The Baltic Sea suffers from dead zones, oxygen depletion, and chemical and agricultural pollution flowing into the sea.

Omissions

• HELCOM estimates that eutrophication impacts about 94% of the Baltic Sea area and that oxygen-depleted dead zones cover roughly 70,000 km² (~17% of the Baltic), with sharp declines in commercially important fish stocks.
• Agriculture is quantified as the largest single source of nutrient loads (European Court of Auditors: ~45% of nitrogen and ~45% of phosphorus inputs; peer-reviewed estimates put agriculture at 77% of anthropogenic riverine nitrogen and 57% of phosphorus).
• The claim is qualitative and accurate; no source contradicts it. The causal link between eutrophication/pollution and fish stock collapse is one factor among several (overfishing also played a role), which is context the MEP does not mention.

Sources

• PrimaryHELCOM — Eutrophication policy briefThese zones [oxygen-depleted dead zones] are now covering an estimated 70,000 km² (around 17%) of the Baltic Sea. This oxygen depletion has caused sharp declines in commercially important [fish stocks].
• PrimaryHELCOM — Ripple effects of eutrophicationThe Baltic Sea is severely affected by eutrophication, with 94% of its area impacted by excess nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. These nutrients [cause algal blooms and oxygen depletion].
• PrimaryEuropean Court of Auditors — Special Report 16/03 'Combating eutrophication in the Baltic Sea'The two most significant sources of waterborne nutrient loads are: diffuse sources, mainly agriculture (45 % of overall nitrogen and 45 % of overall phosphorus [loads to the Baltic Sea]).
• Secondarymeere-online.de — Focus on oxygen depletion in the Baltic SeaOxygen depletion in the deep waters of the Baltic Sea is primarily caused by the overfertilisation of the water, a process known as eutrophication.