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2009-06-11

New methods for a cleaner coast

Eutrophication is one of the most severe environmental problems in the Baltic Sea today. It is caused by excess input of nutrients from land to the sea.This project aims at developing mussel farming as an environmental measure to enhance the water quality in the Baltic Sea.

By developing a farming process and use the mussels as forage or as nutrient for organic agriculture.

The objective is to research if a farm of 150 tons mussels will, by eating phytoplankton, reduce eutrophication and make the water clearer. In the next step the mussels will be refined into forage for hens and to nutrient to organic agriculture. This could lead to a cycle of nutrient as the nutrients are beeing brought back to land.

The first results will be presented in June 2009. The project is lead by Associate Professor Odd Lindahl and financed by Baltic Sea 2020.

 For more information please contact:
Lotta Samuelson, Projekt Manager Eutrophication, Baltic Sea 2020, +46 8-673 97 61
Odd Lindahl, ssociate Professor in Marine Ecology : +46 709-49 23 00

Our focus areas

fisheryThe stock of predatory fish is crucial for the state of the Baltic Sea. Therefore, the Foundation worked to ensure that the environmental effects of fishing should be a central part of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy. The Foundation also worked on projects to increase the proportion of predatory fish, such as cod, pike and perch. Read more

eutroEutrophication is caused by emissions of nutrients that come from e.g. agriculture, water treatment plants, sewage and transportation. To find measures that could reduce emissions the Foundation worked on projects in agriculture, industrial animal farms and the coastal zone, to research on measures to catch or bind nutrients. Read more

seagull-informationTo create awareness about the threats and opportunities the Baltic Sea is facing, the Foundation initiated a 10-year media and film project with journalist Folke Rydén and photographer Mattias Klum. The Foundation has also supported Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre (Baltic Eye), and Baltic Sea Science Center at Skansen. Read more