The southern Baltic Sea and the Hanö Bay are located in an area with major environmental problems, such as eutrophication, dead seafloors, reduced biodiversity and extensive pollution. This region is also spawning ground for several of the Baltic Sea's commercial species such as cod and salmon and growth zones for eel. Species that have decreased in population numbers during recent decades and are essential for the function of the entire ecosystems in the Baltic Sea.
– It is of great importance for the future development of Skåne and southern Sweden that the surrounding coasts and sea are healthy, says Maria Hansson, Associate Professor at the Center for Environmental and Climate Research, and one of the initiators of the new research and innovation environment in Simrishamn.
Despite the many environmental problems in this area there has so far been limited research dedicated to solving the challenges present in the Hanö Bay and the southern Baltic Sea. Region Skåne has now decided to contribute to the new research and innovation environment at the Marine Centre in Simrishamn with seven million SEK during five years.
– In order to address the environmental problems in the Hanö Bay, we first need to investigate the ecosystems and get a better overall picture of how different environmental problems are linked, from land to water says Maria Hansson.
Some of the subjects which will be pursued by researchers are microplastics in water, ecosystems in the Hanö Bay, and eutrophication contributing to algae bloom.
– We hope that the Marine Centre in Simrishamn, and the research being conducted there, will provide a meeting place for municipalities, industry and others that need to collaborate in order to solve the environmental problems found in the southern Baltic Sea and the Hanö Bay, says Maria Hansson.
For more information contact:
Maria Hansson, Associate Professor at the Center for Environmental and Climate Research (CEC)
E-mail: maria [dot] hansson [at] cec [dot] lu [dot] se (maria[dot]hansson[at]cec[dot]lu[dot]se)
Phone: +46 706 35 32 44