Mundus maris celebrates World Ocean Day 2024 with Ocean Summit in Kiel, Germany

Kiel, the capital of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, is dedicated to becoming a leader in ocean protection on the Baltic Sea. Mundus maris has collaborated with various organizations through the ‘Ocean Summit’ to address marine protection, focusing on rehabilitating the severely affected Baltic. Issues such as overfishing, pollution from agricultural runoff and WWII weapons, and warming waters are critical concerns. A combination of science, arts, education, citizen involvement, government policy, and private sector engagement aims to move from diagnosing problems to rehabilitation. On World Ocean Day 2024, activities like the Ocean Game, promoting marine knowledge and conservation actions, were popular. The FishBase Guide app and fish rulers for commercial species were also well-received. The event, marked by high attendance and media coverage, featured partners of the Ocean Summit presenting their initiatives. Cornelia Nauen of Mundus maris emphasized the importance of connecting global biodiversity and climate agreements to local actions in the Baltic. The event successfully combined serious environmental concerns with festive activities, resulting in high public engagement. Despite a brief rain interruption, the evening concluded with a concert, making it a successful and well-received World Ocean Day in Kiel.