
The ocean is a source of life for human beings. It gives us food, oxygen and energy. It is home to many species and acts as climate regulator. Understanding how we influence the ocean and how the ocean influences us is at the core of ocean literacy. This understanding allows us to make responsible choices to better protect our ocean and to use the opportunities it offers in a sustainable manner. This is what we are striving for in Europe, contributing to the improvement of the well-being of Europeans, as envisioned and recently confirmed in the European Green Deal.
The European Ocean Coalition (EU4Ocean) connects diverse organisations, projects and people that contribute to ocean literacy and the sustainable management of the ocean. Supported by the European Commission, this bottom-up inclusive initiative aims at uniting the voices of Europeans to make the ocean a concern of everyone!
This coalition will:
The EU4Ocean coalition combines EU-wide activities with actions dedicated to the Arctic Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean (including the North Sea), the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and the global ocean.
The coalition is made up of three components: a Platform for organisations and individuals engaged in Ocean Literacy initiatives, a European Youth Forum for the Ocean and a Network of European Blue Schools.
Awards will be given to outstanding active individuals, organisations and initiatives from the three networks.
Follow #EU4Ocean to stay informed.
A multitude of threats including climate change, overfishing and pollution is putting our ocean at risk, and changing course requires us to work together. As part of the EU4Ocean Coalition, the Make Europe Blue campaign is calling on you - citizens, businesses, organisations, authorities, celebrities, educators - to make a pledge to help the ocean. Your pledge is a personal promise or action that will keep our ocean healthy. Every action – even the smallest one - brings change to our ocean!
Check out the campaign page and get inspired by the pledges of journalists, educators, policy-makers, activists and organisations engaged in ocean protection.
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On 20 May 2022, during the European Maritime Day, the hybrid Ocean Literacy EU4Ocean Summit showcased and awarded the most successful initiatives, collaborations and actions of the EU4Ocean Coalition members. Organisations, individuals, young people, schools and teachers came together to celebrate their efforts and commitment to the ocean and invite others to join them in their work to enhance ocean literacy throughout Europe.
Over 136 amazing photos and videos have been shared on Instagram between 14.07 and 18.08 2020. A wave of inspiring, intense, stunning images of the ocean, its creatures, landscapes and people who are emotionally connected to our blue planet.
By joining an active group of organisations, initiatives and people, members of the EU4Ocean Platform will benefit from the sharing of ideas, build partnerships and join forces to deliver a more coordinated approach to ocean literary activities in Europe. Let us unite and collectively build momentum for European ocean literacy, encouraging other initiatives to join the movement. At the core of the platform is the exchange of expertise, knowledge and best practices in ocean literacy. Members will create synergies and new collective initiatives that can reach broader audiences thereby generating larger impact.
Are you a changemaker between 16 and 30 and passionate about the Ocean? Do you want to join other young people to tackle the climate crisis, fight pollution and ensure food security? If so, the European Youth Forum for the Ocean (Youth4Ocean) is for you!
As a member of the Youth4Ocean Forum, you will get the chance to be the voice of your generation, pitch your ideas and network with leading experts, stakeholders and decision-makers addressing ocean challenges. You will be able to develop new projects with like-minded people from different European countries. Your initiatives will be supported and showcased to enhance their wider take-up and impact
How are we connected to the ocean? Find the blue link! As a teacher, school director or staff of education services, you will challenge your students from primary, lower and upper secondary, technical or vocational schools to develop a ‘Find the blue’ project that links them to the ocean. By successfully completing the project and sharing its results, schools will receive the European Blue School certification.
The Network will assist you in connecting with relevant partners to: (1) share Blue School experiences; (2) find inspiration on how to address ocean topics that are relevant to your curricula, your school and your community; and (3) receive the European Blue School stamp recognising the value of your initiative. In addition, participating teachers will gain access to specific training, resources and assistance by other members of the EU4Ocean Coalition.
