The Baltic Sea is a unique, northern brackish sea; it is mix of salty water from the ocean and fresh water from the rivers. Small and shallow, it is particularly sensitive to discharges and changes in the environment. Finland is one of its nine coastal states.

Juha Nurminen, a descendant of a seafaring family, established the Helsinki-based John Nurminen Foundation in 1992. The independent organization is dedicated to safeguarding the heritage of the Baltic Sea and protecting its future through environmental projects with tangible results. The foundation also distributes information about the sea, and displays its maritime collections at its museum.

Click here for a short video featuring Juha Nurminen who says, "I was practically born with sea salt in my mouth."