Eutrophication in the Danish parts of the North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat 2006-2014. A literature-based status assessment

Summary

We report eutrophication status 2006-2014 of the Danish parts of the North Sea, Skagerrak, Kattegat and northern and central parts of the Sound and have accordingly identified Eutrophication Problem Areas (EPAs) and Eutrophication Non-Problem areas (NPAs). All coastal waters, where the classification is based on the 2014 Danish Initial Assessment pursuant to the WFD, are classified as EPAs. For the open parts of the North Sea and Skagerrak, we have identified these as NPAs, which is in accordance with earlier indicator-based assessment of the eutrophication status. For the open part of the Kattegat and the Sound, the classifications are also in accordance with long-term monitoring and assessment of the eutrophication status, i.e. EPAs. Further, using long-term satellite-based monitoring of surface waters, we have focused on the separation of EPAs and NPAs in the North Sea and Skagerrak and have provided a more accurate delineation compared to previous Danish assessment of the eutrophication status in the areas.