Kiel, the capital city of Schleswig Holstein, Germany, works hard to become a leading city for ocean protection on the Baltic Sea. For several years already Mundus maris has collaborated with many others around the ‘Ocean Summit’ core team to encourage marine protection in all its facets, with a particular emphasis on rehabilitating the badly sick Baltic. The ills go from overfishing provoking serious threats of species extinctions or at least excirpations, pollution from heavy agricultural run-off and poisonous weapons sunk after WWII to heavy impact of rapidly warming waters of this shallow sea basin.

The sciences, including citizen science, the arts, education, all forms of constructive participation of concerned citizens, government policy and private sector engagement provide a promising mix for developing a broader-based consensus about going from diagnosis to the rehabilitation of the patient.

On World Ocean Day, 8 June 2024, visitors could test their knowledge playing the Ocean Game. What did their know about its importance for wonderful marine life, for stabilising the climate and more, and what to do to treat the ocean as a beloved friend.

That was popular not only with the kids though Gianna was pleased to experience the good level of knowledge of most kids and the friendly support of their elders. During the exchanges a good number of measures cropped up people were already taking so as to reduce their carbon footprint or take care of reducing garbage and waste.

So, unsurprisingly, also the FishBase Guide app was again well received as a means to make more science based purchasing decisions or pay greater attention during angling tours.

The fish rulers about minimum reproductive lengths of major commercial fish species in the Baltic and North Sea went like hot dogs.

Following the official opening of the event on stage for marking the Day of the City Protecting the Sea (Tag der Meeresschutzstadt, for short TDM) all partners of the Ocean Summit were summoned to present their activities and to attract attention to their booths and public offers for the day.

Cornelia Nauen spoke for Mundus maris highlighting the importance of connecting the global biodiversity and climate agreements to the context in the Baltic and to what each and everybody can do to make us all fit for the future. This was not the place for gloom and doom but rather for teaming up with determination to restore the crashed populations of cod and herring in the Western Baltic and with them other threatened marine life. The combination of serious concerns with lighter festive activities was a good way to charge the batteries for more concrete measures.

So the hours flew by in this energising and friendly atmosphere. Between 1600 and 2000 visitors were counted per hour during the events, twice as many as on an ordinary Saturday. Media coverage before and after was also encouraging.

Shortly before the planned closure a gush of rain made all visitors run for shelter. In combination with the upturning wind the booths all closed down a little earlier. Luckily the rain stopped and the public flocked back to the stage where the evening concert heated up bodies and minds. In short, a great World Ocean Day in Kiel with fabulous responses from the public and a great success for all contributors to the Ocean Summit team, including Mundus maris!

The programme flyer is available here.