Message from European Maritime Day team
Dear speakers, dear workshop organisers, dear stakeholders, dear colleagues,
20 May is European Maritime Day. Every year the EU organises the EMD conference around that date. It is one of the highlights of the year, with up to 1500 stakeholders joining as we celebrate the blue economy.
This year, we had planned another great edition, together with the city of Cork, our host city for 2020. And together with you, the people and organisations who had registered in huge numbers.
Unfortunately, because of the coronavirus and social distancing rules, the organisers - European Commission, the Irish government, and Cork City Council - have taken the collective decision to cancel the event altogether.
We would like to thank all stakeholders and organisers for the work and enthusiasm they have put into this event over the last months and we regret that we are unable to take advantage of the warm welcome and hospitality prepared by our Irish partners. We also hope that there will be the possibility for the City of Cork to host the EMD at some time in the future.
As we emerge from this crisis, we need the blue economy to get back in shape as quickly as possible. The sector with its tremendous potential for smart and sustainable growth can help the economic recovery in coastal areas and beyond.
Together we will overcome this crisis and build a more sustainable, circular and resilient blue economy.
Thank you all, and hope to see you soon in better times.
The EMD Team
Oceans of Learning Campaign
In recognition of European Maritime Day and World Oceans Day on 8th June, the Irish Marine Institute will be celebrating our seas, our world’s shared ocean and our connection to the sea through its ‘Oceans of Learning Campaign’. Over the next 10 weeks, the Marine Institute and its partners, will share news and offer online interactive activities, videos and downloadable resources. The campaign will raise awareness of the importance of our oceans through topics that were to be covered by EMD - from the food from our ocean, our changing ocean climate, ports and shipping, to our diverse marine biodiversity – and will promote the importance of collaboration – locally, nationally and internationally.
More info: #OceansOfLearning
In My Country events
200 EMD In My Country events were initially registered, covering all the EU sea basins, offering a big variety of activities: eco-tours and excursions in coastal areas, beach-cleaning activities, guided tours of ports by boat, visits to maritime museums, aquaria and shipyards, art exhibitions, workshops, conferences, seminars and many other activities with maritime themes.
Due to the coronavirus crisis and the related strict social distancing measures taken by many EU countries, a big number of events had to be cancelled, while a smaller number of events became virtual. Due to the coronavirus crisis and the related strict social distancing measures taken by many EU countries, a big number of events had to be cancelled, while a smaller number of events have become virtual. Finally, 42 events took place in 10 EU countries (see the table below).