The Rotary charity event Herring Rowing will once again begin on the opening day of the Baltic Herring Market on 4 October 2026. This year, wetlands are the focus of Baltic Sea protection efforts and charitable activities.
Baltic Sea themes featured in the programme
The programme begins with breakfast and an information session at the Tokoinranta event and meeting venue in Helsinki, on the shore of Töölönlahti Bay. From there, the rowing and walking groups move on to a group photo and then to the departure point for the boats.
The rowing route differs slightly from previous years due to construction work around both Töölönlahti Bay and Market Square. The starting point at Kaisaniemenlahti Bay is the same as last year. The route passes under the Hakaniemi bridges and by Tervasaari Island to the MarinaBay guest marina at Katajanokka. From there, the teams walk via the Rotary tent at Market Square to lunch and a seminar aboard m/s Viking Gabriella.
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Walking is offered as an alternative to rowing. The walking groups follow the shores of the Helsinki peninsula alongside the rowing teams and stop at two checkpoints featuring Baltic Sea topics:
• Checkpoint 1 at Tervasaari features the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation.
• Checkpoint 2 at Katajanokka near Market Square presents SYKE’s Water Backpack project, as well as the film My Sea and an educational package for schools.
From checkpoint 2, the walking groups continue to lunch and the seminar aboard m/s Viking Gabriella.
HERRING SEMINAR – Long Live the Baltic Sea – Honour to Wetlands!
The event concludes with lunch and the Herring Seminar aboard m/s Viking Gabriella. The seminar provides factual information about the state of the Baltic Sea and the ways we can make a difference.
WWF Finland expert Viivi Kaasonen will explain how protecting the sea begins on land. Group Manager Pasi Valkama from Sitowise Oy will present multifunctional wetlands in water protection work.
Finally, the results of the rowing teams’ water transparency measurements will be published and the best observers rewarded.
Herring Rowing is for Everyone
The Herring Rowing and Herring Walk events bring together Rotarians, citizens, companies and organisations to support the Baltic Sea. Participation is estimated at 250–300 people.
No previous rowing experience is required, and you certainly do not need to be an experienced rower.
The event is not a competition, so the rowing is considered light exercise.
The walking route is just over four kilometres long. Groups walk at a calm pace and stop at checkpoints along the route.
What matters most is togetherness and the shared desire to support a clean Baltic Sea.
Register for the event
Before summer is an excellent time to assemble rowing teams or walking groups and include the event in next autumn’s club programme or your organisation’s plans.
You can already register for the event on the Herring Rowing website. Registration for rowing teams closes on 6 September. Registration for the walking event remains open until 24 September.
👉 Read more: https://www.silakkasoutu.fi
