Assessment of the sensitivity of sandy coasts of the south–eastern part of the Baltic to oil spills

Abstract

The sandy coasts of the south–eastern Baltic Sea are the unique landscape along the shores of Poland, Kaliningrad Oblast (Russia), Lithuania and Latvia. Flat sandy beaches, protective dune ridges and near shore sandy spits are very valuable and attractive resources for human recreation and valuable habitat for wildlife. Intensifying shipping, operation of oil terminals and offshore platforms poses a constant threat not only to coastal and socio–economic resources, but also to sensitive underwater landscapes of marine areas and vulnerable marine habitats. Analysis of environmental sensitivity proved to be an effective tool for national and regional oil spill response planning. However, in order to complete the precise evaluation of near shore and coastal zone sensitivity to possible oil spills there is a need to identify vulnerable coastal sectors and complete detailed mapping of underwater landscapes. This is achieved by developing an integrated methodology for analysis of valuable coastal zone sensitivity to potential oil spills.