Baltic Breakfast

28 January 2026.

Microorganisms, including bacteria and viruses, play a vital role in sustaining life in the oceans. Although small and difficult to study, they are central to nutrient and biogeochemical cycling, drive chemical transformations in sediments, and help regulate climate-active gases such as methane.

Microbiologists have long studied bacteria and other organisms in the oceans, but advances over the past decade have transformed our understanding of the diversity of life and the roles microbes play in the ecosystem. Through ‘omics’ approaches, it is possible to uncover the complete genetic and molecular profiles of aquatic and sedimentary organisms, revealing how they interact, gain energy, and adapt to changing conditions.

This growing knowledge is a powerful tool for environmental monitoring. From just a litre of seawater or a few grams of sediment, entire microbial communities can be explored, showing how these invisible organisms support food webs, recycle nutrients, and support the health of the environment. But also sheds light on ancient life on Earth and even possible life beyond our planet.

So, what do we know about microbes so far? What role do they play in ecosystems? How can they contribute to increased knowledge and understanding of the oceans?

Speakers

Emma Bell, Researcher at Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre

Alexis Fonseca, Researcher at Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre

Moderator: Gun Rudquist, Head of Policy at Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre

10 december 2025.

Today, we live in a society where potentially toxic chemicals are used in almost every aspect of everyday life. The chemical industry is constantly discovering new chemicals and new uses for existing ones. Ultimately many of these chemicals end up in the environment, in our bodies and in the Baltic Sea. In this avalanche-like development, the authorities, who review chemicals one at a time and only if they are used in large volumes, are unable to keep up with introducing efficient restrictions. Subsequently, the authorities are not able to sufficiently mitigate and counteract the pollution crisis and the effects this has on biodiversity.

However, there are administrative approaches that could address these challenges in a relatively simple way, also within the current regulatory system. Some are already being applied at EU-level– and some are currently being discussed. Many of them would potentially also make chemical management administration easier and more transparent for companies. Welcome to this Baltic Breakfast to learn about the research and concept of i.e. Generic approach to risk management (GER), Mixture Assessment Factor (MAF) in safety assessment of chemicals, addressing so called Cocktail Effects and the Essential Use Concept.

Participants

Marlene Ågerstrand, Associate Professor at the Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University

Romain Figuiere, Postdoctoral Researcher at the Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University

Moderator: Ellen Bruno, Policy Analyst at the Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre

24 September 2025.

Management of fisheries in the Baltic Sea has generally failed to meet its objectives. Two recently published scientific articles dive deeper into the reasons. A new calculation showing a decline in the abundance of eels in northern European coastal waters and calls into question the effectiveness of the decentralized management of eels based on national eel management plans. Another article analyzes serious deficiencies in the EU's centralised management of key commercial fish stocks, such as cod, herring and sprat, and proposes an alternative, more precautionary and ecosystem-based approach.

Warm welcome to a seminar presenting these findings and discussing their implications for future policy!

Participants

Henrik Svedäng, Associate Professor in Marine Ecology, Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre and Swedish Institute for the Marine Environment (SIME), Gothenburg University, Sweden.

Eva Papaioannou, Scientist, Marine Evolutionary Ecology, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Division of Marine Ecology–Marine Evolutionary Ecology, Kiel, Germany.

Moderator: Charles Berkow, Policy Analyst, Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre

28 August 2025.

Geopolitical conditions have recently changed rapidly and significantly. Concerns over crisis and war dominate the societal debate, resulting in a narrow approach to a highly complex context. Vulnerability and preparedness focus mainly on threats from other states and less on how societies will cope with key challenges such as biodiversity loss and climate change – issues, which fundamentally depend on international cooperation.

Already the geopolitical situation has had an impact on ocean-related work. Security concerns have caused some websites to stop providing public information about the state of the oceans, while defence interests have stymied efforts to move forward with wind power development and porpoise protection.

At the same time, cooperation on environmental issues has historically been a “safe” area for international cooperation, sometimes even in regions characterized by high geopolitical tensions or even conflict. Nearby examples include the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) and cooperation between Norway and the Soviet Union on cod during the Cold War.

What does the research say about the impact of geopolitical changes on the state of the environment and environmental measures? What can be learnt from past management of environmental issues in times of crisis? What role can science diplomacy play in balancing environmental protection, offshore infrastructure, and national security?

Welcome to a seminar addressing these issues!

Participants

Robert Blasiak, is an Associate Professor at the Stockholm University Stockholm Resilience Centre, where he focuses on the sustainable management of ocean resources, and ocean stewardship. His recent work has dealt with issues surrounding the conservation and equitable use of marine genetic resources.

Karina Barquet, is a Senior Research Fellow at the Stockholm Environment Institute, Team Leader for the Water, Coasts and Ocean Group, and Lead for SEI’s Global Strategic Engagement for the Ocean. Her research explores how societies govern and manage risks across critical water infrastructures and functions—from offshore environments to coastal zones and urban areas.

