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HELCOM - the Helsinki Commission @helcominfo.bsky.social · 1d

Do you sometimes wonder what you can do for the Baltic Sea, or if individual actions have an impact?

Our 'Everyday actions' leaflet helps you take positive actions towards a healthier Baltic Sea. Small efforts do add up. 💪

🔗 buff.ly/7Q2ccK4

#StateOfTheBalticSea #HOLAS3 #HELCOM #BalticSea

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HELCOM - the Helsinki Commission @helcominfo.bsky.social · 2d

NEW REPORT!

📄 The report assesses HELCOM countries’ implemented and planned measures (2021–2030) to reduce nitrogen (TN) and phosphorus (TP) inputs to the Baltic Sea in line with the 2021 BSAP nutrient input ceilings.

Download here: buff.ly/R05E5Bi

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Reposted by HELCOM - the Helsinki Commission

Rüdiger Strempel @rudigerstrempel.bsky.social · 6d

Very pleased to provide a snapshot of the state of the Baltic Sea at this week’s #OurBaltic Conferenceand explain why the full and timely implementation of the @helcominfo.bsky.social 2021 BSAP is crucial to the recovery of our Sea ! Images: U.Andersson (1-3), Shootday (4)

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HELCOM - the Helsinki Commission @helcominfo.bsky.social · 5d

🦭 ECOSFERA BALTICA BOARD GAME GIVEAWAY!

Would you like to win your very own Ecosfera Baltica board game?

Two Ecosfera Baltica board games will be raffled among the competition entrants. Only one entry per person is allowed.

buff.ly/o79F6Tf

🎯 The competition closes on 31 October 2025.

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HELCOM - the Helsinki Commission @helcominfo.bsky.social · 6d

🔊 New resource bank on the Baltic Sea!

A comprehensive set of awareness-raising materials is now available. Drawing on key results from HOLAS 3, this resource bank offers tailor-made materials for different audiences to enhance ocean literacy.

Explore here: buff.ly/0qZct7u

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HELCOM - the Helsinki Commission @helcominfo.bsky.social · 7d

⚠️ Beach litter serves as a visible indicator of marine pollution, providing insights into its sources and impacts on ecosystems and human health.

📋 The updated HELCOM beach litter monitoring guidelines aim to standardize monitoring efforts across HELCOM Contracting Parties

👉 buff.ly/XJ9haJv

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HELCOM - the Helsinki Commission @helcominfo.bsky.social · 7d

📰 HELCOM's News Blast September 2025 issue is out now! Includes:

✅ News roundup
✅ Latest publications
✅ New projects
...and much more!

Read here and subscribe to get it delivered straight to your inbox!
👇
buff.ly/qRVaOk7

HELCOM News Blast - September 2025

New Game “Ecosfera Baltica” Launches on the Baltic Sea Day to Spotlight Environmental Urgency

us19.campaign-archive.com

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HELCOM - the Helsinki Commission @helcominfo.bsky.social · 9d

📢 Call for tender: legal analysis of CCS in accordance with the Helsinki Convention

We are seeking two qualified legal consultants/firms to evaluate whether CCS activities are legally permissible under the Helsinki Convention and relevant international legal instruments.

ℹ️ buff.ly/RoPnCZL

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HELCOM - the Helsinki Commission @helcominfo.bsky.social · 13d

How to prioritise international marine protection in the Baltic Sea?

📽️ Watch Rüdiger Strempel's video address for the "Sea of Opportunities" conference organised by the Baltic Coast Dialogue on 22-24 September 2025 in Germany.

buff.ly/xXYPt8X

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HELCOM - the Helsinki Commission @helcominfo.bsky.social · 14d

🏆 The 2025 Baltic Sea Prize was awarded to Heike Imhoff for her many years of significant work for the Baltic Sea environment.

Heike Imhoff is a long-time figure in HELCOM, having headed the German delegation and chaired the GEAR group. Congratulaions!

buff.ly/NOBbXXG

The legal expert who became the Baltic Sea’s best friend – Heike Imhoff awarded the Baltic Sea Award - Östersjöfonden

As a lawyer and diplomat, she has played a crucial role. Heike Imhoff is awarded the Baltic Sea Award 2025 for her long-standing commitment to the Baltic Sea environment. At the German HELCOM*…

ostersjofonden.org

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HELCOM - the Helsinki Commission @helcominfo.bsky.social · 15d

⚽ The synthetic granulate emissions from outdoor artificial football pitches are among the largest sources of microplastics

✅ This document compiles recommended measures to reduce microplastic loss from these fields, based on HELCOM guidance & existing literature.

👉 buff.ly/7IxkKOA

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Reposted by HELCOM - the Helsinki Commission

Rüdiger Strempel @rudigerstrempel.bsky.social · 20d

Very pleased to deliver a presentation and participate in a panel on better linking science and policy at the #ICES Annual Science Conference in #Klaipėda, #Lithuania today. Thank you, #ICES, for inviting me! @helcominfo.bsky.social @icesmarine.bsky.social

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HELCOM - the Helsinki Commission @helcominfo.bsky.social · 22d

NEW REPORT!

This report evaluates the UNEP/MED Guidelines for monitoring riverine inputs of marine litter by testing their scope, transferability and feasibility through field trials on macrolitter and microlitter.

Download here: buff.ly/hyw1c4C

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HELCOM - the Helsinki Commission @helcominfo.bsky.social · 24d

📢 Call for tender: legal analysis of CCS in accordance with the Helsinki Convention

We are seeking two qualified legal consultants/firms to evaluate whether CCS activities are legally permissible under the Helsinki Convention and relevant international legal instruments.

