By Christina Deligianni

The inaugural World Ocean Assessment Symposium, convened by UNESCO and the United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of The Sea (UNDOALOS) at the UNESCO’s Paris Headquarters in December 2023, provided a platform for global experts and institutions to engage in discussions about the critical nexus between science and policy in the realm of ocean affairs.

During the panel discussion on the science-policy interface, as a global expert in policy related to the blue economy, representing the Institute for Sustainable Development at EPLO, an international organization, and Verimpact, a Sustainability/ESG Tech company, I presented the state of affairs in the Mediterranean region along with the imperative of inclusiveness, and the need for better representation of women, minorities and local communities in all things ocean. Insightful observations on low-energy technology solutions in the blue economy were also shared, urging an appreciation for its potential impact on local communities. Such low-energy, high-efficiency technologies, exemplified by Pelagic Data Systems in small-scale fisheries, can also be a means to harness data for informed policy-making.

Through our research in this field, what has become apparent has been the need for a close collaboration between scientists and policy-makers, is the adoption of transparent and non-technical language from the side of scientists for impactful policy-making. This approach would broaden the reach to diverse, non-technical and general audiences, apart from policy-makers.

Beyond the Mediterranean, in the European Union sphere, I mentioned noteworthy projects, including the EU Mission Ocean and Waters and EU-funded initiatives that advance this nexus. The discussion also delved into EMFAF-funded programs like CoastalPro focusing on skilling, reskilling, and upskilling stakeholders in blue careers. Additionally, I elaborated on the studies conducted in collaboration with Fórum Oceano and Verimpact on the ecosystem values of the Selvagens Islands.

The symposium provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities within the ocean sphere. Notably, Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG14), focused on life below water, emerged as the least funded and least examined SDG from both policy and investment perspectives and the imperative to encourage and promote science-backed policy-making and its implementation on a global scale was a recurrent theme. The symposium participants recognized the abundance of scientific knowledge and the collaborative potential capable of surmounting challenges, particularly in sea basins like the Mediterranean, marked by disparities and the impact of activities such as tourism on stakeholders and engagement.