Essential fish habitats (EFH): Conclusions from a workshop on the importance, mapping, monitoring, threats and conservation of coastal EFH in the Baltic Sea

Many coastal and offshore fish species in the Baltic Sea are strongly dependent on shallow and sheltered near-shore habitats for their spawning, nursery, feeding and migration. Still, the role of these essential fish habitats, EFH, for the development and support of fish stocks and communities has received relatively little attention. As EFH in the Baltic often are found in the same parts of the coastal zone that are highly utilized and valued by humans, they are subjected to many threats and therefore management needs are urgent. In addition, EFH provide and support important ecosystem services and are included in national and international agreements and legislative acts as the Baltic Sea Action Plan, Habitats Directive and Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Despite this, the conservation status of EFH is generally poor in the region.As a result of these shortcomings and needs, the Nordic Council of Ministers financed a project including a workshop with Baltic Sea experts with the aim to review the importance of, protection of and threats to coastal EFH in the Baltic Sea. This report describes the results of the project, primarily focusing on the outcome of the workshop.