Experts don’t know what’s going on with the Oslo Fjord – NRK Norway – Summary of news from different parts of the country

NRK is located on the islets of Søndre Lauer, on the outskirts of the Hvaler National Park. They explain to us that the area around us is a good image of what the ecosystem is like in the Oslofjord.

– We are seeing important changes at the moment, and there is a lot of concern about it. Cod and mussels are gone, many reptiles have been found dead, and new species are expelling others, says Norwegian State Inspectorate (SNO) marine biologist Haakon Haaverstad.

A bird of honor lies lifeless on the ground. One in nearly 400 people died inexplicably last month outside Oslofjord.

– And then it is marine litter then. Plastic, plastic and plastic. We cleaned the entire area a year ago. Now he looks like this again, says Haaverstad, as he steps on the garbage dumps that have come in from the sea.

Pick up little plastic balls, which are too small and challenging for everyone to clean.

A system under pressure.

The state of the Oslofjord has been widely discussed over the years.

Much is good and has improved. The quality of the water in the interior of the fjord was called the “sewage pool” in the 1950s and 1960s, but it is now purified. Species like mackerel and sea trout also live well.

At the same time, figures from the Marine Research Institute show that the Oslofjord is almost empty of fish. In the past 100 years, all cod fish have been reduced by 86 percent in the Inner Skagerrak. The tare grew to 25 meters in 1950, now it does not reach more than 14 meters.

Since New Years, fishing in cod spawning grounds was prohibited; fishing for cod is strictly prohibited. Mussels die and disappear en masse, without scientists knowing why.

On land, the thousands-year-old purple coastal heather, known as a roar, is about to be squeezed out of the trees and warmer weather. The Norwegian Nature Inspectorate has set up several mink traps to prevent the death of many seabirds.

New species, such as the Pacific oyster and the wrinkle rose, have become famous for recklessly conquering the surrounding areas. The latest addition is the dead bird of honor, which has become a common sight.

– We don’t know why this is. But what has been typical of the dead is that they are clearly emaciated, says Haaverstad, and presents a theory.

Because the cod disappears, it becomes more lipstick. Lipfish eat mussels, which is a common diet for eider. 110 birds were sent to a research laboratory in Trondheim to find answers to the cause of death.

– The ecosystem in the fjord is complex. But we see that the stress here is starting to get pretty big now, ”says Haaverstad, adding that they have major research projects to find answers.

– Due to this human activity, which probably does, we must have specific measures so that everything returns to normal, says the marine biologist.

A plan on the way

The government is now working on a comprehensive plan to improve the environment in the Oslo fjord.

This will be presented throughout the year.

– All this shows that the Oslofjord is a vulnerable and partly unbalanced ecosystem. We are now working on the knowledge base to rectify this, says the Minister for Climate and Environment, Sveinung Rotevatn.

The Ministry is considering proposals presented by the Environment Directorate, which will include plowing the land, emissions from agriculture, and new rules for hunting and fishing.

– The ecosystem in the Oslo Fjord has been talked about for several years. Have you acted too late?

– In my opinion, we should have held on earlier. Restoring the balance of an ecosystem is difficult work, but I have faith that we will. We need an offensive plan, and it is on the way, “says Rotevatn.