OREANDA-NEWS. June 8, 2011. The Conference on Sea Ducks and Their Food Will Take Place at Gotland University in Visby on June 14-16

The Populations of Mussel Eating Sea Ducks in the Baltic Sea are Decreasing Rapidly

Visby, 08 June 2011.

Why have the historically large populations of sea ducks, such as eiders, long-tailed ducks and velvet scooters decreased rapidly in the Baltic Sea region in recent years? This question will occupy the researchers at the scientific conference, which will draw participation from nine Baltic Sea countries.

Several studies conducted in the last couple of years demonstrate that the mussel eating sea ducks in the Baltic Sea are indeed in decline. For some species the decrease is substantial, which has resulted in some being red-listed.

"There is reason for concern as we note that the group of bird species which depend on benthic food for their survival, i.e. on blue mussels and other mussels, are in a steep decline", says the conference host, Professor Kjell Larsson, at Gotland University. Whether this decrease is a sign of a larger, more serious, change in the Baltic Sea ecosystem will be a topic of discussion during the conference. The conference is sponsored by Nord Stream AG and is part of a research project on sea ducks and bottom fauna in a changing Baltic environment.