Mission Ocean: Citizens of the Sea awareness campaign

Empowering and inspiring European citizens to become citizens of the sea is a key goal of the European Commission’s ‘Mission for Health Seas, Coastal and Inland Waters.

The Mission aims to create a community of citizens who value the oceans and waters and want to engage in its goals ‘to know, restore and protect’ the oceans and waters; and to enjoy them and care for them collectively by 2030′.

In addition to raising awareness, the Mission aims ‘to reduce human pressures on marine and freshwater environments, restore degraded ecosystems and sustainably harness the  good and services they provide’.

Ireland’s Marine Institute and the European Commission are inviting people to complete an online survey about their level of awareness regarding the oceans and seas, and to share what they believe are the top priorities for the health of the oceans.

Dr Peter Heffernan, Ireland’s representative on the Mission Board, says the health of the oceans is “vital to human life” and to all life on this planet:

“To ensure a healthy ocean, we all need to be better informed about how the ocean affects us and how what we do affects the oceans.“We need to improve our knowledge and our empathy and understanding of our ocean. Through better ocean knowledge and public awareness, citizens of Europe will be empowered and inspired to engage in Mission Ocean and restore and protect our ocean.”

A healthy “blue planet” is crucial for our future, he added.

Mission Ocean also seeks to increase ocean knowledge, reduce marine pollution, protect marine biodiversity and ecosystems and ensure that the blue economy is more sustainable and climate-friendly.

“To fulfill this Mission, we need the people of Ireland to work with us to shape the future of our ocean, seas, coasts, rivers and lakes to ensure a better, bluer future.”

Marine territory

Dr Paul Connolly, chief executive of the Marine Institute, said Ireland’s marine territory of more than ten times the land mass, offers major potential and opportunities:

“The Marine Institute works closely with government and other agencies and departments to raise awareness about our valuable marine resource, cultivating an interest in our oceans from a young age, as well as equipping young people with the skills to be ocean leaders.

“Our ocean wealth is an enormous asset and needs to be protected, managed and developed for an by our citizens.”

The results of the online survey will be used to inform a major flagship mission to be funded by the European Union under the forthcoming Horizon Europe programme (2021-2027).