27.11.2025

Climate change is accelerating the eutrophication of the sea, so we cannot wait any longer to increase our conservation efforts.

The Baltic Sea Archipelagos Symposium, being held in Turku next spring, aims to advance the protection of the Baltic Sea by bringing together researchers, decision-makers and businesses. The hope is that students from different disciplines will also participate, as expertise from a variety of fields is vital to improve the state of the marine environment. 

“We need more multidisciplinary co-operation. Information produced by researchers must be exploited to a higher degree in both decision-making and business operations”, stresses Professor Emeritus Ilppo Vuorinen.

“We have plenty of information about the causes of the problems, and solutions have also been developed. The challenge now is to put these solutions into practice”, Vuorinen adds. 

Rain boosts eutrophication

The eutrophication of the sea is especially caused by agricultural nutrient runoff, i.e. phosphorus and nitrogen. 

“As climate change progresses, it will rain more often and the amount of rainfall will be greater, thereby washing more of these nutrients into the sea. The consequences of climate change are difficult to predict, but they will certainly not improve the situation. Therefore, the protection of the Baltic Sea and the Archipelago Sea must be taken seriously now”, warns Vuorinen.

Anna Törnroos-Remes, Professor of Environmental and Marine Biology at Åbo Akademi University, emphasises that climate change and the biodiversity crisis are intertwined – and their impacts can also be seen in the Baltic Sea and Finnish waterways.

“The combination of climate change and, for example, eutrophication can intensify biodiversity changes, and the effects of these changes are often very complex. Bringing greater awareness to this issue is important in order for people to understand the dire need for protective measures”, says Professor Törnroos-Remes.  

The important role of decision-makers, companies and the media

The information produced by researchers provides direction for protective measures concerning the Archipelago Sea, but genuine change cannot be achieved without sustainable decision-making, innovative business activities and responsible consumers. 

“The media also plays an important role by distributing reliable information and maintaining discourse on the issue. Well-informed citizens can make choices that help to mitigate climate change, thereby directly affecting the state of the marine environment”, Vuorinen points out.

The organisers of the Baltic Sea Archipelagos Symposium are already, at this stage, satisfied with the interest that the event seems to be generating. On the second day of the event, there will be a panel discussion with participants including Sari Essayah, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry; Pauli Aalto-Setälä, Sandra Bergqvist and Eeva-Johanna Eloranta, Members of Parliament; Teija Kirkkala, Executive Director of the Pyhäjärvi Institute; and Niko Ristikankare, CEO of Wega Group Oy. 

The main partner for the event is Wega Group Oy, whose planned biorefinery in Southwest Finland will significantly reduce the phosphorus load in the Archipelago Sea. 

“Wega’s biorefinery is a great example of how marine environmental protection can also advance profitable business. We need more projects like this”, Vuorinen states.

Further information 

Ilppo Vuorinen, Professor Emeritus: ilppo.vuorinen@sakarialhopuronsatio.fi, tel. +358 40 556 0668
Carita Rantanen, Managing Director: carita.rantanen@sakarialhopuronsaatio.fi tel. +358 40 503 9609 Anna Törnroos-Remes, Professor: anna.m.tornroos@abo.fi, tel. +358 46 920 1610                                                            

Event website

The Baltic Sea Archipelagos Symposium will take place in Turku on 26–28 April 2026. The event is being organised by the Sakari Alhopuro Foundation together with the University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University. The Lieto Savings Bank Foundation will contribute to the event by offering free admission to 100 higher education students.