Row over the Atlantic: a new collaboration to save the Baltic harbour porpoise

CCB • May 25, 2021

Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB) and the Swedish adventurers Måns Kämpe and Sören Kjellkvist [1] are pleased to announce the  launch of a collaboration to save the endangered Baltic whale, the harbour porpoise . Måns and Sören will during the winter of 2021-22 row over the Atlantic from Portugal to the Caribbean, a journey of about 6000 kilometers which will take around 3 months. 

Throughout the rowing, Måns and Sören will write a daily report (both in English and Swedish) by publishing updates on the journey and facts & figures on the harbour porpoise [2]. The aim is to raise awareness about the Baltic harbour porpoise, which currently has less than 500 animals left and is near extinction [3], due to bycatch [4], contaminants and underwater noise.

As a preparation for the big adventure Sören and Måns will row from Stockholm to Visby during the Almedalen Week [5] in the beginning of July and there, together with Coalition Clean Baltic, will share information, create opinion and collect signatures to raise awareness and put pressure for the implementation of emergency measures to protect this cetacean population. 

“Both Sören and I are deeply committed to life in the seas, and we both feel that it is horrible that the only species of whale living in the Baltic Sea is facing extinction. We want to share and debate, and dedicate our adventure to the important issue of saving the Baltic harbour porpoise. CCB helps us with training materials and the scientific expertise needed to make a real difference”

said Måns Kämpe.

Ida Carlén, Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Officer at Coalition Clean Baltic, added:

“We work to achieve the changes required to save the Baltic harbour porpoise and help it stabilize, and our collaboration with Måns and Sören gives us the chance to bring this issue out through media to a wider audience. A lot of people are not even aware that there is a species of whale in the Baltic Sea, and that it is so close to extinction.”

We want to preserve the Baltic biodiversity and urgent action can still prevent the extinction and save the Baltic porpoise.

  • You can read the PR in Swedish here

    Ro över Atlanten: ett nytt samarbete för att rädda Östersjötumlaren


    Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB) och de svenska äventyrarna Måns Kämpe och Sören Kjellkvist [1] har nöjet att presentera uppstarten av ett samarbete för att rädda Östersjöns utrotningshotade val, östersjötumlaren. Måns och Sören kommer under vintern 2021-22 att ro över Atlanten, från Portugal till Västindien, en resa på ungefär 6000 kilometer som kommer att ta cirka 3 månader. 



    Under rodden kommer Måns och Sören att skriva dagliga rapporter (på både svenska och engelska), med uppdateringar om rodden samt fakta och information om östersjötumlaren [2]. Målet är att öka medvetenheten om östersjötumlaren, som nu består av mindre än 500 individer och är nära att utrotas [3], på grund av bifångst [4], föroreningar samt undervattensbuller.


    Som en förberedelse för det stora äventyret kommer Sören och Måns att ro från Stockholm till Visby under Almedalsveckan [5] i början av Juli, och där tillsammans med Coalition Clean Baltic informera, skapa opinion och samla namnunderskrifter för att öka medvetenheten och skapa ett tryck för de akuta åtgärder som behövs för att rädda och skydda denna valpopulation.


    “Både Sören och jag är djupt engagerade för livet i haven, och vi känner båda att det är fruktansvärt att den enda val som lever i Östersjön är nära att utrotas. Vi vill berätta och debattera, och tillägnar vårt äventyr den viktiga frågan om att rädda östersjötumlaren. CCB hjälper oss med utbildningsmaterial och den vetenskapliga expertis som behövs för att göra verklig skillnad”

    sade Måns Kämpe.


    Ida Carlén, expert hos Coalition Clean Baltic, lade till:

    “Vi arbetar för att åstadkomma de förändringar som behövs för östersjötumlaren ska kunna överleva och stabiliseras, och samarbetet med Måns och Sören ger oss chansen att få ut frågan i media och till en bredare publik. Många människor känner inte ens till att det finns en val-art i Östersjön, och att den är så nära att utrotas.”



    Vi vill bevara den biologiska mångfalden i Östersjön, och akuta åtgärder kan fortfarande hindra utrotningen och rädda östersjötumlaren.


    REFERENSER

    [1] Måns Kämpe och Sören Kjellkvist är äventyrare med ett stort engagemang för att uppleva, lära sig, inspirera, dela med sig, utbilda och debattera kring djur och natur, på land och i haven.

