Making visible that the Baltic Sea (and the global ocean) is not a separate entity to the rest of our daily concerns, even in the realm of environmentalism.

The two sides of the OL coin: better and enhanced knowledge, but also a stronger sense of emotional connection to the ocean.

The need for interdisciplinary work to really drive OL forward: exchange between scientists (primary researchers) and educational professionals on the one hand, but also bringing in the expertise of marketing and campaigning experts, public authorities, NGOs and more.

Joachim Hjerl, Havhøst (“Ocean Harvest”), outlining their very practical approach to educational sessions that are also immersive and create “ocean emotions”.

Dominika Wojcieszek, Gdynia Aquarium and European Marine Science Educators Association, speaking about the need for a Baltic network of Blue Schools and supporters.

Malin Rosengren, University of Gothenburg and Ida Wendt, Swedish Institute for the Marine Environment, addressing the activities of the Centre for Sea and Society.

Tymon Zielinski, Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, also representing the OL initiatives “ Today We Have” and “Ocean of changes”.

On the practitioners’ side, we heard from: We capitalised on the tradition of exchange and discussed ways to bring Ocean Literacy more into focus at the Baltic level, making the most of all the existing grassroots initiatives. On 25.09.20, the SUBMARINER Network and Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM) hosted an interactive workshop in the framework of the EU4Ocean coalition launch event. Its burgeoning blue bioeconomy needs a big push from the consumer awareness and demand side. And yet, the Baltic Sea region is also home to some of the best-established and intensive international cooperation at the scientific, civil and even political level. The intensity of usage by multiple actors from the shipping industry to energy, combined with nutrient run-off from agriculture and phenomena such as exacerbated algal blooms make a “healthy Baltic Sea for all” a very demanding task. The Baltic Sea is an ecosystem facing unique challenges.

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