In 1997, as part of the World Water Day, the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) designated 22 March as the Baltic Sea Protection Day. The Helsinki Commission works to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution through intergovernmental co-operation. HELCOM is the governing body of the “Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area” – more usually known as the Helsinki Convention. HELCOM has 10 Contracting Parties: Denmark, Estonia, the European Union, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and Sweden.
The International Baltic Sea Protection Day was established to draw the attention of the international community to problems related to its protection. The Baltic Sea environment is particularly vulnerable to degradation. All untreated sewage produced by countries in the Baltic Sea region, including industrial sewage, flows into this relatively small sea.
Apart from the municipal engineering, the waters of the Baltic Sea are also endangered by wind energy, maritime transport, tourism and recreation, agriculture, fishery, gas pipelines and the extraction of raw materials. All this makes the Baltic Sea one of the most polluted seas in the world.
One of the most effective ways to protect the environment in the Baltic Sea is to reduce the emission of pollutants and the exploitation of its resources, for example by reducing the use of artificial fertilizers in agriculture and by treating wastewater more effectively.
The Interreg South Baltic Programme 2014-2020 supported over 10 projects which focus directly on the protection of the Baltic Sea water, including such projects as Less is More, Morpheus, Live Lagoons, WASTEMAN, COASTAL Biogas and others.
We should bear in mind, that the Baltic Sea catchment areas cover sometimes entire territories of the countries situated within the Baltic basin. We all have an influence on what flows into the sea.
We also celebrate today the World Water Day 2023. This year, the focus of the UN observance is on accelerating change to solve the water and sanitation crisis.
The global campaign, called Be the change, encourages people to take action in their own lives to change the way they use, consume and manage water. This World Water Day is about accelerating change to solve the water and sanitation crisis. And because water affects us all, we need everyone to take action. Right now, we are seriously off-track to meet Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.
That means you!
What can we do to protect the Baltic Sea and nature every day? Simple actions count!
- Establish a private conservation area. If you own an area of water, you can help the Baltic Sea by establishing a private conservation area. In addition to the threats posed by eutrophication, and climate change, biodiversity is also being endangered by a broad range of operation pressures in the Baltic Sea.
- Eat sustainably – favour fish and plant-based foods. Following a diet favouring locally produced seasonal vegetables is good for you and the Baltic Sea. If you eat meat, favour meat from pasture-raised livestock. And by eating locally produced food, you also support local entrepreneurs. You can help to reduce eutrophication by eating wild fish, such as cyprinoid fish caught in the Baltic Sea.
- Fish sustainably. Some of the Baltic Sea’s fish stocks have been endangered by overfishing. Its adverse effects are severe and not limited to declining fish stocks – they threaten entire marine ecosystems. By fishing sustainably, you will protect Baltic Sea species and their habitats and safeguard the livelihoods of people who depend on fishing. When you go fishing, remember these four essential rules of sustainable fishing: (1) Catching cyprinoid fish helps reduce eutrophication and makes tasty dishes when appropriately prepared; (2) Don’t fish for critically endangered species like eels or Baltic Sea cod; (3). Only catch full-size fish, and only take as many as you are going to eat; (4) Remove old fishing nets from the water and recycle them properly.
- Don’t litter. Litter thrown onto the ground will often end up in waterways before too long, and in coastal areas. Take your recycling to the recycling centre and put your rubbish in the bin. You can also try plogging – picking up litter while jogging – and despite its name, it’s also an excellent activity for walkers. Take a rubbish bag with you when you go for a jog or walk and pick up any litter you find.
- Make sustainable consumer choices. Only buy something new when you really must. When you make a purchase, buy sustainable, repairable, and recyclable items – and then use them until they wear out. You should also favour sustainable materials, such as natural fibres, and reduce unnecessary chemicals in cosmetics, cleaning, and laundry. Remember that you can also make your own ecological detergents.
How does the Interreg South Baltic Programme celebrate World Water Day and the International Baltic Sea Protection Day? To make people talk about water and its meaning to the world, we shared a game on Facebook created by the Jon Nurmisen Foundation to raise awareness and discover ways to take concrete actions to save the Baltic Sea, to mitigate climate change, and protect biodiversity. The Baltic Sea is a unique and vulnerable ecosystem. We support those who strive to protect it.