    [2] Måns Kämpes och Sören Kjellkvists blogg: 

    https://sorenkjellkvist.se/start_slider/aventyrsbeskrivning-ro-over-atlanten/

    [3] Östersjötumlaren är klassad som kritiskt utrotningshotad av The International Union for Conservation of Nature, IUCN:

    http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/17031/0

    https://ccb.se/harbour-porpoise/

    [4] Bifångst är den fångst av icke avsedda arter såsom östersjötumlare, delfiner, havssköldpaddor och sjöfåglar som sker vid fiske. Detta är ett av de största hoten mot östersjötumlaren: 

    https://ccb.se/2021/05/bycatch-of-critically-endangered-baltic-sea-harbour-porpoise-must-stop/

    [5] Almedalsveckan (även kallad Politikerveckan) är ett årligt återkommande evenemang i början av Juli i Almedalen på Gotland. Med tal, seminarier och andra politiska aktiviteter betraktas den som det viktigaste forumet i svensk politik: 

    https://almedalsveckan.info/english



NOTES

Job vacancy: Marine Policy Officer (parental leave cover)

By CCB • February 24, 2026
Coalition Clean Baltic – CCB is a politically independent network, uniting 28 environmental non-profit organizations, as well as partners and experts from 11 countries surrounding the Baltic Sea. The main goal of CCB is to promote the protection and improvement of the environment and natural resources of the Baltic Sea region by encouraging new and constructive approaches and engaging people to become part of the solution instead of part of the problem. CCB Secretariat is based in Uppsala, Sweden. About the Role Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB) is seeking a Marine Policy Officer (parental leave cover) to join its International Secretariat and contribute substantively to regional and EU-level marine advocacy, with a particular focus on the Baltic Sea. The Marine Policy Officer will support the implementation of EU and international marine environmental policy frameworks — notably the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), the EU Maritime Spatial Planning Directive (MSPD) and the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) . All work is grounded in the promotion of ecosystem-based management. The role includes close collaboration with the rest of the Secretariat team as well as CCB member organisations to deliver policy initiatives, advocacy actions, and strategic programme objectives. The Marine Policy Officer will also support the International Secretariat in fundraising, with a focus on the EU LIFE operational grant application. Key Responsibilities Policy & Advocacy Support the implementation of CCB’s strategic plan on marine biodiversity policy. Contribute to marine policy advocacy at EU and at Baltic Sea regional levels (e.g. HELCOM, EU Commission expert groups). Provide input to the implementation and revision of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Collect evidence and views to provide NGO inputs to the forthcoming EU Ocean Act and related initiatives. Support the implementation of the Helsinki Convention and Baltic Sea Action Plan. Engage in the revision processes related to the Marine Spatial Planning Directive (MSPD). Programme & Grant Delivery Provide critical support in fundraising, i.e. project proposal development, especially for securing core grant funding (e.g. for the EU LIFE Programme and potentially Horizon programme). Contribute to CCB´s project management, implementation and reporting activities for various projects. Coordination & Monitoring Closely coordinate marine biodiversity policy work with CCB member organisations. Monitor global, EU, and regional marine policy developments. Liaise with partner NGOs and civil society organisations. Communications & Policy Products Draft position papers, policy briefings, consultation inputs and technical reports on relevant files. Support communications and outreach on marine policy issues. Help organise workshops, conferences, and stakeholder events. Represent CCB in policy dialogues, expert groups, and stakeholder forums at the EU and Baltic Sea level. Cross-organisational Support within the Secretariat and its members Contribute to other CCB thematic working areas as required. Profile We are seeking a policy professional who is: Solutions-oriented and adaptable Experienced in advocacy or campaigning Collaborative and team-driven Passionate about marine conservation Organised, diplomatic, and stakeholder-confident Required Qualifications & Experience Demonstrable professional experience in marine or environmental policy. Working knowledge of key EU frameworks, particularly the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Knowledge of Helcom BSAP is an asset. Postgraduate qualification in marine science, ecology, conservation, water management, or related discipline with substantial marine focus. Eligibility to work and travel within the EU (citizenship or valid permit) with residency in Sweden. Excellent written and spoken English. CCB also welcomes applicants from broader environmental policy/law backgrounds who can demonstrate relevant knowledge. Desirable Skills Experience within the NGO or civil society sector preferred. Advocacy or campaigning experience within the EU, the Baltic Sea or international environmental policy processes. Working knowledge of a Baltic Sea region language (e.g. Swedish, Danish, Finnish, German, Polish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Estonian).

CCB´s submission to the EU Call for Evidence on the Ocean Act

By CCB • February 19, 2026
Uppsala, February 2025 - CCB supports the Ocean Pact and Ocean Act objectives for improving coherence, coordination and effectiveness of EU ocean governance. Yet, in order to achieve this, the Act has to deliver truly ecosystem-based management of our seas and make reaching Good Environmental Status, as defined in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), a cornerstone of the Act. The Ocean Act can set us on a path to recovery of the marine environment under a sustainable and just blue economy, but only if the Act includes the points outlined below and is implemented swiftly and fully.