New Survey Explores How Finns Relate to Baltic Sea Species
A new nationwide survey invites people living in Finland, aged 18 and up, to participate in a study focused on marine species in the Baltic Sea. The survey was launched on Baltic Sea Day, Thursday, August 28th. It is part of doctoral researcher Jolanda Linsén’s PhD project, which aims to deepen our understanding of human relationships with marine organisms, an area of research that is not only rare in the Baltic Sea region, but worldwide.
Photo: Jolanda Linsén.
“We’re applying insights from research on relationships to nature that goes deeper than general attitudes or values toward the Baltic Sea as a landscape,” says Linsén. “By focusing on a variety of common species, we’re uncovering if people recognize the species, how they interact with and emotionally respond to the marine life that surrounds them. This helps us understand not just ecological value, but social and cultural connections to marine biodiversity and how people perceive the Baltic Sea ecosystem.”
The primary goal of the survey is to assess how familiar people are with Baltic Sea species and to explore the kinds of interactions that shape public perception, be it direct or indirect, through work, studies, hobbies, or media. These insights are valuable not only for the scientific community but also for society at large, as they inform how we co-exist with marine species in a changing world.
The research is part of a broader effort to bring human dimensions into marine science and conservation, helping bridge the gap between ecological data and everyday experiences. Jolanda Linsén is an interdisciplinary researcher working at the intersection of marine biology and environmental governance. Her work is affiliated with Åbo Akademi University’s profiling area the Sea and the Centre for Sustainable Ocean Science (SOS), as well as the PROTECT Baltic project led by HELCOM.
Take the survey and make your voice heard – your perspective matters!
The survey takes approximately 20–30 minutes to complete and can be accessed in Finnish, Swedish, and English. It will remain open until Baltic Sea Day 2026 or until the necessary number of responses has been reached. Participants will also have the chance to enter a raffle for S-group gift cards worth 50 € each, drawn in December 2025.
Contact information
Jolanda Linsén: jolanda.linsen@abo.fi
