In 2025, the Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology (LIAE) celebrates its 30th anniversary - a milestone marking three decades of dedicated research, monitoring, and policy support in marine and freshwater science. Over the years, LHEI has fostered strong scientific collaboration with partners across the Baltic Sea region, working together on transboundary challenges such as eutrophication, biodiversity loss, pollution, and climate-driven changes. This Research Topic is both a celebration of LIAE's legacy and a testament to the enduring partnerships that have shaped regional aquatic science. It aims to bring together a collection of studies that reflect on past achievements, highlight current research, and provide future perspectives on aquatic habitat ecology, conservation, and the sustainable management of Baltic waters.

The Baltic Sea region faces numerous ecological challenges that threaten the health and sustainability of its aquatic environments. Eutrophication, biodiversity loss, hazardous substances, climate change, and increasing anthropogenic pressures continue to impact both marine and freshwater ecosystems. Addressing these issues requires long-term scientific monitoring, cross-border cooperation, and the integration of ecological knowledge into effective management and policy-making.

This Research Topic aims to highlight the progress made over the past decades in understanding and mitigating these complex problems, with a particular focus on the contributions of Latvian and Baltic Sea region scientists. In honor of the 30th anniversary of the Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology, this special issue will serve as a platform for showcasing collaborative research, innovative methodologies, and regional success stories. The Research Topic collection seeks to inform sustainable management strategies and strengthen the shared commitment to protecting the Baltic Sea and its inland waters.

We invite contributions that explore the ecological status, processes, and management of aquatic habitats within Latvia and the broader Baltic Sea region. Submissions may reflect both the diversity of water bodies - from coastal and marine environments to rivers and lakes—and the complexity of challenges they face. We particularly welcome studies that demonstrate long-term monitoring, collaborative research, and innovative approaches to understanding environmental change and support sustainable aquatic habitat management in future.

Themes of interest include, but are not limited to:

- Eutrophication and nutrient dynamics

- Biodiversity and habitat assessments

- Impacts of climate change on aquatic ecosystems

- Pollution and contaminants in marine and freshwater environments

- Ecological indicators and environmental monitoring

- Habitat restoration and conservation efforts

- Integrated water and ecosystem management

- Policy-relevant science and science-policy interfaces

- Cross-border and institutional collaboration in aquatic research

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Waters of the Baltic Sea Region: Past, Present, and Future Perspectives on Aquatic Habitats