Promising trend towards our vision

1) Phosphorus inflow (waterborne + airborne) Baltic Sea (BAS) with statistical data uncertainty
2) Maximum Allowable Input
3) Linear projection based on the development from 2016-2020

Trends in nutrient inputs
Annual nutrient inputs into the Baltic Sea still need to come down below the maximum allowable inputs (MAI). Should we reach (and stay) below the MAI level for phosphorus, which is 21 716 tons annually, the sea can begin to recover on its own for the benefit of future generations. The latest consolidated update by HELCOM shows the continuation of a positive trend. And should the trend of the last five years continue, the MAI for phosphorus should be reached by 2029, one year ahead of our target.

 Background: nutrient inputs to the Baltic Sea
Eutrophication was first recognized as a large-scale pressure of the Baltic Sea in the early 1980s. Actions to reduce nutrient loading in the order of 50 % were agreed on by the 1988 HELCOM Ministerial Declaration. The HELCOM nutrient reduction scheme defines maximum allowable inputs (MAI) of nitrogen and phosphorus to Baltic Sea sub-basins. To eventually obtain good status in terms of eutrophication, inputs should not exceed these environmental targets.