Photo by Alan Stocki
- 'We should take every opportunity to raise public awareness of maritime issues. In Poland, despite wide access to the sea, knowledge of maritime issues is very limited and superficial,' said dr Mariusz Sapota, prof. UG from the Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, UG, on the World Protection Day for the Baltic. - 'There is still a lot of work ahead of us before we become a maritime society,' - he added.
For a quarter of a century, on March 22, nine countries bordering the Baltic Sea (Denmark, Germany, Poland, Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Sweden), to draw the attention of the international community to the problems related to the protection of our sea, celebrated the World Protection Day of the Baltic Sea, established by the Helsinki Commission. It was adopted 25 years ago as part of World Water Day. On this day, scientists especially stress that this topic still requires a lot of attention and action.
The Baltic Sea, to which we share access with eight countries, is a body of water that is prone to anthropopressure. This is due both to its specific characteristics (inland sea, shallow depth, stratification of waters, low diversity of organisms) and to its environment (large drainage basin - including agricultural, urbanised and industrialised areas).
The task of the countries bordering the Baltic Sea is to monitor the current state of the waters, protect the environment through joint action to reduce pollution and exchange information on potential threats.
- 'The international efforts that have been underway for many years have led to the conclusion that the Baltic is not a polluted sea, and very good results have been achieved in many indicators, while in others there is still room for improvement, but the situation is still good,' - said dr hab. Mariusz Sapota, prof. of UG.
As he stresses, this does not exempt us from constant monitoring of the environment and observing all the norms and regulations. - 'At the same time, we must be aware of the global threats to marine ecosystems. Thanks to the knowledge advancement, we know more and more about the functioning of the seas and oceans, and we recognise new threats,' - he added.
Comprehensive research on the Baltic Sea, its resources and the biological, physical and chemical processes occurring in it is conducted at the University of Gdańsk, mainly at the Institute of Oceanography. This is done using a new vessel, the R/V Oceanograf catamaran, as well as modern measuring equipment on board and in the scientific laboratories of the Institute of Oceanography. Research conducted under national and international grants is aimed at assessing the current state of the Baltic Sea and its resources, and forecasting changes. New possibilities for sustainable use of the Baltic's natural resources are also being investigated.
Research on the biology and ecology of Baltic marine mammals and fish from the Baltic coastal zone is conducted by the prof. Krzysztof Skóra Marine Station UG in Hel. It is also interested in the issues of rare species and biotopes of the Baltic as well as monitoring of protected species and their habitats. The station also records observations of all species of cetaceans (dolphins and whales) that occasionally appear in the Baltic Sea and is the national centre for research on marine mammals such as seals and porpoises and on the scale of anthropogenic threats to them and their habitats in the Polish part of the Baltic Sea.
Sea spring
On March 17 we celebrated World Maritime Day. March 22 is the World Day for the Protection of the Baltic Sea, while March 23 is recognized as the World Meteorology Day. In May, we will celebrate International Baltic Porpoise Day.
How to help seals? What does the future hold for these mammals in the Baltic? These issues, among others, will be discussed on March 22, 2022, by the guests of Dom Zdrojowy in Brzeźno during the next meeting of the Science Speaks series, entitled Baltic Sea. To the rescue of seals. Dr Dorota Cieślicka, the host of the Hevelianum series Science Speaks, will talk with: dr Iwona Pawliczka vel Pawlik, Head of the prof. Krzysztof Skóra Marine Station UG in Hel and Jan Wilkanowski, the leader of the WWF Blue Patrol on the Piaski - Mikoszewo section.
https://hevelianum.pl/wydarzenia/na-ratunek-fokom/
On March 26, the 2nd Hel Run at the Beginning of Poland will be held in various categories. Its patron this year will be Balbin vel Balbina, a seal that came to the Marine Station UG 30 years ago. In 1997 it was moved to the current seal centre, which was later expanded. The UG Marine Station is a Partner of the event.
