🌊 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...

🗺️ 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...

@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...

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...

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.

📊 Protecting the Baltic Sea starts with good data. We’re compiling and harmonizing info on habitats, species & MPAs across countries—turning scattered datasets into a shared picture of the Baltic environment. This feeds into biodiversity databases, country profiles & our upcoming MPA Portal. 🌊

Good morning from our annual meeting in (relatively!) sunny Helsinki ☀️ Today we outline our progress. From gathering data and mapping biodiversity, to restoring habitats, shaping stronger laws & building digital tools, we’re working on many fronts to safeguard the future of our sea. Stay tuned 💙

🌊🤝 Today marks the opening of our 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗧𝗜𝗖! Our project partners from across the region have gather in Helsinki to share progress, exchange ideas, and strengthen collaboration for a healthier, more resilient Baltic Sea. 💙

'Anchored In Impact' event at #UNOC3, hosted by ProtectedSeas showed how data drives ocean protection. As Dr Sylvia Earle told: “Knowledge is powerful. With knowledge comes caring & with caring we can make a difference.” Because real transboundary protection requires shared understanding & care 💙🌍

🌊 @protectbaltic.bsky.social is at the Global MPA Community of Practice Workshop at #UNOC3 in Nice, sharing Baltic Sea work & learning from global marine protection efforts. We're working across scales to build real MPA capacity—not just more area, but better protection. #MPA #30x30 #OceanAction

🌊 The sea knows no borders – neither should marine protection! Join us at #UNOC3 on 11 June in Nice (9:15–11:00 CEST) for our event on how the Baltic Sea shows the power of cross-border, data-driven cooperation. 🖊️ Register forms.office.com/e/agiNKeJdLe 🌐 More info protectbaltic.eu/un-ocean-con...

Læsø Trindel & Tønnerberg Banke back from the brink 🌊🐟 A bold restoration placed 60,000m³ of boulders on the seafloor—now cod, kelp & sea stars are starting to thrive again. Proof nature can rebound when we act. 🔗 protectbaltic.eu/laeso-trindel #MPAHighlight #MarineConservation #SustainableOcean

It’s official, the MPA Community Network is live and we’re part of it! 🌊 A space for collaboration, shared tools, joint research & dialogue across MPAs. 🔗 Learn more: mpacommunity.network 🌐 Join us: bluebiomatch.hivebrite.com/feed 🔜 Your go-to hub for tools & best practice! Stay tuned 💜

🌊 Last week, our project partners gathered in beautiful Palanga, Lithuania for productive sessions on monitoring techniques and management effectiveness 💛💚❤️ Collaboration like this is what is steering our project! 💙 #ProtectBaltic #MarineProtectedAreas #BalticSea #MPAmonitoring #MPAmanagement

Four months until MPA Day! Interested in finding out more? Visit: mpaday.org If you're in Europe and want to join, contact us at [email protected] or drop us a msg here and we'll get in touch.

🌊 Data Coordinator position at @helcominfo.bsky.social 📊 Permanent position in Helsinki, Finland! 📅 Deadline: 13 April 2025 🔗 helcom.fi/about-us/vac... Know someone who would be a great fit? Share this post!

🌊 Over the past two days, PROTECT BALTIC partners have gathered in Helsinki for a dedicated marine restoration workshop, refining draft actions for the HELCOM Action Plan on habitat and biotope restoration.

Happy Restoration of Independence Day, Lithuania! | Su Nepriklausomybės diena! 💛💚❤️ A big thank you to our Lithuanian partners—Klaipeda University and Valstybinė saugomų teritorijų tarnyba / State Service for the Protected Areas—for your valuable contributions to our project. Ačiū labai!

🌊 Honoring Women in Marine Conservation 🌍 On International Women’s Day, we celebrate the women driving change for ocean conservation, from expanding MPAs to protecting marine life. Their leadership is key to a healthier, more resilient ocean future 💗 #IWD2025 #MPAs #BalticSea #MarineProtection

@protectbaltic.bsky.social has collated MPA management data, increasing documented MPAs in the Baltic Sea from 189 to over 1,800! 🎉 @estafaniacortez.bsky.social from @ccbnetwork.bsky.social highlights this crucial work: protectbaltic.eu/news/f/prote...

🌊 At #MissionOcean’s Connecting Mission Projects event, we stressed: 🔹 Solutions must be developed with decision-makers, not just for them 🔹 Impact monitoring must be multifaceted & integrated with HELCOM, ICES & national programmes for lasting change Targets matter but long-term progress is key 💙

🌊 Eelgrass (Zostera marina) in the Baltic nurtures marine life, stabilizes coasts, and stores carbon. 💚 But it's under threat. This #WorldSeagrassDay, PROTECT BALTIC is calling for action to safeguard these vital habitats. 🌍 Protect seagrass, protect the Baltic. Image credit: Juuso Haapaniemi

The full report from last year’s webinar on cost-effective marine restoration in the Nordics, co-hosted by @helcominfo.bsky.social & The Nordic Council of Ministers' Working Group for Environment and Economy (NME) is now available buff.ly/414XrRN

We're here! 💙🦋 Excited to join BlueSky and continue our mission to protect the Baltic Sea! 🌊 Follow us for updates, insights, and ways to support our work.✨ #ProtectBaltic #BlueSky #OceanProtection #Ocean #Conservation #Preserve #Revive #Thrive