EU4Ocean is a project funded by the European Commission and implemented by a consortium of 12 partners across Europe, which includes: ACTeon (coordinator, France), Seascape Belgium (Secretariat of the European Marine Observation and Data Network and the European Atlas of the Seas, Belgium), the European Marine Board (EMB, Belgium), Nausicaá-National Sea Centre (France), the World Ocean Network (WON, France), Ciência Viva (Portugal), the European Marine Science Educators Association (EMSEA, Belgium), Ecologic Institute (Germany), the European Centre for Information on Marine Science and Technology (EurOcean, Portugal), Secretariat of Submariners (S.Pro, Germany), MARE Nostrum (Romania), European Schoolnet (Belgium), and Farah Obaidullah (Independent Ocean Advocate & Founder Women4Oceans, The Netherlands).
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Follow the lead of EU Commissioner Sinkevičius and #ExploreYourOcean in 24 languages! Even more informative and accessible, discover the new European Atlas of the Seas |
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Winners of the #YoungOceanWaves contest announced: Djemila Tassin, Mariana Mata Lara and Gabriele Tiskeviciute! Over 136 amazing photos and videos have been shared on Instagram between 14.07 and 18.08 2020. |
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The Network of European Blue Schools Workshop: Embarking on a journey for Ocean Literacy On 24 September 2020, an interactive workshop with the Network of European Blue Schools took place to inspire the next generation of ocean advocates. Start date: 24/09/2020 - 16:00 Last update: 16/09/20 |
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Nil Rodes' story - A drop of water wanting to make a change in global ocean Here is a glimpse into the life of Nil Rodes, young passionate scientist and Founding Member of the Youth4Ocean Forum, focused on the Arctic sea basin. |
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The winners of the #YoungOceanWaves contest celebrate the Ocean! Between 14.07 and 18.08 2020, Instagram has been flooded with incredibly inspiring photos and videos about the ocean, under the #YoungOceanWaves hashtag. Over 136 photos and videos have been shared by people globally to celebrate our connection to the ocean. |
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EU4Ocean Platform members: now fully featured in their profile pages and the European Atlas of the Seas Get to know the EU4Ocean Platform members and the European Atlas of the Seas! |
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The breeze that may herald a green renaissance in the Mediterranean This op-ed by Gaetano Leone, Coordinator, Mediterranean Action Plan of the United Nations Environment Programme, Barcelona Convention Secretariat, first appeared on 24 August 2020 with the title "A roadmap to cut shipping emissions in the Mediterranean" in EURACTIV |
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EU4Ocean - Co-designing Collective Ocean Literacy Actions in the Atlantic and North Sea Basin This workshop was a fully public, online event, open to individuals interested in ocean literacy or any ocean advocate and lover who would like to make a change in the way European citizens view their relationship with the sea. Join the EU4Ocean Coalition and find out more! Start date: 25/09/2020 - 14:00 Last update: 14/09/20 |
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Paving the way for collective Ocean Literacy initiatives in the Mediterranean Sea - EU4Ocean Workshop If you are committed to keywords like ‘the Mediterranean Sea’, ‘sustainable’, ‘supporting transition’, ‘ocean literacy’ and ‘collective’… then you could have played a role in co-building new ocean literacy initiatives for the Mediterranean Sea. But you had to be at the right place at the right time. The right place: our Mediterranean Sea-basin online workshop. The right time: September 25th, 2020 – the Mediterranean Coast Day. Start date: 25/09/2020 - 14:00 Last update: 10/09/20 |
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The EU4Ocean coalition: what, what for, how? The opening workshop of the first event of the EU4Ocean coalition underlined the societal and political importance of collective action for cost-effective ocean literacy in Europe. It introduced the logic of the online workshops organised as part of the event, from the introduction of the established ocean literacy communities to the many opportunities to contribute to the formation of collective initiatives at the European and sea-basin scales. Start date: 24/09/2020 - 09:30 Last update: 10/09/20 |