National studies on socioeconomic assessments of marine litter reduction measures
April, 2026.
Published results from new studies conducted by AKTiiVS on socioeconomic assessments of measures to reduce marine litter in Latvia.
The new studies conducted by AKTiiVS in 2025 aimed to develop the national information base and evaluation tool for assessing effectiveness and socioeconomic impacts of policy measures to reduce marine litter in the Latvian marine environment.
The results are provided in deliverables to the project (in Latvian):
- Excel-based analysis tool for evaluation of effectiveness and socioeconomic impacts of marine litter reduction measures.
The studies serve assessments and tool to develop and evaluate measures for the upcoming update of the national MSFD program of measures with respect to the marine litter.
The studies were implemented by AKTiiVS under the contract with the Ministry of Climate and Energy as part of the national research study for the project “Research to improve knowledge on the state of the marine environment for the implementation of the integrated maritime policy” (No 24-00-U1010801-000001), which is co-funded by the European Union “European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund”. Read more about the project here.
National study on welfare benefits of water related recreation and improving river ecosystems
January, 2026.
Published results from a new national study on monetary valuation of welfare benefits of water related recreation and improving quality of river ecosystems in Latvia.
The new study conducted by AKTiiVS in 2025 provides nationally representative data on recreational use of inland waters, monetary estimates of welfare benefits from this recreational use, and monetary valuation of welfare benefits from improving state of river ecosystems affected by obstacles.
The data was collected from a national citizens’ survey based on a representative sample. The monetary valuation is conducted by applying the travel cost method and the discrete choice experiment for valuing the benefits of improving river ecosystems from implementing measures to reduce impacts of river obstacles.
The study report is available (in Latvian) here.
The study was implemented as part of the project entitled “Implementation of data collection studies and development of a national methodology for socioeconomic evaluation of measures to reduce pressures from obstacles on rivers and for justifying cost-effective measures” (No 1-08/65/2024), which is implemented by the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (LEGMC) together with AKTiiVS with funding from the Latvian Environment Protection Fund. The project aims to fill substantial national data gaps on societal benefits and costs of obstacles on rivers and their management in Latvia, and to provide national methodology and assessments for socioeconomic evaluation and setting cost-effective measures to reduce the pressures, created by the obstacles on river ecosystems.
Read more about the project here.
The annual PROTECT BALTIC partners’ meeting
October, 2025.
Partners of the Horizon Europe PROTECT BALTIC project, including AKTiiVS, met at their annual partners’ meeting on September 2-4 of 2025 in Helsinki.
The meeting highlighted the many ways the project’s work is moving forward: harmonizing data, understanding biodiversity and human pressures, making visible the benefits nature provides, strengthening the coherence of the MPA network, improving governance and restoration, shaping law and policy, and bringing it all together in a new MPA Portal.
It was a powerful reminder of how science, collaboration, and policy come together to safeguard the future of the Baltic Sea.
Read more about the project here.
© Photo: Archive of the PROTECT BALTIC project. Project partners’ meeting on September 2-4 of 2025 in Helsinki.
HELCOM Expert Group on economic and social analyses
October, 2025.
Kristīne Pakalniete (AKTiiVS) has been chairing the HELCOM Expert Group on economic and social analyses since October 2023, and has been re-elected for chairing the group for the next two years.
The overall aim of the HELCOM Expert Group on economic and social analyses (EG ESA) is to enhance regional cooperation on the economic and social analyses (ESA) related to the Baltic Sea marine environment protection. The expert group serves as a platform for discussion and information exchange on ongoing and planned ESA work throughout the region, and it acts to develop and agree on regional approaches for ESA.
The work of the EG ESA is focused on implementing its work plan, which supports implementation of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) actions in relation to ESA. Read more about the EG ESA here and about the HELCOM BSAP here.
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Published a national socioeconomic assessment of the marine environment 2024
January, 2025.
The assessment provides an up-to-date overview of the national welfare benefits, costs and social impacts of using the marine environment.
The assessment is prepared according to the requirements of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EK) and national regulations to conduct the economic and social analysis of the use of marine waters and the assessment of cost of degradation of the marine environment.
The results include a report and dataset, and are provided for public consultation, which is open by February 20 of 2025 (more information can be found here).
The results were presented to national stakeholders during a national seminar on December 6 of 2024, which was organised by the Ministry of Climate and energy. The presentation can be found here.
For more information about the assessment results please visit Project and publications section.
The assessment has been prepared by AKTiiVS under the contract with the Ministry of Climate and energy as part of implementing the national research study for the project “Research to improve knowledge on the state of the marine environment for the implementation of the integrated maritime policy” (No 24-00-U1010801-000001), which is co-funded by the European Union “European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund”.
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Building knowledge for socioeconomic evaluation of measures for obstacles on rivers
January, 2025.
LEGMC and AKTiiVS has started implementation of a project to improve knowledge base for socioeconomic evaluation of obstacles on rivers and their management In Latvia.
The project entitled “Implementation of data collection studies and development of a national methodology for socioeconomic evaluation of measures to reduce pressures from obstacles on rivers and for justifying cost-effective measures” (No 1-08/65/2024) is implemented by the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (LEGMC) together with AKTiiVS with funding from the Latvian Environment Protection Fund. The work will run by September of 2026 and will fill substantial national data gaps on societal benefits and costs of obstacles on rivers and their management in Latvia, and will provide national methodology and assessments for socioeconomic evaluation and setting cost-effective measures to reduce the pressures, created by the obstacles on river ecosystems. The project’s results will contribute to updating the national River Basin Management Plans, which plan to be prepared in 2026.
Read more about the project in the section Projects and publications.
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