ℹ️ buff.ly/RoPnCZL

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HELCOM - the Helsinki Commission @helcominfo.bsky.social · 26d

NEW GUIDELINES!

Created with the European EPS industry, these guidelines share best practices for handling and recycling EPS & XPS foam in construction and demolition to cut pollution, boost reuse and reduce landfill and incineration.

Download here: buff.ly/vl7kMhw

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Reposted by HELCOM - the Helsinki Commission

VASAB @vasaborg.bsky.social · 27d

🌊 Join the session at the #BalticMSPForum (11–12 Nov 2025, Riga) to explore the #Sea2LandNavigator 🧭 – your guide to smarter, balanced #MaritimeSpatialPlanning

👉 Info®istration: www.BalticMSPforum.eu
🌐 More about Navigator: tinyurl.com/mr3nnfcu
#MadeWithInterreg @helcominfo.bsky.social

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Reposted by HELCOM - the Helsinki Commission

Rüdiger Strempel @rudigerstrempel.bsky.social · 27d

It was a pleasure to welcome Jimin Hong from the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (@unep-cobsea.bsky.social) to our premises today for very productive talks on current and future cooperation between our organizations. Thanks for visiting @helcominfo.bsky.social

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HELCOM - the Helsinki Commission @helcominfo.bsky.social · 27d

Our new Ecosfera Baltica game started as a board game, but to increase its reach we partnered with Reaktor to digitise it. Watch the video to learn more: buff.ly/h1eqHgY

p.s. At Helsinki Design Week this weekend? Reaktor is hosting events at Suomitalo. You'll also find Ecosfera Baltica on display!

Ecosfera Baltica. From marine science to multiplayer strategy

When the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) approached us with a vision to transform their board game about Baltic Sea conservation into a digital experience, we knew we had something special in our…

www.youtube.com

Reposted by HELCOM - the Helsinki Commission

Rüdiger Strempel @rudigerstrempel.bsky.social · Sep 8

Happy to share that the current edition of the German magazine #andersLeben (3/25) contains a very brief piece on the #BalticSea, authored by Anja Schäfer, and a short interview with me. @helcominfo.bsky.social

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HELCOM - the Helsinki Commission @helcominfo.bsky.social · 28d

Two new outputs on microlitter monitoring in mussels are now available:

🔍 A technical report tests the feasibility of the guidelines for monitoring microlitter in mussels: buff.ly/b8mwUQE

📄 A policy brief outlines next steps: buff.ly/Nt0Qjlx

HELCOM Report on the implementation of the
monitoring guidelines on microlitter in mussels

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HELCOM - the Helsinki Commission @helcominfo.bsky.social · Sep 8

We joined the final presentations for “Reimagining the Baltic Sea” course at the School of Fine Arts and were blown away by the project ideas! From sailing on the imaginary ship to tasting activism through fishy cookbooks, the proposals were bold and inspiring. Art & science enrich each other!

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HELCOM - the Helsinki Commission @helcominfo.bsky.social · Sep 4

🔊 WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT & NEW RAFFLE!

During #BalticSeaDay at Oodi, we held a raffle to win the #EcosferaBaltica board game. Congrats to Touko O. and Maria F., our winners! We’ll contact you soon for game delivery.

Missed out? Don’t worry! Here's another chance to win 👉 buff.ly/YruXP8I

Reposted by HELCOM - the Helsinki Commission

Rüdiger Strempel @rudigerstrempel.bsky.social · Sep 3

Very pleased to contribute to yesterday’s conference “Voices for the Baltic Sea: Science, Art and Action” in Hanasaari and to reflect on the relevance of science and art in working to protect the #BalticSea.
@helcominfo.bsky.social

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HELCOM - the Helsinki Commission @helcominfo.bsky.social · Sep 3

📄 NEW REPORT!

Phosphogypsum, a major by-product of fertilizer production, poses environmental risks through phosphorus losses and eutrophication. Our new report shares best practices for its sustainable management, use and safe disposal, supporting HELCOM Recommendation 42-43-8.

👉 buff.ly/vDdQwXN

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Reposted by HELCOM - the Helsinki Commission

ASCOBANS @ascobans.bsky.social · Sep 1

Unexploded ordnance—a key issue at AC29—still litter ASCOBANS waters. Underwater blasting to clear them emits intense sound that can harm cetaceans + chemicals from decay or detonation add further pressure 💣

🔗 www.ascobans.org/en/meeting/a...

@cms.int @helcominfo.bsky.social @ospar.bsky.social

Unexploded ordnance (UXO) dumped at sea during wars pose risks to cetacean populations 💣

Large quantities of ammunition are still found throughout the ASCOBANS Area. For example, in German waters of the North and Baltic Seas, an estimated amount about 1.6 million tons of conventional munitions and 5,000 tons of chemical warfare is still lying dormant.

UXO removal by blasting represents a particular hazard to cetaceans as high sound pressure and explosion-related shock waves can lead to severe injury and hearing impairment. The animals and their habitats may also be affected by chemicals released due to the explosion or from decaying weapons.

UXO is a key point of discussion at AC29, happening online 16-18 September 2025. 🔗 https://www.ascobans.org/en/meeting/ac29

Read more: ASCOBANS Resolution 8.8 𝘈𝘥𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘜𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴: https://www.ascobans.org/en/document/addressing-threats-underwater-munitions

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