Mundus maris

2023 will be a year focused on implementing international agreements. We will continue to prioritise action in support of prosperous and sustainable artisanal fisheries through the Small-Scale Fisheries Academy with emphasis on the implementation of global Sustainable Development Goals and the Voluntary Guidelines for Ensuring Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries at local and national levels underpinned by academic work. In this context, we shall continue participating in advocacy with the WTO and its member states to ratify the agreement for phasing out harmful fisheries subsidies while also engaging in further negotiations to close remaining gaps. The “Kunming-Montreal global biodiversity framework,” adopted at COP15 in December 2022 sets global targets for urgent action between now and 2030. Target 3—the 30 by 30 goal—is the most momentous and needs to be pursued with engaged and informed consent for siting of protected land and marine waters by indigenous groups and artisanal fishers and farmers. The UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) is gaining momentum to improve our understanding of the ocean and enhance ocean literacy. We will, among others contribute again with activities on and around World Ocean Day, 8 June.

2022 is the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA2022). With several postponements due to the pandemic it's an even more crucial year for the ocean than 2021 was expected. The Second UN Ocean Conference is scheduled in June in Lisbon, a major conference on biodiversity should set new targets to revert us from the trend to mass extinctions, more countries are making commitments towards ocean protection expected to translate into more concrete delivery, including bringing to a successful close the on-going UN negotiations about protecting 30% of the ocean and 30% of the land area by 2030 (30 X 30). All this must bring about changes to our wasteful production and consumption patterns. The UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) is getting into gear and improve our understanding of the ocean and enhance ocean literacy. And we continue to put pressure on the World Trade Organization's (WTO) negotiation to phase out harmful fisheries subsidies, which must finally deliver. That would also be an important step to curb widespread Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing costing legitimate businesses and developing countries' fiscal authorities billions as well as constituting a major threat to viable and prosperous small-scale fisheries. We will continue our advocacy and awareness-raising activities in these directions and keep supporting the implementation of global Sustainable Development Goals and the Voluntary Guidelines for Ensuring Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries at local levels underpinned by academic work. 

2021 is a crucial year for the ocean. Not only are major conferences on biodiversity and climate expected to set us on pathways towards profoundly more responsible ways to organise our energy demands and change our production and consumption patterns accordingly; the start of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) promises advances in international cooperation to eliminate many white spots on ocean maps and enhance ocean literacy. We also expect advances in the on-going UN negotiations about protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030 (30 X 30). This is necessary to safeguard biodiversity, avoid fishery collapse and build ocean resistance to climate change. And we continue to put pressure on the World Trade Organization's (WTO) negotiation to phase out harmful fisheries subsidies, which missed last year's deadline but is not at all off the table. On the contrary, it is one of the important steps to curb widespread Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing costing legitimate businesses and developing countries' fiscal authorities billions as well as constituting a major threat to viable and prosperous small-scale fisheries. We will continue our advocacy and awareness-raising activities in these directions and keep supporting the implementation of global Sustainable Development Goals and the Voluntary Guidelines for Ensuring Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries at local levels underpinned by academic work. 

Our pledge to support implemenation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 "Life Under Water" taking into account its links with other SDGs provides strong guidance for our continued efforts to link global issues - challenges and opportunities - to regional, national and local actors and actions. We continue to invest into the development of the small-scale fisheries academy and are keen to team up with others to expand internationally to facilitate scaling up efforts to implement the SSF Guidelines. The youth contest for Mundus maris Awards and events to celebrate World Oceans Day will again feature on our agenda - this year's UN motto is "innovation for a sustainable ocean". The forthcoming UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) will see active preparations enter into their final stage this year.

Our pledge to support implemenation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 "Life Under Water" taking into account its links with other SDGs provides strong guidance for our continued efforts to link global issues - challenges and opportunities - to regional, national and local actors and actions. The youth contest for Mundus maris Awards and events to celebrate World Oceans Day will again feature on our agenda as part of connecting us all to the ocean and its improved protection. We shall continue with our awareness raising work in several countries and put additional effort in seeking partnerships with others to increase reach and effectiveness of activities with a focus on implementing year one of the small-scale fisheries academy in Senegal, open to expression of interest in other countries. The forthcoming UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) will see active preparations throughout this and the next year.

Following on from the first UN Ocean Conference ever in 2017 and our pledge to support implemenation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 "Life Under Water", we will continue our efforts to link global issues - challenges and opportunities - to regional, national and local actions. The youth contest for Mundus maris Awards and events to celebrate World Oceans Day will again feature on our agenda as part of connecting us all to the ocean and its improved protection. We will continue to seek partnerships with others to increase reach and effectiveness of activities and this year start our exploration about the best ways to implement the small-scale fisheries academy.

