote cost-efficient and innovative measures to prevent and reduce nutrient leakage from agriculture and forestry e.g. agrotechnic methods to prevent over fertilization, application of gypsum or structural lime, establishing wetlands, buffer zones or other nutrient trapping structures/methods. Improve monitoring and the knowledge base of nutrient flows and loads, taking climate change into account. Raise awareness of best practices to prevent and reduce nutrient discharges and increase knowledge of linkages between climate change and eutrophication.
Reduce nutrient emissions from urban areas and other point sources.
Action 2 aims to reduce nutrient emissions from urban areas and other point sources.
Support to cross-sectoral activities and measures that reduce discharges to the Sea from point sources, taking climate change into account. Develop innovative and nature based solutions to urban water management and scattered sources to reduce nutrient discharges. Improve monitoring and the knowledge base of nutrient flows and loads. Raise awareness and influence consumer behaviour. Since a key player in this action are local administrations, the established partnerships of the projects/processes/platforms must include relevant type of partners. Results to be shared i.a. in a platform.
Develop and promote safe and sustainable nutrient recycling.
Action 3 aims to propose measures to strengthen and promote safe and sustainable use of nutrients in a circular economy.
Action 3, in relation to the New Circular Economy action plan of the Green Deal, proposes measures to strengthen and promote safe and sustainable nutrient recycling as part of the HELCOM Regional Nutrient Recycling strategy. Promote and develop environmentally safe and economically viable solutions to recover and reuse nutrients from agriculture, aquaculture, forestry and municipalities. Encourage new business models and symbioses with cross-sectoral cooperation. Promote knowledge exchange, influence consumption patterns, raise awareness and carry on policy dialogue.
Address nutrients already accumulated in the Baltic Sea.
Action 4 aims to address the consequences of nutrients already accumulated in the Baltic Sea, in particular with a sectoral focus to reduce the environmental and climatic impact of nutrients on ecosystems.
Develop ecologically and economically sustainable ways and partnerships to reduce nutrients from the sea e.g. management of fishing, mussel farming or collecting algae/nutrient rich biomass from the sea. Improve the knowledge base and undertake pilot actions of sea-based measures, addressing internal nutrient reserves, considering and evaluating their risks to ecosystem and human health, as well as the long-term sustainability of their effects in line with the HELCOM work on the regional principles and risk assessment framework for internal nutrient reserves management.
Policy Area Coordinators
Elsi Kauppinen
elsi.kauppinen@ely-keskus.fiCentre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for Southwest Finland
Andrzej Kaczorek
andrzej.kaczorek@wody.gov.plNational Water Management Authority (PGW Wody Polskie)