This is shown in the new oxygen depletion report from the Department of Ecoscience, DCE, at Aarhus University, which was published on Friday.
– The depletion of oxygen has now affected very large areas with a total area larger than Zealand and Funen combined. This is an increase of almost 50 percent compared to the same time last year, says senior researcher Jens Würgler Hansen from DCE.
Of this, an area the size of Lolland Falster is affected by severe oxygen depletion.
– When the total area with oxygen depletion is so extensive now, it is because the oxygen depletion is spreading out into the Kattegat and down into the Great Belt, which we also saw in 2023 for the first time since 2008.
– These are areas that are rarely affected by oxygen depletion. Those areas can recover more quickly. But the potential loss of many species is greater there, says Jens Würgler Hansen.
It is the well-known areas that are always hit the hardest again and again. Including the Limfjord and the southern Little Belt, Aabenraa Fjord, Flensborg Fjord, Haderslev Fjord and the South Funen Archipelago.
The worst places with strong oxygen depletion are, among other things, the Limfjord in Lovns Bredning with fish deaths and Løgstør Bredning with dead lobsters. In addition, Sydfyn and the western part of Hesselø Bay north of Zealand and Hevring Bay north of Djursland.
According to Jens Würgler Hansen, the spread of oxygen depletion shows that significant efforts are needed for the Danish marine environment.
– The report documents that huge areas in the Danish marine environment are really, really bad.
– It requires action, which must come quickly and must be massive. It would be even more obvious if you looked below the sea level now, he says.
The report comes just as the political negotiations on the green tripartite have started.
More than 15 percent of agricultural land in Denmark must be taken in order to create more forest and nature and, not least, to reduce agricultural emissions of nitrogen to the aquatic environment.
Last week, an already much-discussed report from the Ministry of Finance came out, which points to three possible scenarios for nitrogen. Including a scenario that actually relaxes the requirements for agriculture.
– The oxygen depletion report shows how important it is that we implement the green tripartite agreement. We must act now, so that we can bring life back to our fjords, says Minister for the Green Party, Jeppe Bruus (S).
– The report also shows that our marine environment is under great pressure and many places are gasping for air. The difference between now and last year is that we have a green tripartite agreement which shows the way forward, he says.
The green tripartite agreement is being negotiated these days with the parties in the Folketing.
/ritzau/
2024-10-04 08:14:35
#worst #loss #oxygen #years #hit #Danish #aquatic #environment
