Rowing for Baltic Herring raised €6,500 for WWF Finland’s oil spill response work

The Rotarians’ traditional Rowing for Baltic Herring once again demonstrated its strength as a force for the common good: the event held last October raised €6,500 for WWF Finland’s oil spill response work. Finland’s largest public environmental event, organised by Rotarians, brought together more than 300 rowers and hikers to support the Baltic Sea on the opening day of the Helsinki Baltic Herring Market.

The donated sum was raised from participation fees paid by 12 church boat rowing teams and around 50 hikers, as well as through support from donors and partner organisations. The patron of the event was Minister of the Environment and Climate Sari Multala, who opened the day and emphasised in her speech the shared responsibility for protecting the Baltic Sea.

Markku Tahkokorpi, Chair of the Steering Group of Rowing for Baltic Herring and a member of the Meri-Espoo Rotary Club, presented the donation certificate to WWF Finland’s Secretary General, Jari Luukkonen, at the end of January. Luukkonen also gave an engaging presentation on WWF’s work and volunteer oil spill response. The event was hosted by the Helsinki Finlandia Hall Rotary Club.

Sanna Laine and Jari Luukkonen from WWF Finland, Markku Tahkokorpi, DGJere Jantunen, Hannele Kauranne and Lauri Pokkinen.

Rowing for Baltic Herring has been organised since 2013 and has already raised nearly €100,000 for the protection of the Baltic Sea. This time, the funds will be directed to WWF Finland’s oil spill response activities, such as training and equipping volunteer oil spill response teams.

Markku Tahkokorpi, Chair of the Steering Group of the Rotarians’ Rowing for Baltic Herring, thanks the participants and partners:
“It is wonderful to see how rowers, walkers, organisations and companies join forces for the Baltic Sea. Every euro strengthens WWF’s ability to act quickly when environmental damage occurs. Environmental protection is one of Rotary’s key focus areas, and I believe that for many participants it was especially inspiring this year to learn more about oil spill response work.”

Energetic exercise and Baltic Sea knowledge

The rowers set off from Kaisaniemi Shore and rowed church boats around Tervasaari towards Katajanokka. Due to wind conditions, the route had to be shortened from what was originally planned. The hikers followed the same route along the shoreline, visiting information points along the way. At the end of the day, participants gathered on board Viking Gabriella to enjoy a Baltic herring lunch and the mini-seminar “A spare boat never capsizes”.

At the seminar, presentations by Elina Erkkilä, Director of Conservation at WWF Finland, and Commander Captain Mika Uitti from the Finnish Border Guard highlighted the roles of both volunteers and authorities in oil spill response in the fragile Baltic Sea.

Organisers and partners

Rowing for Baltic Herring 2025 was organised by eight Rotary clubs: Finlandia Hall with its satellite clubs, Helsinki Baltic Sea, Helsinki International, Herttoniemi–Hertonäs, Meri-Espoo, Helsingin Koillinen, Riihimäki–Hausjärvi and Vantaa–Myyrmäki. Rotary District 1420 of Southern Finland and Estonia was also involved.

The rowing and hiking events are made possible by numerous sponsors and partners: Viking Line, K-Supermarket Hertta, Ventoniemi, the Helsinki Baltic Herring Market, the Baltic Sea Challenge / City of Helsinki, Helsingin Suomalainen Klubi, and the Finnish Lifeboat Institution.