HELCOM - the Helsinki Commission

Embark on a Baltic Rescue! 🤿

Discover the secrets of the Baltic Sea and become a “diving detective” in Baltic Rescue – Match & Track, our new educational adventure game! 🐬

🎮 Play for free online or download on the App Store.

🔗 buff.ly/V4jvrEw

@partofnoise.bsky.social

#BalticRescueGame #GBL

This morning, we were pleased to welcome a group of students from the United Nations Association of Tampere (TAYK ry) to HELCOM to learn about the Baltic Sea and our work. Thanks for visiting us, you are welcome back anytime!

🗓️ SAVE THE DATE!

WHAT: Webinar on marking of recreational fishing gear
WHEN: 20 Jan 2026, 9:00-12:30 CET
WHO: Government officials, representatives from fishing associations & relevant national, regional & international organisations working at policy/practical levels

🔗 buff.ly/44PLQhk

Yesterday, it was lights, camera, action once again at our office as Executive Secretary Rüdiger Strempel was interviewed for an educational video on 'Governing the Baltic Sea' for the University of Helsinki.

We look forward to the series' release in 2026 - stay tuned for updates!

🆕 New HELCOM publication: Reducing nutrient inputs to the Baltic Sea

This concise brochure brings together key messages from two recent HELCOM reports: Effectiveness of measures to reduce nutrient inputs & Assessment of achieving NICs in 2030 and the effectiveness of measures.

👉 buff.ly/LQUdiFM

Yesterday, HELCOM had the honour of welcoming Mr Tobias Goldschmidt, State Minister for Energy Transition, Climate Protection, Energy and Nature of Schleswig-Holstein at HELCOM. Minister Goldschmidt met with our Executive Secretary, Rüdiger Strempel, and Deputy Executive Secretary, Lotta Ruokanen.

Someone peed in the sea! Is that 😋 or 🤢 for our friends in the Baltic Sea? Our fun ‘fortune teller’ activity helps children learn about eutrophication at an age-appropriate way. This story is part of a series created to educate children on various challenges the Baltic Sea faces.

🔗 buff.ly/KbjXQ9m

On Friday, we had the pleasure of hosting the final project evaluation and planning session for 'Guarding the Baltic Sea', a multidisciplinary art-science initiative. We look forward to continuing our cooperation with the EUNIC Cluster Finland!

🎬 Learn more about the project: buff.ly/tsgnxci

Take a peek inside the giant treasure chest and discover all the "jewels" the Baltic Sea has in store! 💎

Our fun story is created for children, who will learn about Baltic “gems” like sea-related jobs, travelling on sea and leisure-time adventures. Available in 🇬🇧 🇫🇮 🇸🇪.

🔗 buff.ly/7ukeup1

Our short story ‘The Baltic Sea, a home to many of our friends’ is designed for children and comes with fun activities. Kids will dive into topics like underwater noise, hazardous substances, litter and non-indigenous species at an age-appropriate level.

🔗 buff.ly/KbjXQ9m

This week, reps. from various sectors met at #SIPRI to discuss wetland restoration as a nature-based approach to security+resilience building. Wetlands, part of the #SourceToSea continuum, are relevant in protecting the #BalticSea. Thanks, SIPRI and #WWF, for inviting me! @helcominfo.bsky.social

Looking for fun and educational material about the Baltic Sea?

🦭 Meet Rocky the Grey Seal, who guides kids through vividly illustrated stories about the Baltic Sea and why it matters. Designed for children aged 4 to 10, the stories are available in 🇬🇧 🇫🇮 🇸🇪.

🔗 buff.ly/KbjXQ9m

#OceanLiteracy

📢 NEW HELCOM GUIDELINE

This guideline outlines how HELCOM integrates climate change considerations into its policies to ensure the Baltic Sea’s marine governance remains effective under changing conditions.

