Why the EU4Ocean Coalition for Ocean Literacy?
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 consumer choices to better protect our ocean and to use the opportunities it offers in a sustainable manner.
The European Ocean Coalition (EU4Ocean) connects diverse organisations and people that contribute to ocean literacy and the sustainable management of the ocean. Supported by the Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Commission, this bottom-up inclusive initiative offers a dynamic topic-oriented working environment that stimulates collaboration, exchange of practices and dialogue across the many different target groups leading to the creation of new ocean literacy partnerships and innovative actions, co-designed by organisations and the youth.
The coalition is made up of three components: an EU4Ocean map. They focus on particular topics: Climate and Ocean, Food from the Ocean and Healthy and Clean Ocean.
Why the Ocean Literacy about Food from the ocean
The topic of Food from the Ocean is very close to each individual because it is linked to food and nutrition, consumer choices, sustainability labels and food waste. Raising awareness of what seafood we eat, from where it comes from and what impact unsustainable fisheries have on the ocean, can bring significant results in terms of behavioural change in the times when the consumer interest in the impact of food on their health and on the planet is growing, especially among young generations.
According to the FAO, the total food demand is projected to increase by 60% by 2050 given current trends. Seafood is a crucial and growing source of nutrition for billions of people around the world. However, about 30% of fish population is overfished or even exhausted because not sustainably exploited.
Aquaculture can be a possible solution as long as it is conducted sustainably. The sector has experienced a real boom over the past years and some achievements have been made in Europe to reach sustainable methods of production. It is important now to raise awareness about these types of seafood and the importance of the sustainable aquaculture production. However, the topic is complex, as it includes cultural, economic and environmental considerations and lacks public trust in the aquaculture products. Therefore, the EU4Ocean Coalition members have started to exchange and map existing activities, stakeholders and resources for joint ocean literacy activities in relation to the topic with the aim of developing new partnerships and actions, including scaling up activities and advocacy campaigns.
How to involve younger generations of consumers?
The Network of European Blue Schools.
The Youth4Ocean Forum is a free platform for young ocean changemakers between 16 and 30 years old. Their common goal is to tackle the climate crisis, fight marine pollution, ensure food security and shape their future with a healthy ocean. Therefore, the Youth4Ocean Forum provides young people with the opportunities to speak up for their generation in front of European institutions, share their ideas and connect with like-minded young people and experts all over Europe. It empowers the youth to solve challenges facing the ocean such as e.g. food security by helping them to develop and promote their individual projects and obtain accreditation of EU Young Ocean Advocates.
The Network of European Blue Schools brings the ocean into the classroom. The programme challenges schools to “Find the Blue,” i.e. to develop a community project that addresses a marine and societal challenge. The project consists of several complementary activities under the umbrella of one central topic. It enables pupils to gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to explore and investigate an ocean topic, question or problem and explore their connection to the ocean while creating a network across Europe. On their journey to becoming a European Blue School, teachers and pupils improve their understanding of the ocean and develop a sense of responsibility towards it. This feeling of responsibility for the ocean encourages the pupils to make ocean friendly, sustainable consumer choices and become citizens of the global ocean.
The micro- and macro- algae production facilities.
Aquaculture professionals may of course also be interested in these maps as well as in other maps that are relevant to aquaculture such as, for example: