
Worst oxygen depletion in 22 years hits Danish waters
The current oxygen depletion in Danish aquatic environments is the most severe in 22 years, second only to a record year in 2002, as per the new report from Aarhus University’s DCE – Institute for Ecoscience released on Friday. The affected area is greater than the combined size of Zealand and Funen, a near 50% increase from the previous year, including regions like Limfjorden and parts of Kattegat, which rarely experience such conditions. Areas like Lolland Falster face intense depletion. The spread of this oxygen depletion signals a critical need for robust intervention in Denmark’s sea environment, says DCE-scientist Jens Würgler Hansen. Politician Jeppe Bruus calls the condition of the waters ‘utterly unacceptable’ and emphasizes the urgency of change, stressing the ‘green three-party agreement’ as a step towards improvement. Amidst ongoing political negotiations, the goal is to greatly reduce agricultural nitrogen emissions to the aquatic environment and convert over 15% of farmland into forests and natural landscapes.