Resumen de The Importance of Ocean Literacyin the Mediterranean Region—StepsTowards Blue Sustainability
Melita Mokos, Maria Cheimonopoulou, Panayota Koulouri, Monica Previati, Giulia Realdon, Francesca Santoro L'Hoir, Athanasios Mogias, Theodora Boubonari, Alessio Satta, Christos Ioakeimidis
Ocean Literacy (OL) is considered to be important for raising awarenessof the people concerning conservation, restoration and sustainable use of the oceanand its resources. Addressing environmental issues related to the Mediterranean Seaand increasing OL can be the first step to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 14(focusing on the ocean) within the UN Agenda 2030 in the Mediterranean region.The adaptation of the Ocean Literacy Framework to the specificities of the MediterraneanSea can introduce knowledge about different natural, geographical and socialcomponents of its marine life and society. This can help different stakeholders (e.g.teachers, educators, scientists, policy- and decision-makers, private sector) to betterunderstand the influence that people have on the Mediterranean Sea, and the influencethat the Mediterranean Sea has on them. This chapter gives an insight into themain pressures on the natural environment of theMediterranean Sea, the legal frameworkfor its protection and sustainability, the importance of integrated coastal zonemanagement and marine protected areas in relation to ocean literacy and the role ofeducation in the creation of an ocean-literate society right across the Mediterraneanregion. The geographical approach contributes significantly to the exploration andunderstanding of the relationship between the environment and human communities.Formal and non-formal education in different scientific fields, e.g. geography,biology, etc., as well as increased awareness about the interrelation between peopleand the Mediterranean Sea, could lead to increased protection and conservation ofmarine wildlife, sustainable management of Mediterranean marine resources andtherefore sustainable blue development of the region.
