Map of the Week – European Atlas of the Seas Ambassadors
Every year, on 8 June, the United Nation celebrates World Ocean Day (WOD ), a day to raise global awareness of the interdependence between humanity and the ocean, and to reaffirm our commitment to the ocean that sustains humanity. The UN WOD serves as a channel to foster our sense of individual and collective responsibility to utilise ocean resources sustainably. This year, under the theme of 'Planet Ocean: Tides are Changing', the UN WOD 2023 advocates for a call to ‘Put the Ocean First’ in our actions and decisions across all sectors. Echoing the UN WOD 2023, Ocean Week is celebrating its 4th anniversary this year, on 5 - 11 June. Various activities will take place to advocate and amplify the global voice for ocean conservation and sustainable practices. In the UN Ocean Conference 2022, the Lisbon Declaration ‘Our ocean, our future, our responsibility’ was adopted. This declaration acknowledged the fundamental importance of the ocean to life on Earth and to our future, as well as the importance to build a resilient, sustainable and inclusive blue economy [1].
Did you know there are 24 Atlas Ambassadors, one for each language in the Atlas? In the framework of World Ocean Day, explore the Map of the Week to discover who they are and read why the ocean is important according to them in their mother language and in English (click on each ambassador to read their quote)! Ambassadors include Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius, Director-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Charlina Vitcheva, European Commission Policy Officer Māris Stuļğis, representatives of public authorities in different European Union Member States, directors of institutes and an aquarium, scientists, coordinators of NGOs, a surfer, a skipper, a diver and a Michelin Star Chef! Note that the ambassadors are mapped according to the countries in which the language they represent is spoken.
Are you ready to ‘Put the Ocean First’?
- Register to celebrate the UN WOD 2023 or join one of the events organised by the global community. You can also create your own event to join the global community celebrating the ocean! This can be done throughout the year!
- Participate in the Ocean Week events between 5 and 11 June and join the EU4Ocean Coalition for an exciting event on World Ocean Day at Talk CEC in Brussels!
- Discover the UN Ocean Decade Actions and explore opportunities to get involved to contribute to a sustainable blue planet!
- Taking the examples of the Atlas Ambassadors, think about why the ocean is important to you!
The data in this map are provided by EMODnet.
[1] https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/new-declaration-help-save-our-oceans