From words to action – an afternoon for the Baltic Sea

In early May, BalticWaters gathered representatives from politics, research, business, and civil society for a seminar focused on solutions for the Baltic Sea. The audience also included individuals who have engaged with the foundation’s action-oriented projects in various ways, including residents from the coastal bays involved in the project Thriving bays.

At the center of the event were the twelve Baltic Sea Ambassadors who have participated in BalticWaters’ trainee programme over the years. Having completed the programme, they have carried their experience and commitment into their professional lives, across workplaces ranging from EU to regional level and fields spanning from law to design. Four of the ambassadors presented policy proposals developed during their time as trainees, each followed by reflections from politicians at EU, national, and municipal levels.

Despite covering different topics, the discussions were marked by an unusually strong consensus: today’s industrial fishing has negative impacts on everything from the Baltic Sea’s ecosystems to maritime tourism, coastal communities, and the broader economy. There is broad support for the need to shift direction – reducing fishing pressure and ensuring that the fish that are caught are primarily used for human consumption rather than feed.

The aim of the seminar was to highlight the path forward in a time of major challenges. And perhaps it was this sense of shared direction that left the strongest impression. The solutions exist, and the willingness to act is strong. Now, the task is to move forward—from words to action.

Helena Aronsson at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) presented the Circular NP project, carried out by BalticWaters, SLU, and RISE.
Johanna Svensson, one of BalticWaters’ 2023 trainees and now an associate lawyer specialising in environmental and land law, presented the policy document Help the Baltic Sea mitigate climate change, which she co-developed.
Presentations were interspersed with reflections from politicians. Here, Joanna Lewerentz (M), Jeanette Ovesson (M), and Isabella Lövin (MP) following Douglas Bjäresten’s presentation of the policy document “More profitable for Sweden to fish for human consumption“.
Nearly all of the trainees took part in the seminar. From left: Amanda Öberg, Vilma Johansson, Jens Pettersson, Ebba Hadenius, Douglas Bjäresten, Louisa Juvall Molin, Jonathan Pluntke, Johanna Svensson, Ebba Rosendahl, and Tove Brynteson. Absent, but not forgotten on this day, were Klara Livsey Berg and Lisa Stockhaus.
Konrad Stralka, CEO of BalticWaters, and Eva Krutmeijer, the moderator of the day.
Åsa Domeij, a member of the BalticWaters board, led a forward-looking discussion together with Stefan Fölster.
Johanna, Douglas, Jonathan, Ebba and Ebba.
Panel discussion with Tommy Jonsson (M), Andrea Andersson-Tay (V), and Jessica Polfjärd (M), following Jonathan’s presentation of the policy document Maritime tourism on the Baltic Sea’s terms.
The afternoon concluded with a networking session. In the photo: Jonathan, Åsa Nilsson Austin, researcher at Stockholm University, Elin Nilsson (L), and Douglas.
Vesa Tschernij, fisheries expert at the Marine Centre in Simrishamn, and Leif Andersson, Professor of Functional Genomics at Uppsala University.

All photos are courtesy of Nichlas Behrmann.