World Student Community for Sustainable Development

On the example of the Kristinneberg town, Sweden by Maria Shilina

Continuing the topic of sustainability in the oil sector: one of the main conditions of sustainable development is the ecological safety of coastal zones, where the anthropogenic pressure is constantly increasing. The article describes the results of research on how the exploitation of the oil terminal in Kristinneberg, Sweden, influences the local environment.

Sustainable management of the coastal zones

One of the main conditions of sustainable development is the ecological safety of coastal zones, where the anthropogenic pressure is constantly increasing. Among the main components of this pressure is the impact of the oil sector – oil mining, re-loading and transportation in coastal zones.

In frames of the Russian-Swedish project “Sustainable management of the coastal zones†(participants: Koenigliche Technical Highscool Stockholm, Saint- Petersburg State Polytechnical University) the influence of oil terminals in Kristinneberg (Atlantic coast of Sweden, see the picture below) on the benthos communities of coastal zones has been estimated.

Oil terminal, Kristinneberg

Benthos communities- indicators of general situation in the coastal ecosystems

Benthos communities have been investigated as the most sensitive component of the coastal ecosystems, indicating the general ecological situation. Bottom samples were collected both in Kristinneberg from five transects, differently distant from the terminal (table 1). Various marine communities have been described (Table 1). The benthos biomass, quantity and total number of species have been defined. Bottom samples were collected on a research vessels with the help of a dredge on different distances from the terminal (areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 in the table). The samples were brought to the lab and sorted out, then they were weighed and counted, and after the total number of species and the biomass were defined for each area, they were let back into the natural habitat.

Table 1: Benthos diversity in Kristinne-fjord

Benthos samples

In the lab

Results: no signs of negative influence were found

The greatest amount of species was found on the 2nd area, pretty far from the terminal. The greatest biomass, however, refers to the 4th area, which is by the terminal. Generally, all quantities were approximately the same for all the 4 areas, no matter how distant from the terminal. The influence of the oil terminals on the indicators of the quantities and biodiversity of benthos has not been established.

Drag samples

Analysing the received data, one can conclude that the exploitation of an oil terminal in a routine regime does not influence the benthos communities and thus has no negative impact on local ecosystems: Oil terminals and coastal ecosystems can co-exist sustainably.

Nevertheless much attention and responsibility is required to maintain this co-existance. The main danger for the ecosystem comes probably not from the oil terminal but rather from the the oil transportation. In Kristinne—fjord the risk of accidents with vessels and the resulting oil spills is high because of the complicated waterway and the stable schedule. Even if this is not the subject of this article one can conclude that strict obedience to all safety rules of oil transportation is an absolute necessary.

Also read the article “Sustainable Oil transportation in the Gulf of Finland (Baltic Sea)”.