On 14 and 15 June, a number of measures were taken in Liepaja to promote public interest and active involvement in environmental and climate action to raise awareness of our impacts and our interaction with the sea and the ocean.

On 14 June, in cooperation with the Finnish Embassy in Latvia, two Finnish documentaries were filmed at the Culture House “Wiktoria”, which led viewers to travel around the world, allowing them to know the personal links of different people to the ocean and the biological intelligence of the ocean itself to negotiate with us, using the plastic produced by humanity as a message. During the film session, viewers also became aware of the documentary on the Finnish science ship 'Aranda', which makes a significant contribution to the observation and monitoring of the oceans.

In the early morning of June 15, the Finnish Environment Institute marine research vessel “Aranda” and its team of scientists joined the Trade Channel towards the Customs house, the Old Port, 54, to present visitors to the day-to-day survey of the seas and oceans. In addition to the visit to the ship, every interested party in the tent town of the Customs house had the opportunity to participate in various thematic workshops and learning activities.

In the tent of the Latvian Institute of Hidroecology, you could look at the colorful underwater world of the Baltic Sea and try diver equipment and learn some alien species when they are removed from other regions of the world. Visitors could find out what organisms were used to detect temporary contamination and how much microplastic contamination was on the Baltic Sea beach.

The Natural Conservation Agnecy'stent could ask scientists questions about the nature values of protected marine areas and look at an exhibition of underwater photographs.

Various water-related activities could be tested in the tents of the Science and Educational Innovation Centre of the Liepaja City Education Board, which will reveal water-world expanses – water research tools, experiments, water ecosystems and its creatures, water-resistant robots management, as well as a competition for the throwing of the fastest ship.

Visitors to the University of Liepāja tent had the opportunity to participate in the production of algae-paper and algal nurseries using red-algae and secondary materials in the Baltic Sea. There was an opportunity to look at a water monitoring boat designed by students equipped with advanced sensor technologies, allowing for data on water quality, the state of the water environment, seabed terrain.

The visit of the scientific ship “Aranda” to Liepaja, as part of the international project BALTICITIES, was organised by the Finnish Environment Institute SYKE in cooperation with the Finnish Embassy in Latvia, the municipality administration of Liepājas City, the Latvian Hydroroecology Institute, the Liepaja City Education Board, the University of Liepaja and the Nature Conservation Agency.