Save the Baltic porpoise
We urge decision makers in Europe and the Baltic Sea Region to act now to protect the most threatened whale in European waters – the critically endangered Baltic Proper harbour porpoise.
The Baltic harbour porpoise needs your help!
OVERVIEW
The harbour porpoise is the
only whale resident in the Baltic Sea.
It has been present here since the Baltic Sea formed some 10 000 years ago, but today there is only a small remnant of the historical population left. With only a few hundred animals, the Baltic harbour porpoise is
critically endangered, and urgent measures are needed to save the population.
On paper the Baltic harbour porpoise and its habitat are “highly protected” under European Union law, both within and outside Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), but in practice, this has failed to generate effective conservation.
To this day, not even MPAs specifically designated to protect the porpoise provide a safe haven from fishing that can cause bycatch, let alone areas outside MPAs. Underwater noise is not regulated in MPAs for harbour porpoises. Baltic Member States are slow to act and the ambitions set are too low. The Baltic harbour porpoise is critically endangered and needs to be strictly protected throughout its range.
Credit: Alamy Stock Photo - Solvin Zankl, Fjord & Bælt, Denmark
WHY IS THE BALTIC PORPOISE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED?
Porpoises get caught in fishing nets and drown when they cannot come to the surface to breathe.
Underwater noise can cause both physical injuries and disturbance.
Environmental pollutants can lower fertility and cause vulnerability to disease.
WHAT
WE DO
In 2021 we started our campaign to raise awareness about the critically endangered Baltic Porpoise. Since then we keep pushing Environment, Fisheries and Defense Ministers of all countries around the Baltic Sea to follow scientific advice and work together to protect the most endangered whale in Europe - the critically endangered Baltic Proper harbour porpoise.
Rowing over the Atlantic
In 2021 we worked with the two Swedish adventurers Måns Kämpe and Sören Kjellkvist to raise awareness and save the endangered Baltic whale, the harbour porpoise. Read about their adventure. we have opened a petition to urge the Environment, Fisheries and Defense Ministers of all countries around the Baltic Sea to follow scientific advice and work together to protect the most endangered whale in Europe - the critically endangered Baltic Proper harbour porpoise.
Our Petition & its delivery
We opened a petition to urge the Ministers of all countries around the Baltic Sea to protect the Baltic harbour porpoise.
In November 2022 we delivered the petition to the EU Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius.
In August 2024 we delivered the petition to Daniel Westlén, State Secretary to the Swedish Minister for Climate and the Environment Romina Pourmokhtari together with SSCN.
International Day of the Baltic Porpoise
We celebrate the “International Day of the Baltic Harbour Porpoise” in order to raise awareness of the critical situation of the Baltic porpoise.
In 2022 we were in Skansen, Sweden to talk about the Baltic Porpoise and the adventure "Row Over the Atlantic" with Ida Carlén, Måns Kämpe and Sören Kjellkvist.
In 2023 we organised in Skansen, Sweden, an art workshop about the Baltic Porpoise with the visual eco-activist Vegan Flava.
WHAT
COUNTRIES
AROUND THE BALTIC MUST DO
01
Take effective conservation measures in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) for harbour porpoises.
This can include seasonal or full-year closures of high-risk fisheries, re-routing of shipping lanes and strict limitations of offshore constructions.
02
Minimize bycatch of harbour porpoises in the entire Baltic Sea.
The Baltic harbour porpoise is critically endangered, and even one animal bycaught each year is too much. Therefore, protecting porpoises in MPAs is not enough, we have to stop bycatch in the entire Baltic Sea. This can be done by using acoustic deterrent devices, pingers, on fishing nets. However, some Baltic countries now claim that pingers pose a threat to military underwater activities and national security.
03
The military should work together with conservation to find viable solutions for bycatch mitigation.
The military could conduct at-sea tests and closely assess the effects of pingers on military underwater activities and the possibilities for co-existence. If pingers are shown to be a security risk, alternative conservation measures need to be implemented.
04
Increase efforts to develop and implement alternative fishing gear that does not cause harbour porpoise bycatch.
Porpoises are mostly bycaught in static fishing nets. Alternative fishing gear that do not cause harbour porpoise bycatch include for example pots, traps and longlines, but developments are still needed.
WHAT
YOU CAN DO
1.
Share the
the petition with your friends and family.
2.
Use the hashtag
#SavetheBalticPorpoise
to show your support.
3.
Contact your politicians
and ask them to protect the Baltic porpoise from bycatch and underwater noise.
4. Report if you see a harbour porpoise (link to national reporting pages).
5. Give your support and donate to protect this endangered species.
6.
Follow us on
social media
and
share knowledge with your friends and family.
Photo credits
- BEFORE: Héloïse Hamel
/ AFTER: Getty Images - Cobalt
18 MAY 2025
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF
THE BALTIC HARBOUR PORPOISE
On Sunday, 18 May 2025, we will celebrate the International Day of the Baltic Harbour Porpoise!
Stay tuned for more info.
For more information:
CCB Secretariat: secretariat (at)
ccb.se
Share
Do you want to learn more about the Baltic porpoise?
We have a page dedicated to this critically endangered species!