🌊 We're at the ESP Europe Conference in Prague, Czechia this week presenting our BALM ecosystem service cascade model. From habitats and species → to ecological functions and processes → to ecosystem services → to societal benefits. Find out more: protectbaltic.eu/wp4%3A-ecosy...

🌊Europeans, what do you value most about the sea? 💙 For MPA Day 2026, we’re inviting people across Europe to share what European seas mean to them 🌍 🗓️ Closes on 30 June 2026 🔗 forms.office.com/e/4JuJAG9qiw

🌊 We’re at the #EUSBSR Networking Village in Tallinn 💙🖤🤍 showcasing useful tools for MSP: 🗺️ Maps of key ecosystems & species movements 📊 Matrix of human pressures & species impacts 🐟 Cascade linking species, traits & ecosystem functions to societal benefits More info: protectbaltic.eu/publications

Research from @helsinki.fi explores how people value the Baltic Sea & whose voices count in decisions about its future. Key finding: people care deeply about the sea, but many feel excluded from decision-making. Find out more: protectbaltic.eu/news/f/rethi...

Rethinking value: whose Baltic Sea counts?

As pressures on the Baltic Sea intensify, decisions about how to manage and protect it often come down to a deceptively simple question: what is the sea worth, and to whom?

protectbaltic.eu

🗺️ Mapping life in the Baltic Sea We are using species distribution models to fill gaps in monitoring data—combining data + expert knowledge to map biodiversity across the Baltic Sea region. 👉 protectbaltic.eu/f/mapping-li... #ProtectBaltic #BalticSea #Biodiversity #SpeciesDistributionModels

Hidden beneath the Baltic Sea, Hoburgs bank & Midsjö power life from the seabed up 🌊 🦪 Mussel beds capture energy 🐟 Fish carry it across the sea 🦆 Birds reveal it at the surface 🐬 Harbour porpoises depend on it Invisible, yet vital. Protecting here means protecting the Baltic itself bit.ly/4te3Oio

🌊 The Baltic Sea has 2.5× the global average of MPAs — but are they actually protecting biodiversity? Our new article explores the project's Sufficiency of Measures (SOM) approach and how it helps ensure protection measures truly reduce environmental pressures. 🔗 protectbaltic.eu/news/f/makin...

Making protection work: rethinking measures for the Baltic Sea

On paper, the Baltic Sea performs well when it comes to protection. Nearly 2.5 times the global average of its waters are designated as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). But the reality is that designati...

protectbaltic.eu

@protectbaltic.bsky.social is at the Mission Ocean Forum at #EUOceanDays today. The forum brings together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners working towards the goals of the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030”. If you’re attending, feel free to reach out and connect.

🌊 At #EUOceanDays, Reet Ulm representing Estonia’s Kliimaministerium outlined @protectbaltic.bsky.social progress in MPA mapping, management plan collation and manager workshops. Baltic Sea protection now covers 20.9% of the Baltic Sea: 🔗 bit.ly/4ua1rhx

MPAs are key to restoring Europe’s seas 🌊🐟🌿 At #EUOceanDays, @eea.europa.eu highlighted priorities: 🛡️ stronger strict protection 🔗 connected MPA networks ⚙️ effective management 📊 better ecological reporting 🌱 alignment with restoration Great to see these reflected in @protectbaltic.bsky.social.

🌊 Pressures in the Baltic Sea are cumulative and connected. Our new article highlights Aino Ahvo (PROTECT BALTIC), who is developing a threat matrix linking human activities to environmental pressures—supporting smarter, science-based marine protection: protectbaltic.eu/news/f/linki...

🐬 How can harbour porpoises still be at risk inside protected areas? Following our recent webinar, our new article explains the paradox — and the work underway to fix it. @ascobans.bsky.social @helcominfo.bsky.social 🔗 Read the full article: protectbaltic.eu/news/f/prote...

Protecting small cetaceans

ASCOBANS' push to strengthen MPA management in Europe

protectbaltic.eu

How do bivalves, migratory birds + marine mammals support clean water, nutrients + carbon? 🦪🕊️🐬 Our BALM cascade model links species → traits → ecosystem functions → benefits we rely on, guiding smarter protection, restoration + planning across the Baltic 🌍✨ More: protectbaltic.eu/news/f/mappi...

Mapping invisible threads: rethinking ecosystem services

In the depths of marine and coastal ecosystems, life is intricately layered – from the unseen activity of burrowing bivalves to the grand migrations of birds. But what connects these living organisms ...

protectbaltic.eu

Happy Latvian National Day! | Priecīgu Latvijas Republikas proklamēšanas dienu! ❤️🤍❤️ A heartfelt thank you to our Latvian partners—AKTiiVS—for your invaluable contributions to our work on ecosystem services within the project. Liels paldies!

