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Nutrients in transitional, coastal and marine waters (CSI 021) - Assessment published Mar 2013: In 2010, the highest concentrations of oxidized nitrogen were found in the Baltic Sea, in the Gulf of Riga and Kiel Bay, and in Belgian, Dutch and German coastal waters in the Greater North Sea. Reported stations in the Northern Spanish and Croatian coastal waters also showed high concentration levels. The highest orthophosphate concentrations were found in the Baltic Sea, in the Gulf of Riga and Kiel Bay, and in Irish, Belgian, Dutch and German coastal waters in the Greater North Sea. Coastal stations along Northern Spain and Southern France also showed high concentration levels. Between 1985 and 2010, overall nutrient concentrations have been either stable or decreasing in stations reported to the EEA in the Greater North Sea, Celtic Seas and in the Baltic Sea. However, this decrease has been more pronounced for nitrogen. Assessments for the overall Mediterranean and Black Sea regions were not possible, data only being available for stations in France and Croatia. For oxidized nitrogen concentrations, 14% of all the reported stations showed decreasing trends, whereas only 2% showed increasing trends. Decreases were most evident in the Baltic Sea (coastal waters of Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Finland, and open waters) and in southern part of the coast of the Greater North Sea. Increasing trends were mainly found in Croatian coastal stations. For orthophosphate concentrations, 10% of all the reported stations showed a decrease. This was most evident in coastal and open water stations in the Greater North Sea, and in coastal stations in the Baltic Sea. Increasing orthophosphate trends, observed in 6% of the reported stations, were mainly detected in Irish, Danish and Finnish coastal waters (Gulf of Finland and Gulf of Bothnia) and in open waters of the Baltic Proper.
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Trend in winter orthophosphate concentrations in coastal and open waters of the Baltic, North East Atlantic (Greater North Sea, Celtic Seas, Bay of Biscay), and Mediterranean Sea (Western Mediterranean Sea, Adriatic Sea), 1985 - 2010: The figure shows trend in winter orthophosphate concentrations in coastal and open waters of the Baltic, North East Atlantic (Greater North Sea, Celtic Seas, Bay of Biscay), and Mediterranean Sea (Western Mediterranean Sea, Adriatic Sea) (% of stations showing a statistically significant change within the period 1985-2010). Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of stations included in the analysis for each country. "Open sea" is the total of all off-shore stations (>20km) within a (sub)region.
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Nutrients in transitional, coastal and marine waters (CSI 021) - Assessment published Jul 2011: Decreasing nutrient concentrations were found in the North Sea and in the Baltic Sea. In the Mediterranean and Black Sea, the lack of temporally and spatially comprehensive time series does not allow an overall assessment. In 2008, the highest concentrations of oxidized nitrogen were found in the Gulf of Riga, and in Lithuanian, Swedish, German, Belgian, and Scottish coastal waters. Between 1985 and 2008, 12% of all the stations in the European seas reported to the EEA showed decreasing trends of oxidized nitrogen concentrations. These trends were more evident in the open Baltic Sea and in the Dutch and German coastal waters in the North Sea. In 2008, the highest orthophosphate concentrations were found at Finnish coastal stations in the Gulf of Finland, the Gulf of Riga, German, Belgian, French, and Scottish coastal waters. Between 1985 and 2008, 15% of all the stations in the European seas reported to the EEA showed a decrease in orthophosphate concentrations, mainly because of improved waste water treatment. This decrease was most evident in Norwegian, Lithuanian, Danish, Belgian and Dutch coastal water stations, and in the open waters of the North and Baltic Seas.
Located in Data and maps › Indicators › Nutrients in transitional, coastal and marine waters
Change in winter orthophosphate concentrations in coastal and open waters of the North East Atlantic, Baltic, Mediterranean and North Seas: The figure shows change in winter orthophosphate concentrations in coastal and open waters of the North East Atlantic, Baltic, Mediterranean and North Seas, 1985-2008
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Change in winter orthophosphate concentrations in coastal and open waters of the North East Atlantic, Baltic, Mediterranean and North Seas, for stations that include observations made in 2005 (left panel) and those that do not (right panel): Countries included in the analysis: Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, United Kingdom
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Change in winter nitrate and phosphate concentrations in coastal and open waters of the north Atlantic (mostly Celtic Seas), Baltic, Mediterranean (Italian coastal waters only) and North Seas (% of stations, 1985-2004/2005): This is part of the EEA core set indicator 21 (http://themes.eea.europa.eu/Specific_media/water/indicators)
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Fertiliser input per hectare of agricultural land: Mean fertilizers consumption per unit of agricultural land expressed in Kg of total fertilizers consumption (nitrogen (N) + phosphate (P2O5) + potash (K2O)) per hectare.
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Assessing water quality in Europe using stratification techniques — Results of a prototype application using French data: Located in Publications
Nutrients in transitional, coastal and marine waters (CSI 021) - Assessment published Nov 2005: Phosphate concentrations in some coastal sea areas of the Baltic and North Seas have decreased over recent years, but they have remained stable in the Celtic Sea and increased in some Italian coastal areas. Nitrate concentrations have generally remained stable over recent years in the Baltic, North and Celtic Seas but have increased in some Italian coastal areas.
Located in Data and maps › Indicators › Nutrients in transitional, coastal and marine waters
Fertiliser consumption: Nitrogen and phosphate fertiliser consumption per agricultural land area unit
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