
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.
|
After more than 2 years, the EU4Ocean Coalition is rewarding and celebrating the efforts of its members and their most outstanding initiatives to date, and is looking forward to the future!
Save the dates
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).
Title | |
---|---|
![]() |
The EU4Ocean Platform: Co-Designing Ocean Literacy For Society The EU4Ocean Platform is a focal point in Europe for professionals to connect, collaborate and mobilise efforts in Ocean Literacy. As part of a 2 day EU4Ocean online event, the EU4Ocean Platform organised a webinar on 24 September 2020 at 10:30-12:00 CEST. Start date: 24/09/2020 - 10:30 Last update: 21/09/20 |
![]() |
Citizens - a useful and benefic help for research work ANEMONE workshops offered the occasion for scientists and non-scientist to interact, share knowledge, and collaborate. |
![]() |
EU4Ocean – Together for seas and oceans. The advice of a European youngster. She is Bela and she’s presenting the EU4Ocean initiative. An ambitious project that helps us all to understand how we can fight for seas and oceans. |
![]() |
Ocean literacy in the Baltic: EU4Ocean event workshop The Baltic Sea is an ecosystem facing unique challenges. The intensity of usage by multiple actors from the shipping industry to energy, combined with nutrient run-off from agriculture and phenomena such as exacerbated algal blooms make a “healthy Baltic Sea for all” a very demanding task. Start date: 25/09/2020 - 14:00 Last update: 08/09/20 |
![]() |
EU4Ocean Workshop: Taking Common Action For Making the Black Sea Sustainable This online workshop gathered all interested stakeholders, around the Black Sea Basin, for approaching specific themes and co-designing common solutions, in terms of sustainability and blue growth. Start date: 25/09/2020 - 13:00 Last update: 08/09/20 |
![]() |
EU4Ocean announces Platform Chairs and Working Group Chairs EU4Ocean announces Platform Chairs and Working Group Chairs The EU4Ocean Platform welcomes two Platform Chairs and three Working Group Chairs, who will serve in advisory and steering roles for the Platform. |
![]() |
EU4Ocean thematic workshops on 25 September 2020 How can we help citizens in European landlocked or inland area to become Ocean Literate? On 25 September 2020, the EU4Ocean thematic workshops on Climate and Ocean, Food from the Ocean or Healthy and Clean Ocean, discussed and gathered ideas for effective Ocean Literacy actions. Start date: 25/09/2020 - 10:00 Last update: 01/09/20 |
![]() |
The Irish Ocean Literacy Network meet online to connect, inspire and engage with our ocean The Irish Ocean Literacy Network was delighted to host its first online members meeting of 2020 on the 15.7.20 through ZOOM. With over 40 members in attendance, participants heard from a range of key note speakers, plus flash presentations from a number of members. A selection of the talks and presentations can be seen on www.irishoceanliteracy.ie. The secretariat and steering community would like to thank all the members for sharing their stories, expertise, knowledge and passion for Our Ocean. #WeAreIslanders |
![]() |
Open Science Days in Sopot, Poland This article describes the Open Science Days annual project, which is run by the Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences (IO PAN), together with Today We Have, Sopot Science Association and other partners (http://www.iopan.gda.pl/odn2019/index-eng.html). |
![]() |
A Desire for the Sea #ArelaDeMar used art, science & social media to bring the ocean to the community. Merging art & ocean science, it collaborated with local artists and researchers to connect the Iberian publics with the ocean, during and right after lock-down. |