Sustainability 2026, 18(8), 3983; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18083983 (registering DOI) - 17 Apr 2026
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Eutrophication caused by excessive nitrogen and phosphorus input remains the most severe environmental threat to the Baltic Sea. While nutrient sources in general are widely studied and regulated, the relative importance of maritime nutrient inputs and their regulatory treatment remain insufficiently integrated into
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Eutrophication caused by excessive nitrogen and phosphorus input remains the most severe environmental threat to the Baltic Sea. While nutrient sources in general are widely studied and regulated, the relative importance of maritime nutrient inputs and their regulatory treatment remain insufficiently integrated into land-based nutrient assessments. This study applies a load-based source apportionment approach and quantifies the maritime- and port-related nutrient inputs to a Baltic Sea coastal system, in relation to other nutrient contributors (riverine, municipal, and industrial sources). Additionally, the stringency of the regulatory frameworks governing each source is assessed using a qualitative regulatory classification scale and compared to the proportion of each nutrient source. The results show that riverine inputs dominate total nutrient loading, accounting for over 90% of both nitrogen and phosphorus. Maritime sources contribute only a small share overall. However, fertilizer cargo handling constitutes the largest nitrogen point source, while ship wastewater inputs are negligible. In contrast, ship wastewater is subject to the strictest regulatory controls, whereas fertilizer handling operates under permits lacking explicit nutrient discharge limits. The findings reveal a governance mismatch between nutrient pressures and regulatory focus and highlight the need to better align nutrient management priorities with actual environmental pressures in semi-enclosed seas.
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