Current

A report compiled by the Finnish Environment Institute SYKE has produced a clearer picture of litter in the Finnish marine environment. On beaches close to residential areas 90% of the litter visible to the naked eye is composed of various plastic and foam plastic products, and cigarette butts are the most common type of plastic waste. Road traffic is the most significant source of microplastics.

The load of nutrients and dangerous substances is decreasing in all European maritime areas, but the impacts caused by the load have not yet been averted. Similarly, most fish stocks are beginning to recover from overfishing in Northern European sea areas. However, overfishing in the Mediterranean and Black Sea remains a major problem.