Moderator: Gun Rudquist, Head of Policy, Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre

19 March 2025.

The discussion on regulating PFAS in the EU is vivid. What came out as a proposal to ban almost all production and use of the substances, might now end up as a less comprehensive regulation. What does science say about the spreading of PFAS and the risks involved? Two of the leading experts on PFAS are sharing their knowledge at this seminar.

Speakers

Lutz Ahrens, Professor of Environmental Organic Chemistry at the Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Ian Cousins, Professor of Environmental Organic Chemistry at the Department of Environmental Science at Stockholm University

Moderator: Ellen Bruno, Policy analyst, Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre

Read a summary of the seminar

Baltic Breakfast: Difficult to contain the risk of PFAS without a ban

14 November 2024.

End of November, delegations from countries all over the world will meet to finalise the negotiations on a new international legally binding treaty on plastics pollution. During this breakfast, you will learn more on how an ambitious treaty would be an important step towards protecting our seas and mitigating climate change, as well as the challenges ahead.

Speakers:

Fredric Bauer, associate senior lecturer in Technology and Society, Lund University

Patricia Villarrubia-Gómez, PhD Candidate at the Stockholm Resilience Centre at Stockholm University

Moderator:  Ellen Bruno, Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre

Read a summary of the seminar:

Baltic Breakfast: The plastic problem – bigger than waste

17 April 2024.

A Baltic Breakfast seminar on the extraction of phosphorus from sludge and what happens to pollutants in sludge when they are spread on arable land!

Participants

Arno Rosemarin, Senior Research Fellow at Stockholm Environment Institute

Geert Cornelis, Researcher at the Department of Soil and Environment; Soil chemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Moderator: Gun Rudquist, Head of Policy at Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre.

Read more about the program

8 February 2024.

Ocean acidification has been called the 'evil twin of warming'. What can we do beyond reduction of carbon dioxide emission? What new science is ongoing and needed to address this challenge?

Welcome to a seminar on acidification and its effects in the sea!

Speakers

Erik Gustafsson, oceanographer and researcher, Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre

Sam Dupont, Senior Lecturer, Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg.

Read a summary of the seminar

Baltic Breakfast: Ocean acidification – an emerging problem also in the Baltic Sea

Read our new policy brief about ocean acidification

Policy brief: Ocean acidification poses another threat to the Baltic Sea ecosystem

Policy brief: Ocean acidification poses another threat to the Baltic Sea ecosystem (webb text)

24 October 2024.

Participants

Francisco Nascimiento, Associate Professor, Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Science, Stockholm University

May Britt Rian, PhD student, Department of Environmental Sciences, Stockholm University 

Moderator: Gun Rudquist, Head of Policy, Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre

Read a summary of the seminar

Baltic Breakfast: New methods for environmental monitoring 

30 November 2022.

Environmental ministers from all over the world will meet at the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 15) in December, to decide on new global biological diversity targets. During this breakfast seminar, you will hear from two scientists at the forefront of biodiversity conservation, highlighting two of the issues at stake – conservation of genetic diversity and the importance of marine protected areas.

Speakers

Linda Laikre, Department of Zoology, Stockholm University

Susa Niiranen, Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University (presentation prepared by colleague Robert Blasiak)

Read an article about the seminar

Scientists ahead of COP15: “Improvements are urgently needed”

9 November 2022.

Phosphorus is vital for all living things, but also floods our waters. If it is already present in lakes and sea bays, is it possible to bind phosphorus to bottom sediments using aluminium treatment? What are the benefits and obstacles? 

Speakers

Bo Gustafsson, Associate Professor of Oceanography, Director of the Baltic Nest Institute, Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre

Brian Huser, Associate Professor, Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Read an article about the seminar and answers to questions from the audience

Modelling key to optimising outcome of aluminium treatment

Read our new fact sheet about the effects of the aluminium treatment in Björnöfjärden (in Swedish):

Effekter på fosfor av aluminiumbehandlingen i Björnöfjärden

31 August 2022.

Three years ago, the eastern cod stock was in such bad shape that the Commission decided on an emergency closure of the fishery. Since then, only by-catches have been allowed. Despite reducing fishing pressure, the cod has still not recovered. Collapses in fish stocks are commonly blamed on overfishing. But for the eastern Baltic cod, this is not the case. Instead, the productivity of the stock sank. Expected growth did not materialize. What factors can explain the crash of the stock?

