A new report from Aarhus University concludes that September saw the worst loss of oxygen in 22 years - the second largest ever measured. An area of ​​sea the size of Zealand and Funen combined was affected by oxygen depletion, which is significantly greater than last year. The area of ​​severe oxygen loss corresponded to the size of Lolland-Falster. Oxygen levels were observed so low that toxic hydrogen sulfide is released from the ocean floor. Dead fish and benthic animals were observed in several places.

"It is clear that our marine environment is in deep crisis. Severe oxygen depletion is spreading year by year, and this underlines how important it is to take the marine environment seriously. Without significant nitrogen reductions from agriculture, we will not get healthy and robust marine ecosystems,” says Niklas Sjøbeck Jørgensen, senior advisor at the Green Transition Denmark.

The government can relax nitrogen requirements

At the same time, the Ministry of Finance's latest report on the nitrogen effort has caused concern by proposing possible relaxations in the effort against nitrogen discharges - directly against the recommendations of researchers and the situation we now see in the sea. The report has presented three scenarios, two of which ease the nitrogen input for a number of water areas, i.a. Vejle Fjord, South Funen Archipelago, Little and Great Belt. The nitrogen input is also completely removed for Bornholm and Djursland East in one of the two scenarios. According to Danish researchers, the last scenario is the one that best matches reality and is based on the most scientifically correct basis.

"It is completely out of the question to consider going against the scientists' clear recommendations and reducing efforts against nitrogen pollution when we are faced with such serious environmental problems. The depletion of oxygen is a tangible sign that you cannot afford to do less – on the contrary, politicians must raise their ambition” states Niklas Sjøbeck Jørgensen.

It should be about the sea

Based on the EU's Water Framework Directive, we must have lowered nitrogen emissions sufficiently in all Danish coastal water areas by 2027 at the latest. A plan must therefore be submitted to the European Commission for how we in Denmark will reach the target. When you relax the nitrogen requirements by tinkering with the otherwise robust models that calculate the nitrogen input requirement, it becomes easier to reach targets in a spreadsheet. But the marine environment does not get better for that reason.

"When the government sets up desk exercises to achieve less ambitious objectives, it seems that it is more about doing as little as possible without the EU coming after us. It's not good enough. Marine environmental efforts should be about a good and healthy marine environment – ​​not about minimum implementation” says Niklas Sjøbeck Jørgensen.

The regulatory level of nitrogen should be raised in Treparten

The ongoing political negotiations on the Tripartite Agreement, which includes, among other things, a large economic package for the acquisition of agricultural land, must be seen in the light of the current oxygen depletion report. Green Transition Denmark emphasizes that financial incentives for voluntary agreements on land acquisition are important, but that they are not enough. At the same time, regulation must be introduced to ensure that if the lot owners do not make use of the voluntary schemes, they will be hit by targeted and general regulation up to a level that ensures the necessary nitrogen reductions.

"It needs to be much clearer from the Tripartite that if the removal does not reach the target in 2027, then there will be regulation - both targeted and general - right up to a level that safeguards the marine environment. It will boost the large voluntary agreements that are already on the table.” says Niklas Sjøbeck Jørgensen.