The Ocean Literacy World Conference, held on June 7-8 in Venice, Italy, was organised by IOC-UNESCO, the Government of Italy, the Municipality of Venice, and the Prada Group. ProBleu’s technical coordinator, Eli Bonfill from the Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC), Nicola Bridge from Ocean Conservation Trust, and PML’s Ocean Acidification Research for Sustainability (OARS) Project Manager, Amy Kenworthy, attended the event, representing ProBleu and offering insights from their extensive experience in ocean education.
This conference aimed to unify global experts in ocean literacy to draft and endorse the “Venice Declaration for Ocean Literacy in Action.” Numerous attendees from diverse countries approved the declaration, a vital outcome of the conference. It seeks to embed ocean culture across various sectors—education, science, policy, economy, and culture—raising public awareness about the necessity to preserve our seas and oceans and the associated cultures.
Over the two days, participants presented various global ocean culture initiatives and engaged in discussions that culminated in the agreement of eleven strategic points, including enhancing participatory policy and urban planning, launching interdisciplinary programs, developing a robust Ocean Literacy framework, and more. These points aim to make Ocean Literacy actionable, accessible, and inclusive, addressing the complex link between ocean health, biodiversity, human well-being, and climate change.
The event also facilitated an informal gathering of representatives from the Network of Blue Schools in various countries, part of the emerging Global Network of Blue Schools, to exchange ideas and explore potential synergies under the new network’s umbrella.
The Venice Declaration calls upon the governments of Costa Rica and France, hosts of the upcoming 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, and UN member countries, to prioritize ocean culture in their agenda, fostering a sustainable, ocean-literate society.
Funded by the European Union