Oxygen depletion in Danish waters is projected to be the most severe in 23 years, according to a new report from Aarhus University. This alarming finding is based on data collected between July 1st and August 27th. The recently published report is the first of four expected in the coming months, detailing the extent of the problem.

Severe oxygen depletion has been recorded across numerous locations. These include the Wadden Sea, the North Sea, and the Skagerrak, alongside several fjords and bays.

Specific areas affected include:

• Ringkøbing Fjord, which experienced severe oxygen depletion in mid-July.
• Limfjord, particularly Thisted Bredning, Vilsund, and Lovns Bredning in mid-July, with Vilsund and Hjarbæk Fjord also affected in late August.
• Northern and central Kattegat, including Mariager Fjord, where severe oxygen depletion persisted throughout the monitored period.
• Aarhus Bay, with the central part experiencing severe oxygen depletion, and Ebeltoft Vig seeing a decline in oxygen content, leading to severe depletion by the end of August.
• Waters around Funen, such as the western part of the northern Great Belt in late July and mid-August, the outer part of Vejle Fjord in late August, Haderslev Fjord in late July and late August, Genner Bugt in late August, Aabenraa Fjord in July and late August, the southern Little Belt off Als, near Ærø in late July, Faaborg Fjord in August, the inner part of Flensburg Fjord at the first inspection, and Sønderborg Bay from mid-July.
• Areas around Zealand, Lolland, and Falster, including a brief period of severe oxygen depletion in Karrebæk Fjord in early August, Hjelm Bay near Møn from mid-August, and Femern Belt in August.
• The waters surrounding Bornholm, specifically the Bornholm Basin east of Bornholm (a naturally oxygen-depleted area) and a small area west of Bornholm in August.