Latest news

Here we share research milestones, upcoming events, and recent media appearances.

2025

  • Updates from the project will be featured in the next newsletter of the Archipelago Unesco Biosphere Reserve, written by project researcher Aarne Lauerma
  • June 2025: Team visit to the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in Öregrund, Sweden.
  • June 2025: We’re looking for a doctoral researcher to join our team! The application period is open until June 27. Read more and apply here.
  • April 2025: Mikko Kaasinen received €1,000 grant for his Master’s thesis from the Finnish Foundation for Nature Conservation’s Rafael Kuusankoski Memorial Fund.
  • March 2025: Lieto Savings Bank Foundation awarded €25 000 to support the environmental monitoring programs at Seili, including the Baltic Herring Project, funding one research assistant position in 2025.
  • January 2025: In memoriam docent Marjut Rajasilta, the founder of the Baltic herring project.
  • Our latest publication: Limburg, K.E., Heimbrand, Y., Hüssy, K., Blass, M., Thomas, J., Mäkinen, K., Næraa, T. 2025. The Forgotten Element: Why Do We Ignore Calcium in Otolith Studies? Fisheries Research. Accepted.

2024

  • December: Donations to support herring research have been received from Paraisten kaupunki, Salmonfarm ab, Selkämeren Jää oy, Uudenkaupungin kaupunki, Uudenkaupungin Kalanlajittelukeskus, Taivassalon kunta, Kustavin kunta, and Suomen Ammattikalastajaliitto. Thank you for the valuable support!
  • 2 December: Marjut Rajasilta gave a presentation on the herring research at TEKS meeting in Turku.
  • 21 November: Weisell Foundation awarded €88 501 to support the 1st year of our research project focusing on herring migration, natal origins and stock structure.
  • 6 October: Katja Mäkinen presented the latest findings on Baltic herring at the Silakkasoutu event in Helsinki.
  • 10 September: Katja Mäkinen presented the latest findings on Baltic herring at the Vesiviljelyn ympäristösuojelun neuvottelupäivät event in Turku.
  • 8 August: Herring Day (Silakkapäivä)– event was organized at Seili. See the program for details.
  • 17-27 April: Katja Mäkinen conducted a research visit to Prof. Karin Limburg’s lab at SUNY-ESF, Syracuse, NY, USA.
  • 11 April: Public lecture on Baltic herring at the Main Library of Turku, part of the Biodiversity Unit’s lecture series.
  • Two new bachelor theses finished by Laura Lammi and Eino Nousiainen on Mysid ecology and Baltic herring male characteristics.
  • 9 April: Saara Miinala received a €1,000 grant for her Master’s thesis from the Finnish Foundation for Nature Conservation’s Baltic Sea Fund.
  • March: Lieto Savings Bank Foundation awarded €25,000 to support the environmental monitoring programs at Seili, including the Baltic Herring Project, funding two research assistant positions in 2024.
  • February: Team visit to the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in Öregrund, Sweden.

2023


Earlier highlights (Selected examples)