Eutrophication and Baltic fish communities
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TL;DR
Total fish catches, dominated by herring, sprat, and cod, have increased tenfold in the past fifty years and doubled in the last twenty-five years, mainly due to intensified fishing but possibly also to eutrophication and decreased fish predation by seals.
Abstract
The discharge of nutrients to the Baltic Sea has increased considerably during the 20th century. There are several indications that this eutrophication has affected the fish community. Changes in species composition have been reported from coastal areas, e.g. local increases in the abundance of pikeperch and decreases in whitefish. Total fish catches, dominated by herring, sprat, and cod, have increased tenfold in the past fifty years and doubled in the last twenty-five years. This increase is mainly due to intensified fishing, but possibly also to eutrophication and decreased fish predation by seals.