Each of us, sometimes unwittingly, contributes to this unfortunate statistic. Yet, by joining hands, we can save our precious waters and the life within them for future generations.
This is the main message of our historic hike around the Baltic Sea that will take place in 2024, with a principal goal to catalyse action for reducing marine pollution in 8 Baltic Sea countries.
We will set on a hike with a unique communication campaign to raise waves of change on an international level, with an aim to draw public attention to the current state of the sea and ways to contribute to its improvement.
Together with Baltic Sea science institutes and environmental organisations, we will invite the citizens of each country to take a closer look at our sea and its issues, as well as engage in citizen science activities and cleanups.
‘Living lab’ workshops will gather local stakeholders and community representatives to search for the most suitable ways to reduce negative impacts on the Baltic Sea in each location.
High-level expedition launch event at Vilnius Town Hall
Date: March 8, 2024The official, high-level expedition launch event will take place at Vilnius Town Hall on March 8, 2024, bringing together representatives of Save The Baltic Sea partner institutions, sponsors, and ambassadors from Lithuania.
97% of the Baltic Sea is affected by eutrophication – excessive amounts of nutrients that cause
algal blooms.
This results in the development of dead zones – lifeless areas with not enough oxygen for marine animals
to survive.
The excess nutrients reach the Baltic Sea from unsustainable agriculture, improper disposal of industrial waste, and even household waste coming from cities and villages far away from the coastline.
Source: HELCOM 2023 State of the Baltic Sea Report
Cigarette butts, plastic bags, bottle caps, ghost nets and other litter can be found in most Baltic Sea beaches.
This litter not only affects the aesthetics of our environment – it may directly harm wildlife, release toxic substances and break down into tiny pieces of microplastics that can be ingested by animals and travel along
the food chain.
Municipal waste is another important source of microplastics: microfibers released when washing synthetic clothing are among the most common types of microplastics found in the Baltic Sea.
Source: HELCOM 2023 State of the Baltic Sea Report
Pharmaceuticals, pesticides, heavy metals, and oil products are only some of the hazardous substances that reach our sea and are detrimental to the health of marine organisms. These contaminants are often slow to degrade and are accumulated by animals such as fish or seals.
Hazardous substances can enter the sea due to human activity, such as overuse of pesticides in agriculture or improper disposal of chemicals, which cannot be effectively filtered by wastewater treatment systems.
Source: HELCOM 2023 State of the Baltic Sea Report
- Choose vegetables and fruits grown on organic farms, this way supporting a more sea-friendly agriculture.
- If you need to fertilize your garden or crops, choose organic fertilizers and make sure to not overuse them
- Plant vegetation strips between crops and water bodies to filter nutrient runoff and reduce the amount of nutrients reaching the sea.
- Give up single-use and non-recyclable products and use what we already have at home.
- Choose natural fiber clothes, and wash synthetic ones at the lowest possible temperature to reduce the shedding of microplastics
- Regularly check our car tyre pressure and avoid sudden acceleration and slowing down while driving to reduce the shedding of microplastics from car tyres.
- Bring unneeded paint, bleaches, oils, pesticides and other hazardous chemicals to designated collection points for hazardous substances instead of throwing them down the drain, into the toilet or through rainwater grates.
- Avoid using synthetic pesticides in your garden and choose vegetables and fruits grown on organic farms.
Explore the virtual version of the art installation “The Sea Begins Here!”