Concerning increased degradation of marine ecosystems, there is a great political and institutional
demand for an array of different tools to restore a good environmental status. Thereby, eutrophication
is acknowledged as one of the major human induced stressors which has to be monitored and reduced.
The present study concentrates on an assessment of the eutrophication status of the Baltic Sea Protected
Areas by use of available data and GIS technologies. Two geodata layers were used for analysis: (1) a map
on the eutrophication status of the Baltic Sea generated by the Helsinki Commission applying the
HELCOM Eutrophication Assessment Tool (HEAT), and (2) modelled data on atmospheric nitrogen deposition
made available by the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP). The results yielded
comprehensive and conclusive data indicating that most of the BSPAs may be classified as being ‘affected
by eutrophication’ and underlining the need to decrease the overall emissions of nutrients.