Human activities and exploitation of the seas form the basis of various vital and profitable activities; however, they come at a certain cost.
What are these costs associated with the deterioration of the environment? And how will they develop in the future?
DHI will help to answer these questions. As a sub-contractor to Enveco, an environmental economics consultant, DHI will contribute its knowledge and skills in marine and ecological science. The project, carried out from August to November 2011, is part of an economic and social analysis (ESA) of marine tourism and litter in the Baltic Sea, as specified in the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive. It has been tendered by the recently launched Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management.
The overall aim of the current project is to evaluate the costs associated with the continuing deterioration of the natural marine environment in the Baltic Sea due to human activities, such as recreation and littering. The study will not only analyse the current situation, but also deliver forecasts for 2020 and 2050.
Providing an holistic approach to good environmental status (GES) projects
The innovative approach of this project, combining both an economic and an ecological outlook, well qualifies DHI for forthcoming similar projects. Projects to achieve a good environmental status (GES) of the marine environment are currently pushed to the forefront as a result of an initiative by the European Union. Within the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive, it outlines the criteria necessary to achieve GES for Europe’s seas. By 2020, member states must have developed strategies and take the necessary measures to achieve or maintain GES in their marine waters.