UN Ocean Conference 2025

The marine ecosystem faces complex challenges that transcend political borders, requiring a collaborative approach, at an ecologically relevant scale, for its protection and restoration. This side event will showcase how Baltic Sea nations have come together to transform their commitment to accelerating marine protection efforts into concrete action.

By joining forces to develop a truly transboundary, data-driven, ecosystem based, and holistic approach—addressing every aspect of the protection process. The region is taking the initiative to ensure that not only can the 30% spatial protection target be achieved but that it can be done in a strategic way that optimizes the potential of both existing and new areas, and one that strengthens cooperation and ensures lasting impact.

Aligning with the UN Ocean Decade’s theme of Accelerating Action and Mobilizing All Actors to Conserve and Sustainably Use the Ocean, the event will look at the why, what, and how behind developing a joint regional protection optimization framework. It will highlight that regional cooperation, a commitment to looking beyond targets, and a determination to drive transformative change can foster stronger, more effective marine spatial protection efforts in one of the world’s most impacted seas.

Representatives from key institutions, policymakers, civil society and conservation practitioners will be invited to share their views on the initiative and their experiences in, and expectations of, this unparalleled endeavor to enhance marine biodiversity protection on a sea-basin scale.

As an interactive element, the audience will be invited to collectively identify key components for improvement for effective marine protection. This participatory approach will foster engagement and dialogue, reinforcing the importance of joint decision making in ocean governance.

Drawing on lessons from the Baltic, the session will provide valuable insights into how cooperative frameworks, data-driven decision making, and shared governance strategies can be applied to other regional seas. It will emphasize the role of science-policy integration, community engagement, and adaptive management in achieving SDG 14 targets.

By bringing together diverse stakeholders, the event strives to contribute to the global dialogue on ocean protection, underscoring that safeguarding our shared seas is a collective responsibility—one that requires innovative, cross-border solutions rooted in cooperation and trust.

Le Labo Coworking

6 Rue du Congrès

06200 Nice

France

11 June 2025

09:15-11:00 (CEST)

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Moderator

Katja Laingui

Katja Laingui is a dedicated environmental professional with over 15 years of experience in operational management. Currently part of the management team at PROTECT BALTIC, she is passionate about marine environments, environmental education and sustainable development.

Katja has a strong background in marine biology and sustainable development, holding a B.Sc. from the University of Cape Town and a Postgraduate Diploma from Stellenbosch University.

Her career includes significant roles at the Two Oceans Aquarium Education Foundation, where she managed finance and operations, and most recently co-leading the global and European planning of marine protected area (MPA) day. She has more than 10 years of experience in public speaking. 

Speakers

Rüdiger Strempel

A lawyer by training, Rüdiger Strempel has been the Executive Secretary of the Baltic Marine Environment Commission (Helsinki Commission, HELCOM) since August 2019. He looks back on many years of experience in international environmental law, policy, and diplomacy, with a particular focus on international marine conservation.

He has previously held the posts of Executive Secretary of the UN Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North-East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas (UNEP/ASCOBANS) and of the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat (CWSS) and has also worked for a number of other United Nations agencies.

Moreover, he has a background as a journalist and professional communicator working in English and German, and he is the author or co-author of numerous articles and several books.    

Cecilia Nyman

Cecilia Nyman is the Project Coordinator for PROTECT BALTIC at the HELCOM Secretariat. She holds a PhD in biology with a background in ecology and evolution. Her PhD thesis focused on studying the effects of the early social environment on behavioural and genomic responses in highly social cichlid fish.

She possesses expertise in Baltic Sea ecology, evolutionary ecology and endocrine disruptors. She is part of the task team for MPA management and MPA monitoring in PROTECT BALTIC.

Before joining the HELCOM Secretariat, she worked at an NGO as an expert and later as a project manager on various environmental projects.

Jannica Haldin

Jannica Haldin can look back on over 10 000 hours or marine fieldwork and 15 years of experience in international environmental diplomacy and policy, focusing on marine governance, biodiversity, conservation, status assessment, sustainable fisheries and climate change. Working closely with ministries, sectors and international organizations, including the European Commission, CBD, ICES, IUCN, UNESCO and UNEP, has allowed her to represent the Baltic Sea from the local to the global stage.

At HELCOM she has led the most comprehensive status assessment ever undertaken for the region, pioneered the regional Climate Change Fact Sheet, and coordinated the Baltic Sea Action Plan update. As a Special Advisor, she is currently spearheading PROTECT BALTIC - the largest project in HELCOM's history.

Panellists

Mikhail Durkin

Mikhail Durkin works as Executive Secretary of the Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB), network of 27 environmental NGOs from 11 countries of the Baltic Sea Region. In this capacity he is responsible for coordination of CCB’s joint activities on protection of the Baltic environment, including advocacy at regional and EU level, campaigning, public awareness and capacity building.

Before joining CCB in 2015, Mikhail served the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (Helsinki Commission or HELCOM) as a Professional Secretary, primarily dealing with land-based pollution sources, including agriculture.

Mikhail holds M.Sc. degrees in Environmental Management and Policy, as well as in Biology.     

Mette Westergaard Bech

Mette Westergaard Bech is the Deputy Head of Unit at the Office for the Marine Environment in the Danish Ministry of Environment, specializing in marine policy development. She has worked extensively with maritime spatial planning, marine protected areas, fisheries management, and marine restoration. With deep insight into the policy process, and close collaboration with stakeholders, she plays a key role in turning ideas into action and contributes to Denmark’s efforts toward a healthier and more sustainable marine environment.

Niels Krabbe

Niels Krabbe (LL.D) is a legal researcher interested in how the law of the sea can be applied more dynamically to further the biological carbon pump and marine protected areas in the Baltic Sea and beyond. In addition to his academic work he has worked in policy, having led the law of the sea work at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Sweden during the EU presidency in 2023, representing the EU member states during the final phase of the BBNJ negotiations.

He is the recipient of the 2025 Baltic Sea grant and the 2025 French Institute Ocean Laureate.

Belinda Bramley

Belinda is a blue economy consultant focused on collaborative, holistic and inclusive blue economy solutions which champion marine life. She is knowledgeable on international blue economy initiatives, the associated enabling conditions and financing options, and marine nature-based solutions.

Currently, Belinda co-leads stakeholder engagement for the MPA Europe project, where she engages stakeholders to use the project’s scientific tools for biodiversity-inclusive, climate-smart marine spatial planning and optimal designation of marine protected areas across Europe’s seas.

She also recently co-founded The Protected Areas Foundation, a UK charity with a mission to support and scale effective

community-managed protected areas.