Speakers

Henrik Svedäng, Researcher and Associate Professor, Baltic Sea Centre, Stockholm University

Anna Villnäs, Researcher in marine biology at the Tvärminne Zoological Station, Helsinki University

Read an article about the webinar and the researchers answers to questions from the audience

Baltic Breakfast: No clear cause behind the collapse of the eastern Baltic cod

11 May 2022.

Actions to improve nutrient use efficiency in the Baltic Sea region is the topic of this Baltic Breakfast. Benoit Dessirier, Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre, will present new modelling results regarding magnitude and dynamics of nutrient legacies in agricultural landscapes in the Baltic region and how they contribute to river loads to the sea. Gitte Blicher-Mathisen, Aarhus University, will describe the actions taken in Denmark to reduce nutrient leakage.

Speakers

Benoît Dessirier, Researcher, Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre

Gitte Blicher-Mathiesen, Senior Advisor, Dep of EcoScience, Aarhus University

Read an article about the webinar and the researchers answers to questions from the audience

Baltic Breakfast: The Danish example shows that nitrogen leakage can be reduced

26 january 2022.

Environmental changes have consequences for the Baltic Sea's food webs and ecosystems. 

Speakers

Maciej Tomczak, Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre

Eva Ehrnsten, Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre

Read an article about the webinar and the researchers answers to questions from the audience

Baltic Breakfast: Environmental changes impact benthic fauna – and the whole food web

14 December 2021.

Climate change is happening. And it is already affecting the Baltic Sea.  At this webinar Professor Markus Meier will summarise climate change impacts on the Baltic Sea physics and biogeochemistry/ecosystem and Professor Anna Rutgersson will give us the latest research on effects of extreme events and natural hazards in the Baltic Sea catchment area.

Speakers

Prof. Dr. Markus Meier, Head of Department, Physical Oceanography and Instrumentation, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde; Professor University of Rostock; Senior Scientist at the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute; Chair of the Baltic Earth Science Steering Group and Co-chair of the Baltic Earth/HELCOM Expert Network on Climate Change (EN CLIME).

Prof. Anna Rutgersson, Dep of Earth Sciences, Prg for Air, Water and Landscape Sciences, Meteorology, Uppsala University.

Read a summay of the webinar and and the researchers answers to questions from the audience

Impacts of climate change on the Baltic Sea – the known and the uncertain

26 October 2021.

In this webinar we discuss the concept of essential use and substitution of hazardous chemicals, and how these strategies can provide a safer and more sustainable use of chemicals. In more detail, we focus on the application of the essential use concept by presenting different examples.

The webinar will also highlight some examples from the ongoing work in the POPFREE project that has an important role in helping the industry to phase out non-essential uses of PFAS, as well as informing the public.

Read a summary and answers to the questions from the audience here:

Harmful chemicals – which use is essential?

Speakers

Ian Cousins, Professor in Environmental Chemistry at Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University

Lisa Skedung, PhD in Surface Chemistry, Project Manager for POPFREE at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden

Ulrika Dahl, PhD in Applied Environmental Science, Scientific officer and Project Manager Essential Use, Swedish Chemicals Agency

8 October 2021.

This webinar about eutrophication in the Baltic Sea is jointly organised by the Consulate of Sweden in Saint Petersburg and the Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre.

Speakers

Sergey Kondratyev, DSc., Deputy Director of the Institute of Limnology, Russian Academy of Science

Linda Kumblad, Associate Professor in Systems Ecology, Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre 

26 August 2021.

The coastal zones are among the most effective areas on Earth at sequestering carbon from the atmosphere. Treated right, these ecosystems are important cornerstones in climate change mitigation, but if degraded, they instead release large amounts of greenhouse gases, re-enforcing global warming. What is the situation for these ecosystems in the Baltic Sea? Are they sinks or sources of carbon? And how well is this so called blue carbon implemented in climate mitigation policies?

Speakers

Florian Roth, PhD in Marine Science, Post Doc at Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre and Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki

Camilla Gustafsson, PhD in Marine Biology, University researcher at Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki

Read a summary and the researchers answers to the questions from the audience

Blue carbon and methane emissions – how coasts and climate are connected

Read a policy brief on the topic

18 juni 2021.

Will increased consumption of seafood benefit food sustainability and the marine ecosystems? What can science tell us about environmental impact of increased seafood consumption? Are consumers interested in buying sustainable seafood?

Speakers

Sara Hornborg, PhD in natural science, researcher, Sustainable consumption and Production at RISE, Research Institutes of Sweden

Malin Jonell, PhD in system ecology, researcher, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University

Read a summary and the researchers answers to the questions from the audience:

Seafood consumption from a sustainability perspective

16 April 2021.

Researcher and Associate Professor Emma Undeman presents current science and Olga Rublevskaya, Director of the technology development department at wastewater treatment plant Vodokanal, talks about existing technology of wastewater treatment in St. Petersburg and the possible future development.

Speakers:

Associate Professor Emma Undeman, Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre

Olga Rublevskaya, Director of the technology development department at wastewater treatment plant Vodokanal

This webinar was jointly organised by the Consulate of Sweden in Saint Petersburg and Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre.