LOGBOOK
2025
CEO’s review
Our new strategic period got off to a flying start. Take a look at what kind of year 2025 was for us!
Highlights of the year 2025:
JANUARY
Digitalised atlases
The most important items in our map collection – our nautical charts, the oldest of which dates back to 1695 – were digitalised as part of the AiAiSea project.
FEBRUARY
A water-friendly green transition
We issued a statement with other NGO’s in the Baltic Sea region: green transition projects must not be implemented in a way that endangers the condition of bodies of water.
FEBRUARY
Chemical emissions
In spring 2025, fat globules that washed ashore on the beaches of Hanko highlighted the very issues that we are addressing in our maritime transport projects: hazardous chemicals are still being legally discharged into the Baltic Sea.
MARCH
Agri- and culture
We launched a new project to improve the condition of the Archipelago Sea in the Uskelanjoki River catchment area.
APRIL
Assessing mayoral candidates
We organised an environment-themed municipal election panel for Helsinki’s mayoral candidates in collaboration with HYY’s Environmental Committee.
MAY
Restoring common eelgrass
The first large-scale transplants of common eelgrass were carried out along the Swedish coast. We also received good news about the eelgrass seedlings planted in Helsinki the previous year: they survived the winter.
JUNE
Helsinki Biennial
Collaboration enabled one of the Baltic Sea’s key species, common eelgrass, to take centre stage in the contemporary artworks of two Norwegian artists at the Helsinki Biennial.
JUNE
UN Ocean Conference
The Foundation’s representatives attended the UN Ocean Conference as expert members of the Finnish delegation.
JULY
Northern Plights
“Northern Plights” dominated advertising space and, unfortunately, also Finland’s coastal waters.
JULY
Peat moss
We carried out the first transplants of peat moss to accelerate the restoration of former peat extraction sites.
AUGUST
Baltic Sea Day
Baltic Sea Day was once again celebrated in style across Finland, Estonia and Sweden – and especially on social media!
SEPTEMBER
New book
This book (Horisonttiin soutajat) tells the story of the wooden boat – a mode of transport that is integral to life in the archipelago.
OCTOBER
Mainstream
We have launched a new project to support forest owners in water-friendly forest management.
NOVEMBER
Reducing emissions at ports
The handling of bulk cargo at ports was significantly improved with the aid of guidelines that later became international HELCOM recommendations.
DECEMBER
A historic water management project
We received good news from the EU: the ACWA LIFE project was granted funding.
In 2025 we improved the condition of the Baltic Sea in four focus areas:
Cutting the nutrient load
Our goal is to significantly reduce nutrient emissions from agriculture, and to influence legislation in a way that will further decrease this nutrient load. We also aim to reduce nutrient emissions from drained peatlands and former peat extraction sites by restoring them.
Clean maritime traffic
Our goal is to identify and reduce the most harmful impacts of maritime transport on the marine environment.
Our projects aim to reduce the amount of cargo residue entering the sea from ports and ships.
Vibrant marine ecosystem
Our goal is to restore and protect the Baltic Sea’s important marine habitats and reduce nutrient emissions along coastlines and in bays.
Humans and the sea
Our goal is to strenghten people’s relationship with the sea, so they are willing to take concrete action to protect it.
2025 marked the beginning of a new strategy period for our Foundation. The 2025–2030 strategy has been guiding us towards larger and more impactful project portfolios, and has given our work a clearer focus. These new approaches have already been successfully implemented in two large, multi-year projects: SeaToo and Field Heritage. We have also adopted a fundraising model that enables us to allocate funding to our major projects.
A successful campaign increased the Foundation’s visibility in 2025: Northern Plights – the Baltic Sea should not look like the Northern Lights. This campaign highlighted the Baltic Sea’s biggest problem – eutrophication – in a direct yet insightful way. New target groups were reached and donor numbers increased. We will continue to scale up and internationalise our projects whenever this would increase their impact and deliver genuine added value. One of our European networks, the Alliance for European Seas, has developed a strategic action plan that we will begin implementing in 2026
Foundation, personnel and sustainability
Communications
We effectively communicate the state of the Baltic Sea
Fundraising
We raise funds for our activities from companies, foundations, and individuals.
Foundation and administration
We are passionate about working to protect the sea
Sustainability
We created a sustainability program and calculated our own emissions
Financial statements and financing
Financial statements
The income statement, balance sheet and notes to the financial statements
Financing and supporters
Our expenses, income and our works’ supporters
Operational risks and uncertanties
We are preparing for changes in our operating environment.
Outlook 2026
We are cautiously optimistic about the future