International Day of the Baltic Harbour Porpoise

In 2002, the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans in the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas (UNEP/ASCOBANS) declared the third Sunday in May of each year as the “International Day of the Baltic Harbour Porpoise” (IDBHP) in order to raise awareness of the critical situation for populations of the Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena): the only species of cetacean native to the Baltic Sea.

Raising public awareness plays an important role in supporting effective conservation action. The IDBHP aims to promote public support throughvarious events and exhibitions at museums and scientific institutions around the Baltic Sea. The number of institutions staging events to mark the IDBHP has grown significantly. We hope that, ultimately, the IDBHP will be observed by at least one notable institution in every country around the Baltic Sea.