The UN Ocean Decade Conference is an important date in the calendar for all of those interested in protecting marine environments. Naturally therefore, the EU Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters’ featured prominently in this year’s event.
Co-hosted by Spain and UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, global stakeholders convened in Barcelona between 10-12 April, under the theme of ‘delivering the science we need for the ocean we want’.
Central to the conference's agenda was a comprehensive exploration of the Ocean Decade Challenges, encompassing critical issues ranging from climate change and food security to biodiversity management, sustainable ocean economy, pollution, and natural hazards.
Standing prominently amidst the discussions and initiatives was Mission Ocean, spearheading efforts to shape strategies and solutions. One standout session within this forum was the interactive ‘Become an MPA manager for a day! - A roleplaying game,’ co-organised by Mission Ocean projects BLUE4ALL and ULTFARMS. Through this immersive experience, participants gained first-hand insights into the multifaceted challenges faced by MPA managers, exploring environmental, social, economic, multi-use, and policy dimensions.
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) play a vital role in restoring marine environments. These delineated zones with predefined protection objectives, forming a globally interconnected network aimed at safeguarding biodiversity, preserving marine ecosystem health, and sustaining the provision of ecosystem services.
The solutions that participants in the roleplaying game worked on are exactly those that our Mission Ocean projects are implementing. Front and centre of these is a focus on working with local communities, including fishers and tourism service providers, to ensure that livelihoods and protecting the environment remain compatible.
In addition to representatives from Mission Ocean projects, attendees at the conference also heard from European officials. Kestutis Sadauskas, from the European Commission, emphasised the collective action and knowledge exchange being undertaken by Mission ocean in his keynote speech;
“In order to address these ocean challenges, you have to do something extraordinary […] I'm sure if we connect all the knowledge, we will find the way. And that's how Mission Ocean operates"