💧 Lithuania’s Nemunas Delta — where river meets sea — filters and renews the Baltic. A haven for 300+ bird species, it traps nutrients, restores floods, and keeps the Baltic breathing. 🌍 Protecting rivers means protecting the sea. Check our latest #MPAHighlight maps.helcom.fi/portal/apps/...

💙 We’ve expanded our website. 💡 Explore our work packages and see how each contributes to protecting the Baltic Sea. 📄 Access our outputs with ease: browse our published deliverables, explore our Zenodo repository, and see what’s coming next. 👉 protectbaltic.eu

Happy 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝘆! ❤️🖤💛 Grateful to our German partners 𝗕𝗳𝗡 & 𝗝𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗰𝗵𝘀𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗹𝗲 for championing a healthy Baltic Sea. 🌊 Your knowledge & dedication are vital for protecting our shared ecosystems. 𝗩𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗸!

🌊 That’s a wrap on the PROTECT BALTIC Annual Meeting! A heartfelt thank you to all our partners and colleagues for coming together to share insights, strengthen collaboration, and drive our shared mission forward. 💙

🤝 Our project has launched a series of 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿-𝗪𝗣 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 — connecting the dots between work packages. Each brings unique expertise, and by working together we turn separate pieces into real impact. #Collaboration #StrongerTogether #Innovation

🌊 Data on 1,900+ MPAs gathered — more to come from Sweden, Finland, Latvia & Åland ⚖️ Measures: no-take zones, seasonal rules, restoration ⚠️ Pressures: overfishing, pollution, climate change 🔜 Next: public MPA Portal for managers & communities 💙 Turning data into action for a sustainable

🌊 At the PROTECT BALTIC meeting, 𝗝𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗴 (𝗨𝗡𝗘𝗣-𝗖𝗢𝗕𝗦𝗘𝗔) highlighted COBSEA’s work across 9 countries to fight marine pollution, protect biodiversity & boost climate resilience. A call was made for Baltic–East Asia collaboration on ocean protection. #COBSEA #BlueEconomy

💻 𝗠𝗣𝗔 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗹: 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 🌊📊 PROTECT BALTIC is building a digital hub of data 📂, maps 🗺️ & tools 🛠️ on Baltic MPAs. Scientists, policymakers & citizens can explore what MPAs protect 🐟🌿 & it will become a HELCOM tool to ensure long-term impact

⚖️ 𝗟𝗮𝘄 & 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆: 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 📜🌊 PROTECT BALTIC reviews 🌍 international & 🇪🇺 EU frameworks, best practices 🌟 & tools like strict protection 🛡️ + OECMs. Clearer legal pathways 🛤️ & shared knowledge 🤝 = rules on paper 📑 becoming real protection 🐟🌿

🌿 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 Protection isn’t always enough – sometimes we must restore what’s lost 🌊 PROTECT BALTIC is creating an action plan 🗂️ & 🧰 toolbox to revive 🌿 seagrass meadows & wetlands, helping ecosystems recover 💙

👀 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗰 🔍 To protect the sea, we must track what happens inside MPAs — nature 🌱🐟 & human pressures 🚢. PROTECT BALTIC is reviewing systems & testing new tools to show what’s working ✅ and where action is needed 🎯. #ProtectBaltic #Monitoring

🛡️ Are MPAs really working? We are building a tool 🛠️ that checks if MPAs protect biodiversity 🐟🌱. It combines data 📊 on conservation, human impacts 🚢⚓ & management 📝 to see if goals 🎯 are met—moving beyond “paper parks” 📄➡️🌊 to real protection 💙

🏛️🌊 Protection isn’t just biology 🧬 it’s also governance. We are building a shared framework so countries can act together 🤝 to: 🐟 Agree on ecosystem components 📖 Create a common vocab 🌱 Set shared vision & goals 🎯 Map needs for target-setting 🗂️ Build a regional threat matrix (incl.

💡🌊 Ecosystem services: The Baltic Sea gives us clean water 💧 carbon storage 🌱 food 🐟 & recreation 🏖️. PROTECT BALTIC links species’ traits 🐚 to the services we rely on, showing how MPAs support both nature & people. Mapping 📊🌍 will reveal hotspots ⭐ where protection matters most.

🔗 Coherence: making MPAs work as a network 🐠 Are species & habitats represented? 🔗 Are areas connected? 🌊 Are there enough replicas to withstand change? 🛡️ Are they big & resilient enough long-term? Species dispersal models show where the network is strong — and where it needs reinforcement.

🗺️ We’re mapping Baltic biodiversity & human pressures – today & under future scenarios. ✔️ Where fish, seals & plants are found ✔️ Biodiversity hotspots needing protection ✔️ Human pressures like fishing & dredging These maps guide smarter protection, restoration & management.