Baltic Sea Archipelagos Symposium 27–28 April 2026 in Turku, Finland

The first Sakari Alhopuro Symposium invites researchers, policymakers, and business leaders to Turku, Finland, to explore the future of the Baltic Sea Archipelagos and promote collaborative solutions for the environmental care of our shared sea.

The Baltic Sea Archipelagos Symposium will follow up on current scientific findings and explore possible futures for the Northern Baltic and its coastal archipelagos. It will feature

scientific sessions
poster presentations
panel discussions
a vibrant social programme, including an informal get-together and a festive riverside dinner.

Articles

Sari Essayah, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry: The catchment areas of the Archipelago Sea may be excluded from the manure exception

Talk is underway about making the controversial livestock manure exception in the Phosphorus Decree permanent. However, a change to the manure exception included in the Government Programme is now being considered which would exclude the catchment areas of the Archipelago Sea from the Decree exception. This would make it possible for the Archipelago Sea to finally be deleted from HELCOM’s Hot Spot list.

Sari Multala, Minister of Climate and the Environment: Further collaboration is needed to restore the state of the Archipelago Sea

Minister Sari Multala, a former World Champion sailor who has enjoyed summers at sea throughout her life, has personally witnessed how the state of the Archipelago Sea has worsened. According to Multala, the work done to save the Baltic Sea has been productive, but further collaboration is still needed to restore the state of the Archipelago Sea, in particular.

Wega Group's biorefinery will reduce the phosphorus load in the Archipelago Sea

According to official sources, approximately 460 tonnes of phosphorus enter the Archipelago Sea each year. A biorefinery planned in Southwest Finland is expected to significantly reduce agricultural phosphorus loads by separating up to 280 tonnes of phosphorus from manure and processing it into recycled fertilisers. This will significantly slow down the eutrophication of the sea.

Climate change accelerates Baltic Sea eutrophication

The blue-green algae season has grown longer in recent years, and this year, algal blooms were observed even in October–November. This change is the result of the eutrophication of the sea, which is accelerated by climate change. Ilppo Vuorinen is calling for rapid protection measures and extensive cooperation to improve the state of the sea.

Climate change increases pressure on Baltic Sea protection

Climate change is accelerating the eutrophication of the Baltic Sea, thereby increasing the need to speed up conservation efforts. The Baltic Sea Archipelagos Symposium, to be held in Turku next spring, will promote the protection of the Baltic Sea by presenting the latest research data and creating a foundation for broad-spectrum co-operation.

Jouni Niuro: The vibrant Archipelago Sea is an essential part of Turku's appeal

In order to improve the state of the Archipelago Sea, more co-operation, larger projects and impact assessments are needed. This is the view of Jouni Niuro, CEO of the Lieto Savings Bank Foundation, who is concerned not only about the unique marine environment but also about the attractiveness of the Turku region.

Baltic Sea Archipelagos Symposium