National Strategy for Marine Research now complete

The new strategy for marine research aims to respond to changing needs for information about marine areas. Diverse and up-to-date marine information and co-production of information are needed to ensure that economic activities and a healthy marine environment can coexist. Strong marine research and multidisciplinary cooperation ensure a healthy marine environment and society that generate wellbeing.

In the Baltic Sea, marine information plays a particularly important role in issues related to managing risks of accidents and comprehensive security. Adequate Finnish expertise also allows Finland to play an influential role in a wide variety of areas of international cooperation.

Oceans and seas are still the least known of the Earth’s extensive natural systems, and human activity has wide-ranging and long-term impacts on them. Biodiversity loss and climate change threaten marine ecosystems and their carrying capacity. Sustainable use of oceans and seas, coordination of their use, and protection and restoration of marine nature are not possible without reliable information on how marine ecosystems function and how they are linked to biosphere systems and the threats they face.

In 2017, the UN General Assembly designated 2021–2030 as the UN Decade of Ocean Science to support the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in marine areas. The preparation of the strategy was led by the national steering group for the UN Decade of Ocean Science, which brings together a comprehensive group of marine research actors. A wide range of marine researchers and stakeholders were involved in the work. Drawing up the strategy is part of the global implementation of the UN Decade of Ocean Science.

The National Strategy for Marine Research will be presented at an event on 30 May at 13.00–15.00. Venue: Think Corner, Fönster, Yliopistonkatu 4, 00100 Helsinki. The event is open to the public. Welcome!

Inquiries: Jussi Soramäki, Chair of the national steering group for the UN Decade of Ocean Science, tel. +358 40 758 1898, [email protected], Prime Minister’s Office and Hermanni Kaartokallio, Secretary of the steering group, tel. +358 50 325 7580, [email protected], Finnish Environment Institute