On 12 June, the Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology (LIAE) took part in the Liepāja Sea Festival, offering visitors a closer look at the Baltic Sea’s underwater environment and scientific research processes, as part of the Geosites project.
Together with LIAE scientists, festival visitors were invited to participate in a shallow-water trawl, demonstrating how biological samples can be collected in coastal waters. This activity showed that a rich variety of marine life can be observed even without going deeper than waist level. The collected samples were examined on site, allowing participants to learn about the species living in the nearshore zone. In addition, the LIAE stand featured diving suits and research equipment used by scientists to collect underwater biological and geological data. Live aquariums and microscopes were also available, offering a close-up view of marine organisms commonly found in the Baltic Sea.
These activities reflect the goals of the Geosites project, which focuses on identifying and promoting geologically valuable sites along the Latvian and Lithuanian coasts. While many Geosites are located on land, the project also includes preparation for underwater geological research, particularly along the Kurzeme coastline.
By presenting scientific methods and tools in a public setting, the event helped explain how future underwater geological sampling will be carried out within the Geosites project – and why it matters.