In 2017, the challenge will be on translating the Sustainable Development Goal 14  "Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development" into practical action on the ground in every country and region. Mundus maris will continue its activities along the lines of doing and sharing research and conducting and supporting cultural activities about the major threats to the ocean and what we can do together about them. World Oceans Day activities will again constitute a highlight of our annual work programme. The youth contest and the partnering with others to offer events around 8 June will afford excellent opportunities to engage for the ocean and the people of the sea.

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In 2016, a major focus will be on implementing the various international, regional and national commitments for protecting the ocean and the climate. Mundus maris will continue its path of doing and sharing research and cultural activities about the major threats to the ocean and what we can together do about them. World Oceans Day activities will again provide an excellent opportunity for connecting more and more people to the ocean and the people of the sea.

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2015 is an important year for the ocean and the people of the sea in more than one way. Climate negotiations should lead to an ambitious global treaty. The Millennium Development Goals should be succeeded by post 2015 objectives and we will only know at the end whether country representatives agree to a specific objective for the ocean, the giver of life. Food security is a continued concern for millions of people. In Europe, the major challenge is implementing the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy effectively on the ground. Mundus maris will continue its path of doing and sharing research and cultural activities about the three major threats to the ocean and what we can together do about it. We engage with others in developing the new narratives of sustainable living with the ocean and take action together.

Cooperation with other organisations with whom we share objectives and concerns is a major thrust for project-based activities in 2014. Among these are major academic, public and civil society organisations. The 2014 programme will again contribute several activities to Campus Plein Sud at the Free University in Brussels (ULB), such as a lunch debate with major personalities about the international dimension of implementing the reform of the European Common Fisheries Policy. One of the academic highlights will be the international roundtable sponsored by the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies at the University of Vancouver, Canada. We also hope to galvanise young people to protect our oceans through the invitation for international school partnerships to celebrate World Oceans Day 2014 together under the auspices of Mrs. Maria Damanaki, member of the European Commission. Come with us on the journey.

Our activities in 2013 are set to consolidate existing lines of work, while also diversifying activities and collaborations. This is reflected in increased use of our website and the social media as a resource in support of those activities. Likewise, Mundus maris members and associates participate in and contribute to other organisations' activities, always in pursuit of advancing the objective of critically engaging people of all ages, but particularly young people, in living in better harmony with the sea, nature in general and fellow citizens. Mobilising the sciences and the arts together is a key to addressing the challenges to our societies in an effective way and join forces to protect our seas, the origin of life and intimately linked to climate, biodiversity and the very shape of many of our societies.

Our activities in 2012 are set to consolidate existing lines of work, while also diversifying activities and collaborations. This is reflected in increased use of our website as a resource in support of those activities. Likewise, Mundus maris members and associates participate in and contribute to other organisations' activities, always in pursuit of advancing the objective of critically engaging people of all ages, but particularly young people, in living in better harmony with the sea, nature in general and fellow citizens. Mobilising the sciences and the arts together is a key to addressing the challenges to our societies in an effective way and join forces to protect our seas, the origin of life and intimately linked to climate, biodiversity and the very shape of many of our societies.

The expansion and diversification of activities and actors, collaborating with Mundus maris continues in 2011 and is also reflected in increased use of our website as a resource in support of those activities. Likewise, Mundus maris members and associates participate in and contribute to other organisations' activities, always in pursuit of advancing the objective of critically engaging people of all ages, but particularly young people, in living in better harmony with the sea, nature in general and fellow citizens. Mobilising the sciences and the arts together is a key to addressing the challenges to our societies in an effective way and join forces to protect our seas, the origin of life and intimately linked to climate and biodiversity.

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2009-2010 is seeing Mundus maris developing activities around its core objectives. We are also diversifying what we do focussing on expanding the school network, organising exhibitions, conducting lunch debates and producing printed materials in view of building up a portfolio of projects and resources about the sea and the people of the sea.

This section covers a selection of specific projects. Exhibitions we organise alone or in partnership and other activities are covered in the respective other sections.

A series of articles, studies and projects, which explore the tensions communities experience in different parts of the world when local traditions clash with the conditions and demands of an increasingly globalised world. Nowhere is this more visible than in fisheries and coastal zones, where most fisheries products originate from, close of 40% of which is traded internationally. That means, even once remote villages and traditional lifestyles are confronted with the demands, threats and opportunities of a global market. Perhaps only the communication revolution is having more profound effects on values, perceptions and the way people make sense of what's happening and how they navigate these waters.

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