Strengthening ocean literacy to support an effective Marine Knowledge System in the Mediterranean Sea

September 27, 2021 – 14h00 to 16h00 

Online event

Live Interpretation in English & interprétation en direct en français disponible

Webstreaming of the event HERE

Many efforts are made in the Mediterranean Sea to improve the knowledge base on the state of marine ecosystems and on (maritime and land-based) activities that impose pressures on the sea. These include research projects, ocean observation initiatives and activities from maritime sectors and civil society mobilised in the protection of the Mediterranean Sea. While existing knowledge gaps are clearly recognised, questions arise on how available knowledge is effectively used for supporting sustainable practices and decision-making, from individual citizens to decision makers, from the local to the Mediterranean scales.

Our assumption is that more efforts are required (a) to structure available knowledge from different sources in a widely accessible Mediterranean Marine Knowledge System (MKS) and (b) to set-up or strengthen mechanisms for “translating” available knowledge to “something” that is understood by, and relevant to, different target groups – and that’s where ocean literacy has a key role to play.

The objective of the high-level event is to bring together decision makers to shed lights on solutions and mechanisms that can facilitate the translation and transfer of available knowledge to people who most matter in making the Mediterranean Sea sustainably blue. The high-level event will address three specific questions:

• Which are the main challenges faced today in mobilising available knowledge on marine ecosystems and maritime sectors to support actions and decisions that can make the Mediterranean Blue?
• Which role ocean literacy can play in facilitating the sharing and transfer of knowledge – how, for whom and by whom?
• How to ensure ocean literacy becomes mainstream in the development and implementation of strategies and policies (including land-based) affecting directly or indirectly the Mediterranean Sea?

Agenda - from A to Z 

• 13:45 - Opening of the virtual room
• 14:00 - Opening featuring...

Pierre Strosser, ACTeon (EU4Ocean coalition coordinator)

Iain Shepherd, from Marine Knowledge and Investment, Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (European Commission)

Tatjana Hema, UN MAP coordinator

Karmenu Vella, former member of the European Commission (in charge of Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries between 2014 and 2019)

• 14:20 - Mediterranean ocean knowledge and literacy: Setting the scene

Maria Cristina Pedicchio, President of the Maritime Technology Cluster MareFVG and Member of Mission Ocean

Rosalia Santoleri, Director, Institute of Marine Science (National Research Council) and President of the Italian Oceanographic Commission, coordinator of SciNMeet

Iain Shepherd, from Marine Knowledge and Investment, Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Commission

• 15:00 - How best to proceed to make ocean literacy mainstream?

Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, Ocean Ambassador of France

Tatjana Hema, UNEP/MAP Coordinator 

Iain Shepherd, Marine Knowledge and Investment, Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (European Commission)

Mehdi Ben Haj, Parlament Méditerranéen de la Mer

• 15:40 - Closing notes of the high-level event

Mariana Damanaki (Greece), former EC Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries between 2010 and 2014

Tatjana Hema, UNEP MAP coordinator

Andreea STRACHINESCU, Head of Maritime Innovation, Marine Knowledge and Investment, Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Commission

Pierre Strosser, ACTeon (EU4Ocean coalition coordinator)

For more information on the event

Pierre Strosser   @    p.strosser@acteon-environment.eu