There was great interest for the EU4Ocean Online Gathering: Coordinating Action for More Impact! which took place on 18 September 2024. A total of 83 members of the EU4Ocean Coalition registered and participants actively contributed to the discussions, chats and Padlet Boards, allowing for very interesting exchanges of information and ideas.
The event comprised three sessions that participants could join independently or sequentially:
- The EU4Ocean Platform Meeting;
- The Networking session: “Blue Connections: Youth4Ocean Meets EU4Ocean Platform”;
- The Youth4Ocean Forum General Assembly.
The key objectives of the online gathering were to strengthen the connections between the EU4Ocean Platform and the Youth4Ocean Forum, enhance cooperation between members, coordinate contributions to upcoming events and activities and upscale the Youth4Ocean Forum Mentorship programme.
The meeting highlighted the impressive growth of the EU4Ocean Coalition
Since its launch in 2020, the EU4Ocean Coalition has grown to over 1,000 members across Europe. The EU4Ocean Platform now gathers over 180 members. The Youth4Ocean Forum includes more than 440 members. The Network of European Blue Schools comprises over 560 schools. This diverse network encompasses expertise spanning ocean observation, research, education, policy, advocacy, arts, media, etc. This diversity of expertise and experience is vital for advancing ocean literacy, as multidisciplinary approaches are essential to understanding how the ocean influences us, how we influence the ocean, and how we can collaboratively protect and manage it sustainably. The EU4Ocean Coalition facilitates the exchange of experiences, fosters relationships, and promotes collaboration on ocean-related issues among its members, including members of the EU4Ocean Platform, the Youth4Ocean Forum and the Network of European Blue Schools. The EU4Ocean Coalition promotes ocean literacy throughout Europe and has, in this objective, attended over 14 events since December 2023, reaching more than 20,000 people.
The virtual gathering enabled members to connect, network, and cooperate
The gathering opened with a welcome note from the European Commission’s Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), on European perspectives and priorities in the light of the new mandate, emphasising the importance of Ocean Literacy for a healthy environment. This European perspective was complemented by a presentation from the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO on the Venice Declaration for Ocean Literacy in Action and their new Fil Bleu campaign. As acknowledged in the Venice Declaration for Ocean Literacy in Action, the ocean literacy movement has evolved significantly, growing from a school-based ocean science initiative into a dynamic global community that recognises the ocean’s critical role in our future. The EU4Ocean Coalition’s activities are key to advancing the ocean literacy movement.
Following these presentations, the EU4Ocean Platform facilitator outlined recent developments and events taking place shortly after the online gathering. Important events highlighted are presented in the table below.
| Date | Event | Location | Link to the event |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 September 2024 | #EU4Ocean Webinar “Where Ocean Literacy meets EU Business - Episode 2 - The Aquafood Industry” | Online | Recording available on the EurOcean YouTube Channel. |
| 3 October 2024 | Be a Blue Citizen - Inclusive Ocean Literacy and Democracy in Motion | Brussels, Belgium | More information |
| 9 October 2024 | EU Blue Schools Webinar: Navigating Funding for Blue Schools | Online | More information |
Platform members spotlights allowed participants to hear three remarkable presentations which showcased diverse and impactful initiatives:
- Andrea Bozman, who won the MakeEUBlue Awards 2024 for the Best education initiative, presented her project Small Scientist, blending science with storytelling in 250 Norwegian education centres;
- Double Olympic champion Theresa Zabell presented the work of the Ecomar Fundacion, which celebrates its 25th Anniversary this year, highlighting initiatives that combine sports, blue education and ocean literacy;
- Sarah Kraus discussed the Plastic Pirates’s Go Europe Project which engages young Europeans from 13 European Union Member States and invited participants to take part in the Plastic Pirates Summit that will take place in Brussels on 5-6 November 2024 to discuss how to combat plastic pollution and learn about citizen science initiatives across Europe.
Participants also had the opportunity to exchange information about various ongoing initiatives they are involved in and discuss cooperation on upcoming activities and events via various means. Platform members were invited to support the Network of European Blue Schools.
Following the participants’ active involvement in the meeting, the EU4Ocean Coalition Coordinator and the EU4Ocean Platform facilitator concluded with an optimistic outlook for the months ahead.
