5th week. Spring on a German coastline, bloody injuries and birthday wishes
Busy week. Crossing into Germany, reaching 750km mark, meetings, living lab events, beach clean ups, … Watch all about it in this week’s video!
Read more
9
Months of hiking
8
Visited countries
~6000
Kilometers
Why?
The Baltic Sea is among the world’s top five most polluted seas.
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.
How?
How are we going to do that?
RAISING AWARENESS
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.
EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
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.
CO-CREATING SOLUTIONS
‘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.
Events
See what's happening!
Date:
April 29, 2024
Save the Baltic Sea: a hike, a conference and a promise ┃ Copenhagen
Join us in Copenhagen on Monday the 29th of April as the Ocean Plastic Forum hosts the Danish leg of the 9-month long, 6000km “Save the Baltic Sea” Expedition. Come and hear the hiking group’s environmental and adventure-perspectives, as we gather influential voices in marine pollution from civic society, government, retail and academia for an […]
More events
News
Latest news and expedition blog entries
Save The Baltic Sea Expedition: Exploring Poland’s Coastal Condition
Starting from Lithuania’s shores, Save The Baltic Sea’s hiking expedition has now traversed the Polish coastline. The team delved into the environmental challenges and conservation efforts shaping Poland’s coastal future. The hiking expedition around the Baltic Sea Save The Baltic Sea, which started on March 11, has already crossed the Polish coast. The expedition members […]
Read more
4th week. First cold camping and hospital experience
It has been a month of hiking! Almost 600 km are already behind us. Whats next?
Read more
3rd week. Puppies and beach clean-up at Darlowo
Once again, we felt the hospitality of the locals – we were greeted with kisses and sweets from our overnight stay in Łeba, and for a couple of hundred meters we even hiked with a group of puppies. It is so rewarding to touch people’s hearts when talking about the expedition and hearing that we have inspired them to change at least a few habits that harm the sea.
Read more
2nd week. Sleepover at a fire station and meeting Polish ponies.
250 km already. We used countless patches, our legs are almost able to cope with the strain. We were very warmly welcomed to Poland.
Read more
1st week. Hiking through Curorian spit and entering Poland.
Through the winds, the rain and fantastic scenery, we have completed the first week of 39! We have successfully passed through the stunningly beautiful Curonian spit and through wonderful parts of Poland.
Read more
Start of the Expedition
The expedition is officially underway! After almost a year of preparations, 10 people have begun their quest to raise awareness about the perilous state the Baltic Sea is in. On March 11th, Around 200 people came to walk the first day together, gathering marine litter and seeing what a day in the expedition is going […]
Read more
Save the Baltic Sea expedition has started in Lithuania. Next stop: Poland
A group of ten environmental activists of the “Save The Baltic Sea” expedition began their journey from Lithuania with several events organized in the country.
Read more
Save The Baltic Sea: A 6,000 km hike with a call to protect the Baltic
A team of environmental activists will begin their hike around the Baltic Sea, with a series of educational events, discussions and workshops organized in 8 countries, aiming to accelerate action in tackling critical Baltic Sea pollution issues.
Read more
WHAT IS HAPPENING
to the Baltic Sea?
Eutrophication
Plastic pollution
Hazardous substances
Eutrophication
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
Plastic pollution
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
Hazardous substances
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
What can we do
to help the Baltic Sea?
Prevent eutrophication
- 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.
Reduce plastic pollution
- 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.
Control hazardous substances
- 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.
How do our daily choices impact Baltic Sea pollution?
Explore the virtual version of the art installation “The Sea Begins Here!”
Follow us
On our journey to save our beloved sea!
Let’s connect!