21
© The Author(s) 2016
M. Gilek et al. (eds.), Environmental Governance of the Baltic Sea,
MARE Publication Series 10, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-27006-7_2
Chapter 2
Eutrophication and the Ecosystem Approach
to Management: A Case Study of Baltic Sea
Environmental Governance
Mikael Karlsson , Michael Gilek , and Cecilia Lundberg
Abstract This study investigates if and how present institutional structures and
interactions between scientifi c assessment and environmental management are suffi cient for implementing the ecosystem approach to management (EAM) in the case
of Baltic Sea eutrophication. Concerning governance structures, a number of institutions and policies focus on issues relating to eutrophication. In many cases, the
policies are mutually supportive rather than contradictory, as seen, for example, in
the case of the mutually supportive BSAP and MSFD. The opposite is true, however,
when it comes to the linkages with some other policy areas, in particular regarding
agricultural policy, where the EU CAP subsidises intensive agriculture with at
best minor consideration of environmental objectives, thereby undermining
EAM. Enhanced policy coherence and stricter policies on concrete measures to combat eutrophication seem well needed in order to reach stated environmental objectives. When it comes to assessment-management interactions, the science- policy
interface has worked well in periods, but the more specifi c that policies have become,
for example, in the BSAP case, the more question marks have been raised about science by affected stakeholders. At present, outright controversies exist, and EAM is
far from realised in eutrophication policy in the Baltic Sea region. Besides coping
with remaining uncertainties by improving the knowledge on problems and solutions – not least in terms of the socio-economic impacts of eutrophication – it may
therefore be valuable to develop venues for improved stakeholder participation.
Keywords Institutions • Science-policy studies • Marine strategy framework directive • Baltic Sea action plan • Common agricultural policy
M. Karlsson (*) • M. Gilek
School of Natural Sciences, Technology and Environmental Studies , Södertörn University ,
14189 Huddinge , Sweden
e-mail: mikael.karlsson@2050.se; michael.gilek@sh.se
C. Lundberg
Department of Biosciences, Environmental and Marine Biology , Åbo Akademi University ,
20500 Åbo/Turku , Finland
e-mail: cecilia.lundberg@abo.fi
© The Author(s) 2016
M. Gilek et al. (eds.), Environmental Governance of the Baltic Sea,
MARE Publication Series 10, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-27006-7_2
Chapter 2
Eutrophication and the Ecosystem Approach
to Management: A Case Study of Baltic Sea
Environmental Governance
Mikael Karlsson , Michael Gilek , and Cecilia Lundberg
Abstract This study investigates if and how present institutional structures and
interactions between scientifi c assessment and environmental management are suffi cient for implementing the ecosystem approach to management (EAM) in the case
of Baltic Sea eutrophication. Concerning governance structures, a number of institutions and policies focus on issues relating to eutrophication. In many cases, the
policies are mutually supportive rather than contradictory, as seen, for example, in
the case of the mutually supportive BSAP and MSFD. The opposite is true, however,
when it comes to the linkages with some other policy areas, in particular regarding
agricultural policy, where the EU CAP subsidises intensive agriculture with at
best minor consideration of environmental objectives, thereby undermining
EAM. Enhanced policy coherence and stricter policies on concrete measures to combat eutrophication seem well needed in order to reach stated environmental objectives. When it comes to assessment-management interactions, the science- policy
interface has worked well in periods, but the more specifi c that policies have become,
for example, in the BSAP case, the more question marks have been raised about science by affected stakeholders. At present, outright controversies exist, and EAM is
far from realised in eutrophication policy in the Baltic Sea region. Besides coping
with remaining uncertainties by improving the knowledge on problems and solutions – not least in terms of the socio-economic impacts of eutrophication – it may
therefore be valuable to develop venues for improved stakeholder participation.
Keywords Institutions • Science-policy studies • Marine strategy framework directive • Baltic Sea action plan • Common agricultural policy
M. Karlsson (*) • M. Gilek
School of Natural Sciences, Technology and Environmental Studies , Södertörn University ,
14189 Huddinge , Sweden
e-mail: mikael.karlsson@2050.se; michael.gilek@sh.se
C. Lundberg
Department of Biosciences, Environmental and Marine Biology , Åbo Akademi University ,
20500 Åbo/Turku , Finland
e-mail: cecilia.lundberg@abo.fi