Övergödning i Laholmsbukten  En studie av Laholmsbuktens övergödningssituation

Sammanfattning: This essay discusses the Laholm’s bay and its eutrofication problems. The question of issue is: Have the efforts to limit the eutrofication in the Laholm’s bay been effective? What is the local actor’s opinion whether the measures have been effective or not? What efforts have been made to prevent the leakage of nutrients from fields and forestland? The Laholm's bay is located in the south part of the Swedish west coast. The problem was noticed in the 1960´s by local fishermen that experienced a lack of catch. Attention was drawn to the problem and it turned out that the bay was experiencing oxygen depletion The Laholm’s bay drainage basin is drained by five streams: Lagan, Nissan, Fylleån, Genevadsån and Stensån. The Laholm’s bay is especially sensitive to eutrofication because of its shallowness and has a medium depth of only 15 meters. In this bay nitrogen is the limiting nutrient. There are several sources for nitrogen and agricultural land as well as woodlands are the main cause. Interviews has been with wide range of persons to get a grip of what have been done and what is left to do in the area. The interviews have been divided between municipalities, county administration, the Federation of Swedish Farmers, scientist and farmers. The farmers along with the whole agriculture industry in the Laholm’s bay have put a lot of effort to reduce the nutrients leakage. The efforts have not given any clear results and the nitrogen levels are still the same. Data from small forest rivers and small rivers in agriculture land are showing a much more clear result. Agriculture land is in these measurements showing a slightly decrease in nitrogen levels. Forrest rivers are on the other hand showing an increase. It can be concluded that the efforts to reduce the eutrofication have been partly effective. Stronger regulations for all nutrients leakage source are necessary if eutrofication problems are going to show any significant improvement. It’s important to keep in mind that it’s a slow process that involves that efforts are made in several countries.