Baltic Sea Day to be marked on Thursday

The Baltic Sea Day will be celebrated in Finland on Thursday with the view to inspire people in Finland to enjoy the unique sea and take concrete action for its benefit.

The City of Helsinki has taken various programmes to mark the day, said the City of Helsinki in a press release on Wednesday.

The Baltic Sea Day is an annual celebration launched by the John Nurminen Foundation to honour the sea.

The Day is celebrated every year on the last Thursday in August with various campaigns and events. During the Day, interesting and important information is also offered about the Baltic Sea and how to protect it.

Helsinki Mayor Juhana Vartiainen will attend the opening event of the of the John Nurminen Foundation on the Espa Stage at 8:30 in the morning.

The day will continue with activities such as the Baltic Sea Event for the whole family at Central Library Oodi and a film night held in Mustikkamaa.

In Helsinki schools and daycare centres, Baltic Sea fish patties will be served for lunch. In addition to this, the City aims to increase its employees’ awareness of the importance and protection of the Baltic Sea this year by holding a webinar for City staff on the occasion.

In the Baltic Sea Challenge launched by the Cities of Helsinki and Turku 15 years ago, cities commit to implementing extensive plans that protect waters.

The partner network of the Baltic Sea Challenge consists of 315 organisations committed to protecting the Baltic Sea beyond what is required by laws and regulations.

The Baltic Sea Action Plan of Helsinki and Turku 2019–2023 includes five objectives: clear coastal waters, a healthy marine habitat, clean and safe water transport, systematic use of water areas and active participation by the residents in the Baltic Sea region.

The Baltic Sea Action Plan of the City of Helsinki has progressed rapidly even despite the pandemic. Of the plan’s measures, controlling littering, the environmental friendliness of boating and the development of partnerships and networks, in particular, progressed last year. In addition to the City organisation, the implementation of the Plan also involves the Port of Helsinki, the Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority (HSY) and the University of Helsinki.