The Youth4Ocean Forum Mentorship Programme is a great opportunity for capacity building
The EU4Ocean Platform meeting was followed by a networking session that allowed members of the Youth4Ocean Forum and the EU4Ocean Platform to connect.
Young advocates seeking support presented their projects and explained the type of mentoring that would benefit their work. Platform members were invited to join the Youth4Ocean Forum Mentorship Programme as mentors.
During this session, three Young Ocean Advocates were invited to pitch their projects:
- Jeanne Noel-Metayer, working for Race for Water, was involved in the construction of a revolutionary environmentally-friendly ship, which is used for global expeditions as well as educational programmes and field investigations with scientific experts. Jeanne and her team are looking for an expert in data collection and analysis, who can help to improve project management skills, and/or has relevant scientific knowledge related to the technical aspects of their project.
- Lorenzo Vassallo is leading the Seabed Cleaning Project, working on the recollection of litter in the seabed thanks to close collaboration with local fishermen in the town of Acciaroli (Italy). His project also includes an educational component targeting both schools and university students. Lorenzo is looking for a mentor who can help him understand how to engage private investors and public funds.
- Iro Tsarmpopoulou-Fokianou presented the project titled “Into the Teno-rasca: education and information”. She would like to find a mentor that can share insights on effective project management, especially project planning and stakeholder engagement.
To know more about the Young Ocean Advocates of the Youth4Ocean Forum and their projects, it is possible to visit the dedicated database on the Maritime Forum website. If you are interested in supporting or collaborating with a Young Ocean Advocate, do not hesitate to contact info
youth4ocean-forum [dot] eu (info[at]youth4ocean-forum[dot]eu).
Every year, the General Assembly is a special occasion for the Youth4Ocean Forum community to celebrate achievements, exchange experiences, and plan future actions
The last session of the Online Gathering was the Youth4Ocean Forum General Assembly, an annual event dedicated to the youth community. Opened by a heartfelt message of encouragement delivered to all young members by DG MARE, the General Assembly was dedicated to a recap of all the great actions, training, events, and achievements that the members of the Youth4Ocean Forum have contributed to during the past year, from the local to European and International level, also thanks to the partnership between EU4Ocean and IOC-UNESCO. The event was also dedicated to showcasing Young Ocean Advocate projects with great potential to grow and inspire more young professionals. It was the case for Sea People - Exploring Ocean Literacy, led by Alejandra Sola Ávila, AKOA, presented by Louis Rigaut, and Blue Wave Initiative by Gurgen Petrosyan. Finally, participants engaged in an open discussion to share priorities and identify opportunities for collaboration in the coming year.
Still many opportunities for the European Ocean Literacy community to coordinate action
With many events and activities planned in the coming months, we have seen that there are many ways that we can coordinate action for more impact. In addition, many EU4Ocean Coalition members expressed great enthusiasm to work together in the development of new activities and preparation of events. The coming year will, for sure, be very interesting! Save the dates for the events mentioned below and stay tuned!
| Date | Event | Location | Link to the event |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-6 November 2024 | Plastic Pirates Summit | Brussels, Belgium | Register |
| 3-7 March 2025 | European Ocean Days | Brussels, Belgium | More information |
| 21-23 May 2025 | European Maritime Day | Cork, Ireland | More information |
| 9-13 June 2025 | United Nations Ocean Conference | Nice, France | More information |
Are you a member of the EU4Ocean Coalition with questions about the meeting or upcoming activities and events? Did you miss the online event and wish to contribute to upcoming activities? Do not hesitate to contact the facilitators of the EU4Ocean Platform and the Youth4Ocean Forum!
EU4Ocean Platform: infoeu4ocean-platform [dot] eu (info[at]eu4ocean-platform[dot]eu)
Youth4Ocean Forum: infoyouth4ocean-forum [dot] eu (info[at]youth4ocean-forum[dot]eu)
Are you not yet a member?
Are you interested in joining the EU4Ocean Platform? Dive into the EU4Ocean Platform brochure to explore its mission, discover members’ benefits, and learn how you can become a member and can get involved!
Find out how to become a member of the Youth4Ocean Forum on the dedicated webpage and stay tuned for the launch of the next Call for Young Ocean Advocates on 30 October!