Why Does the Archipelago Sea Matter to You? New Research Seeks Your Voice
A new survey invites people who visit or live near the Archipelago Sea to share their personal connections to this unique marine environment. The study is part of the Cultural Value of Coastlines project within the broader MARBEFES initiative and led by Dr. Tiina Salo and Associate Professor Anna Törnroos-Remes from Åbo Akademi University’s Environmental and Marine Biology department. The project explores where and how we engage with and value our marine and coastal environments, aiming to understand not just what people do in the Archipelago Sea area, but why these places matter to them on a deeper, more personal level.
The survey takes a comprehensive approach, asking participants not only about their activities—from swimming and bird watching to summer cottage visits—but also about the values they associate with these coastal spaces, the environmental changes they’ve witnessed, and their personal responsibilities toward marine protection. By combining questions about favorite locations, environmental concerns, and individual actions, the research aims to build a complete picture of how the Archipelago Sea fits into people’s lives and what threats might affect their future engagement with this unique ecosystem.
This interdisciplinary research represents a growing recognition that effective marine conservation must understand not just ecological systems, but the human communities that depend on and care for these environments. The approach bridges the gap between scientific data and lived experiences, acknowledging that successful conservation strategies need to account for the cultural, social, and emotional connections people have with marine spaces. By understanding what coastal areas mean to different communities, researchers and policymakers can develop more inclusive and effective approaches to protecting these valuable ecosystems for future generations.
The survey was launched on Baltic Sea Day, Thursday August 28th, and Dr. Salo was personally promoting it at Forum Marinum along the Aura river, inviting people to take part and share their perspectives.
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.
Fill out the survey and make your voice heard – your response is highly appreciated!
The survey takes approximately 10–20 minutes to complete and can be answered in Finnish, Swedish, or English (the questions are included in all three languages). It will remain open until the end of 2025 or until the necessary number of responses has been reached.
Contact information
Tiina Salo: tiina.salo@abo.fi
