The Baltic Sea provides a number of ecosystem services to the inhabitants of the region. Hitherto, economic models have tended not to place economic values on them though. BalticSTERN work to integrate these values as well as public opinion into their analyses. With regard to fisheries, their research indicates that low fishing mortalities will generate the highest long-term profitability as well as being best for the long-term resilience of the ecosystem.
Yesterday, the Stockholm Resilience Centre hosted a stakeholder seminar to discuss BalticSTERN’s research with scientists, business sectors, NGOs, ministries. The aim of the workshop was to give an overview of the research carried out by BalticSTERN between 2009-2012 and to present unpublished published results so as to get feedback for a report due in December.
BalticSTERN, is an international research network that combines ecological and economic models to make cost-benefit analyses and identify cost-effective combinations of measures for reaching environmental targets for the Baltic Sea, stemming from the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP).
Johan Rockström of the Stockholm Resilience Centre opened the meeting by stating that one of the main pillars of BalticSTERN’s research is to try to illustrate the public value of the Baltic Sea and to stress the importance of achieving an improved environmental state of the Baltic Sea. BalticSTERN wants to deliver the message to decision makers that the Nordic countries are among the richest countries in the world and it would be a shame if they cannot their neighbouring Sea. Rockström also stated that one of the main ideas of the project is to bridge the gap between science and policy.
The seminar mainly revolved around cost-benefit scenarios of carrying out mitigation measures on eutrophication and overfishing, other environmental pressures such as oil spills were also discussed. Some very interesting results of the research conducted so far was presented, inter alia concluding that citizens around the Baltic Sea show a high willingness to pay for an improved environmental state of the Baltic Sea. Over 50% of the asked population would be willing to pay 50 euros annually as a specific Baltic Sea tax aiming to achieve the goals in the BSAP.
Concerning fisheries, some interesting results on multi species modelling were presented, concluding that a low fishing pressure on the main commercial species in the central Baltic Sea would generate the highest economic long term profitability. The ultimate fishing mortalities proposed was 0.2 for eastern Baltic cod and around 0.1 for sprat and herring. The modelling results provide valuable information in light of the current development on a multi species management plan for the Baltic Sea.
It was stressed that improved EU policy coherence and the need to develop targets within the different policy areas fulfilling the descriptors of Good Ecological Status in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the Water Framework Directive. BALTFISH, one of the flagship projects in the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, was mentioned as a positive example of a regional governance initiative, and it was discussed whether it would be possible to develop a similar institution with a wider scope beyond fisheries, embracing all issues that have an influence on the Baltic Sea environment.