Maritime Forum

The European Commission has funded a study on blue skills with a view to addressing needs and gaps, developing a competency framework, and shaping future policy initiatives. Results from a stakeholder survey and a literature review are now available on the Maritime Forum

New developments are in full swing for the Atlas. Following the earlier release of the ‘My Locations’ tool that allows users to create their own maps showing self-selected locations, a new tool – ‘My Notes’ – is now also available. The ‘My Notes’ tool enables users to add text, lines and polygons to their maps as well as circle items they wish to highlight in their maps. Of course, it is possible to combine the use of the ‘My Locations’ tool and the ‘My Notes’ tool to create customised maps with selected locations and annotations. Dive in now!

The Youth4Ocean Forum has now reached more than 500 members! Securing a strong Youth4Ocean presence in high-visibility events - from the European Ocean Days in Brussels to the Citizen of the Ocean Summit in Boulogne-sur-Mer - has definitely supported this growth, along with the great interest generated by the latest Call for Young Ocean Advocates (YOAs). With this Call, the community has welcomed 66 new YOAs and accredited 32 new projects. Many of these young project leaders are now looking to our mentorship programme for additional support and opportunities to connect with experienced professionals driving global efforts in ocean literacy and sustainability. We invite you to consider becoming a mentor and engage with a future ocean leader in a meaningful way. Learn more about the Youth4Ocean Mentorship Programme and how to get involved through the link below.

The EU4Ocean Platform now brings together over 200 members from a wide diversity of sectors across Europe! Member have been active in many activities including, for example, the online “Blue celebration”, co-authorship of two articles titled “Why is Ocean Literacy Key to a Sustainable Blue Economy?” and “Evolving trends in Ocean Literacy”, the webinar series “Where Ocean Literacy Meets EU Business” and the “Ocean Literacy Island” at the European Ocean Days on 3 March 2025. Members have also joined the Youth4Ocean Forum Mentorship Programme as mentors and strengthened cooperation with the Youth4Ocean Forum. In the coming months, they will further engage in the Challenge of the Year Call for Collective Actions, in the “#MakeEUBlue: Cities in Action” campaign and upcoming events including the European Maritime Day and the United Nations Ocean Conference. Do you wish to join them and discover all upcoming activities? Dive into the EU4Ocean Platform community!

The European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) is the in situ marine data service of the EC DG MARE and a key marine knowledge pillar for the European Ocean Pact, as described in the EMODnet response to the recent call for evidence.

Explore how the EU4Algae Community is evolving with a new structure, discover key insights from the Insider’s Perspective and Interview Spotlight series, and dive into major milestones, including the BlueInvest x EU4Algae E-Pitching Session and the EU4Algae Annual Meeting in Athens. Plus, get a glimpse of what’s ahead in 2025, from thematic webinars to expanded industry resources. Catch all the latest updates inside!

The ocean starts in your city—make your voice heard.

The Network of European Blue Schools (NEBS) unites schools and kindergartens across Europe and beyond in a shared mission to explore and protect the ocean. Through the Blue Challenge, schools develop hands-on projects that deepen students’ understanding of marine ecosystems and our connection to water resources. With 524 certified schools from EU Member States and 133 from associated countries, NEBS has fostered 735 impactful projects, making it the largest part of the EU4Ocean Coalition. By inspiring collaboration between students, teachers, and communities, NEBS empowers the next generation of ocean advocates. The call for the 1st edition of the BlueTech Competition is open until 30 April 2025. The competition is open to all basic, secondary, vocational, and maritime schools across the EU (public or private).

The event focused on ocean protection, the blue economy and upcoming EU policies, uniting efforts for a sustainable marine environment.

Do not forget to secure your spot at the EMD - seize the occasion to register right away.

The Commission and the High Representative adopted on 21 February 2025 a Joint Communication to strengthen the security and resilience of submarine cables.

We're thrilled to announce that the response has been overwhelming! A total of 352 events have registered to take place from 1 April to 31 October in 27 countries across the EU and beyond. This year, we're also excited to announce that European Commissioner for Fisheries and Ocean, Costas Kadis, may attend a number of selected events! Will your event be among the chosen ones? Stay tuned for updates!