Download here: buff.ly/VTs85RW

🌊 The Baltic Sea faces impacts from climate change and biodiversity loss triggered by certain factors deriving from unsustainable human activities. These factors have led to biodiversity loss and reduced human well-being as well as extensive losses in cold hard cash. 💸

Read more: 🔗 buff.ly/cmG2Gc7

💎 The Baltic Sea is a regional treasure fuelling the surrounding economies and societies, yet it often goes unnoticed. From providing vital habitats for countless species to generating wealth through several sectors, the Baltic Sea plays a crucial role in our daily lives.

🔗 buff.ly/cmG2Gc7

🌊 Inspiring the next generation of Baltic Sea guardians! 💙

Katja Laingui, Manuel Frias and Owen Rode represented HELCOM at the Baltic Sea Youth Forum, which took place on 6-7 Nov 2025 at Munkkiniemen Yhteiskoulu, bringing together more than 60 students from across Finland💧🌍

🗓️ SAVE THE DATE!

WHAT: Webinar on marking of recreational fishing gear
WHEN: 20 Jan 2026, 9:00-12:30 CET
WHO: Government officials, representatives from fishing associations & relevant national, regional & international organisations working at policy/practical levels

🔗 buff.ly/44PLQhk

Thank you everyone who took part in the Ecosfera Baltica raffle! 🎲 We added a bonus game to the prize pot and the names of the three lucky winners have now been drawn. Congratulations to Lisa, Sahar and Gioia! Winners have already been contacted.

🦭 buff.ly/byOcx7j

Let’s talk about money! 💶

By investing in the health of the Baltic Sea, we also invest in long-term economic resilience across the region. The Baltic Sea's recovery is not just an environmental imperative but an economic necessity.

🔗 buff.ly/cmG2Gc7

Agriculture remains a key source of phosphorus and nitrogen inputs to the Baltic Sea. 🚜 🌱 This guideline compiles practical and evidence-based measures to strengthen soil structure, reduce erosion, and mitigate both particulate and soluble phosphorus runoff.

Download here: buff.ly/i64yodV

Delighted to be back in #Sopot, 🇵🇱, for 3 days of inspiring meetings. #BalticSea Region #security will top the agenda at this week’s back-to-back #BSSSC Day of Cities and Regions and #EUSBSR Annual Forum 2025. @helcominfo.bsky.social

Identifying key challenges of regional security, high-level panelists at today’s #BSSSC conference stressed the need for a comprehensive and wholistic concept of security and a multilevel approach involving all levels of governance, with regional coop as vital elements. @helcominfo.bsky.social

⏰ Only one week left!
Join the final MEER:STARK workshop on 3–4 Nov 2025 | Berlin & online

With @umweltbundesamt.bsky.social, @sscmarine.bsky.social, @bund.net, @helcominfo.bsky.social & more.

Register 👉 www.forms.ecologic.eu/MEERSTARK-Fi...

The #EUSBSR AF 2025 kicks off w. reflections on the vulnerability of the #BalticSea region and the pivotal role of multilat. coop. for a resilient BSR. A thriving BS environment is indispensable to regional resilience, underscoring the relevance of cooperation in @helcominfo.bsky.social

❗ CLOSING TOMORROW ❗

ECOSFERA BALTICA BOARD GAME GIVEAWAY! 🦭

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.

The Baltic Sea has been experiencing eutrophication since the 1970s. However, accepting its current state as permanent would be a mistake - the Baltic Sea has the potential to become much more! 🌊

Can you imagine a blue future for the Baltic Sea? 💙

Read more: buff.ly/B6v4Awz

It’s green, cloudy, thick and nutritious. What is it? 🥤

Unfortunately, this description portrays the Baltic Sea remarkably well. The reason for this is down to eutrophication, one of the broadest and most persistent issues facing the Baltic Sea. ✳️

Read more: 🔗 buff.ly/B6v4Awz

The Baltic Sea has been experiencing eutrophication since the 1970s, and it’s taken its toll on our lessened perception of this precious sea. 🦠

We’ve crafted a little help for you to stay clear on what could a healthy Baltic Sea be like in the future 🩵

🔗 buff.ly/SADmS7i

'Guarding the Baltic Sea' documentary: buff.ly/4yYxHHo

'Guarding the Baltic Sea' trailer: buff.ly/Y6NI4i0