THE BALTIC SEA AWARD

Östersjöfonden has been awarding persons and organisations for significant and prominent efforts for the Baltic Sea environment since 1990. Altogether, over 820,000 euros has been awarded to 91 persons and organisations over the years.

We want to honour those in the forefront of protection work. The purpose is to show the importance of the individual contribution: it is possible to change and improve! We also want to give these forerunners confirmation of the value of their work and inspire them further. Through the public attention of the award we highlight important Baltic Sea issues in the general discussion and strive to influence decision makers and public opinion. In addition to the the main prize, the Baltic Sea Award, we also give out the Youth Award, the Åland Award and Lasse Wiklöf’s parliamentarian award.

Award Winners

Baltic Sea Award 2022

Foreningen for skånsamt kystfiskeri

The Association for Gentle Coastal Fishing from Denmark is awarded 20,000 euros for its work for sustainable coastal fishing. The association advocates gentle fishing gear such as nets, nets and hooks and distances itself from bottom trawling fishing. The association is a role model for all small-scale coastal fishermen in Europe and the Baltic Sea in particular with its goal to affect the sea’s fishing populations and environments as little as possible. The association for gentle coastal fishing shows the way and acts as a positive lever in political arenas for sustainable coastal fishing and healthy seas and is not afraid to highlight the fishing industry’s problems, such as e.g. ghost nets and bycatch, for general discussion.

“We are very proud to receive this recognition and generous award from the Ostersjofonden on behalf of the entire FSK-PO.

Since 2014, we have worked to improve the conditions for small-scale fishermen with low impact to the benefit of both the environment and the fishing communities in Denmark. As one of the few established POs for small-scale, low-impact fishermen in Europe, we hope to be an inspiration to others and see this movement grow.

This award and recognition will help convey the message to small-scale, low-impact fishermen in the Baltic Sea region and elsewhere that we may be small in scale but we are big in numbers – and together can lead the way for low-impact fishing to become a most of the fishing of the future with all the advantages it brings.”

– Søren Jacobsen, chairman of FSK-PO

Lasse Wiklöf Award 2022

The Lasse Wiklöf prize is awarded to a Nordic parliamentarian who has worked extra hard to improve the state of the Baltic Sea.
An important criterion is that one has contributed to enabling concrete political actions for the sea, in one or more of the parliaments around the Baltic Sea.
We are looking for a person who goes from word to action, and who dares to make good long-term decisions for our inner sea.
This year, the Baltic Sea Fund has not received any nominations that meet the commitment we are asking for, which is why we have chosen not to award the Lasse Wiklöf prize in 2022.

Åland Award 2022

Linnea Segersvärd, Tobias Braun och Emma Kraufvelin

Emma Kraufvelin, Linnea Segersvärd and Tobias Braun from Godby high school’s school catering are awarded 3,000 euros for their commitment to locally produced and organic food. They have close contact with the Åland producers and follow the seasons of different raw materials. They calculate their greenhouse gas emissions, sort out goods with harmful chemicals and work to reduce food waste. All this within the same financial framework as other school kitchens.

“It is an overwhelming and awesome feeling to receive such a big award, we thought someone was joking with us when we were told that we had won.
For us, it is a matter of course to prepare and serve good, nutritious and sustainable food, but winning this award will inspire us even more to develop.
We are enjoying all the wonderful contacts we have made over the last few years with all the local producers. We are proud and it gives us a lot of job satisfaction to be able to use so many fine Åland products.
Thanks to a good relationship with local suppliers and growers, we can continue to work together to minimize our climate footprint even more. Among other things, through smarter deliveries, minimizing single-use packaging and finding daily-fresh ingredients that are in season.
We hope that we can inspire more people to use local products. We are convinced that it would be positive, not only for the environment.

/Linnea Segersvärd, Tobias Braun and Emma Kraufvelin

The Youth Award 2022

Luisa Neubauer

Luisa Neubauer from Germany is awarded 5,000 euros for her commitment to preventing global warming. Luisa Neubauer is a climate activist and a leading figure for the Fridays for Future movement, and has fought to stop the use of fossil fuels, including by questioning the Nordstream 2 gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea. Climate change has a direct impact on the condition of the Baltic Sea, and our ability to stop climate change will not be improved by increased use of fossil fuels. Luisa is a role model for the youth of the whole world and, through her way of taking the debate with Europe’s leaders and the goal of protecting our environment, has also focused on functioning ecosystems in the Baltic Sea.

“I feel humbled and honored to receive this year’s prize from the Baltic Sea Fund.
The award is a stark reminder of how much we depend on the ecosystems of the maritime seas around the world, including the Baltic Sea. And how much it is our duty to protect these seas.
To protect them from climate change, to protect them from the climate crisis, to protect them from the destruction that is happening everywhere.
In the Baltic Sea, for example, we are looking at the North Stream 2 pipeline that should never have been built and should never have been converted to power.
It is our task everywhere to fight for what we depend on. And this is, of course, the seas and the Baltic Sea. So let’s get started and don’t give up for a second.” Luisa Neubauer