LIFE A-MAR NATURA2000 was presented at the EMSEA Conference in Zadar: the international conference that has been working for twenty years to promote Ocean Literacy as a tool for the global protection of the seas.
The beautiful setting of the University of Zadar, Croatia, located right by the sea, hosted the EMSEA Conference (European Marine Science Educators Association), an internationally significant event that brought together participants from all over the world, including the United States, South Africa, Europe, and other non-European countries. The aim of the conference was to promote Ocean Literacy, or the awareness of the ocean’s importance and its ecosystems, as a crucial tool for global marine protection.
Among the projects that enriched the debate and introduced innovative ideas, LIFE A-MAR NATURA2000 played a central role, thanks to the presentation by TRITON RESEARCH on “The Sailing Campaign as a Tool for Ocean Literacy.” The project, funded by the European Union under the LIFE program, aims to protect and enhance marine protected areas, increasing public knowledge and awareness of marine ecosystems and the services they provide.
During the conference, TRITON RESEARCH presented the talk “The LIFE A-MAR NATURA2000 Sailing Campaign as an O.L. Tool,” which focused on the sailing campaign held in Italy in 2023 from May 15 to June 28, covering the marine protected areas of six regions. The presentation was part of a thematic session entitled “Ocean Literacy and Water Sports,” dedicated to integrating ocean awareness into water sports activities. The session highlighted the role of water sports as powerful educational platforms, capable of providing a direct and immersive experience with the marine environment. This type of experience can foster a deeper personal connection with the ocean, motivating individuals to learn about and protect marine ecosystems.
LIFE A-MAR emphasized how water sports can serve as a vehicle for environmental awareness, using recreational activities at sea to engage the public and promote sustainable practices.
The Zadar conference highlighted the importance of a global and inclusive approach to ocean protection, with discussions involving representatives from various cultural and geographical backgrounds. This perspective allowed the conversation to be enriched with diverse experiences and strategies for promoting Ocean Literacy. Particularly noteworthy was the workshop “Fins in the Water Lab: Water Sports for Enhancing Mediterranean Sea Literacy.” Participants shared case studies on how water sports can influence awareness and conservation of marine environments. Strategies for engaging diverse communities and emerging technologies to improve educational outcomes related to Ocean Literacy were also discussed and exchanged.
On the second day, Triton Research also presented a co-authored poster on “Photography Contests as Tools to Increase Engagement and Raise Public Awareness of LIFE Projects and Mediterranean Species Conservation.” The poster provided an opportunity to present quantitative and qualitative results from this action, which, in the LIFE A-MAR project alone, involved more than 100 participants and received a total of 350 photos in the first edition in 2023.
The participation of LIFE A-MAR NATURA2000 in the EMSEA Conference represented a significant opportunity to reaffirm the role of Ocean Literacy in the protection of the seas on a global level. Through its sailing campaign, the project demonstrated how environmental education can be effectively integrated into water sports, offering a replicable model for other marine conservation initiatives. The multidisciplinary and global approach that emerged from the Zadar conference enabled extensive networking activities with other European projects and initiatives, which are essential for tackling the challenges of ocean protection and promoting a culture of sustainability worldwide.