LHEI participates in an international Baltic Sea research project “MemoBaltic”

LHEI participates in an international Baltic Sea research project “MemoBaltic”

From 4 to 15 May, the Finnish Environment Institute’s research vessel Aranda will carry out a scientific expedition in the Baltic Sea as part of the international MemoBaltic project led by the Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology (LHEI).

The expedition brings together 23 scientists from across Europe, combining expertise in marine ecology, geology, climate research, microplastics, and environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis.

At the centre of the study is microplastic – not only as pollution, but also as a potential “living archive” that records evidence of human impact over time, both in the water column and in marine sediments. At the same time, researchers will investigate plankton resting stages preserved in sediments and their role in future food webs and ecosystem functioning under changing climate conditions.

The project involves collaboration between scientists from Latvia (LHEI and BIOR), Estonia (TalTech), and Finland (SYKE) aiming to better understand pollution dynamics and long-term changes in the Baltic Sea ecosystem.

Our Finnish colleagues have already started the expedition, and tomorrow, 6 May, the Latvian team will join the research crew. Preparations are currently underway in Latvia, including planning the expedition route, preparing equipment, and organising the sampling process.

MemoBaltic will help fill important knowledge gaps about how microplastics are distributed, transported, and accumulated in the Baltic Sea, and will provide new tools for assessing long-term human impacts on the marine environment.

The results will strengthen the scientific basis for sustainable marine management and protection, both in the Baltic Sea region and internationally.

The project is implemented within the AQUARIUS initiative (Horizon Europe), which promotes access to and use of European research infrastructures to support the EU’s goal of restoring oceans and waters by 2030.Follow along – we will share insights from the expedition every day!