The Marine Forum expands its marine awareness network to all the Balearics

This year, the Marine Forum is celebrating its sixth edition by developing activities across the four islands of the Balearic archipelago. Ibiza, Mallorca, Formentera, and Menorca will host this year's events.

“The companies and entities that make up the Promoter Team: IbizaPreservation, Fundación Marilles, Fundación Pacha, Trasmapi, OD Group, and Vellmarí, deemed it appropriate for this edition of the Forum to extend to the other islands so that the meeting is authentically regional. The problems of the Balearic Sea in the south are the same as in the north. Furthermore, through the Forum, we want to gather actions, opinions, projects, and critiques that help all the people living in these islands improve our sea,” stated Antonio Martínez Beneyto, coordinator of the Marine Forum.

Once again, the organization wants to continue exploring current challenges and find solutions for the Mediterranean. For this reason, on the opening day, which will take place at the Can Ventosa auditorium in Ibiza next Friday, October 4, special attention will be given to Posidonia, as this year marks the 25th anniversary of its declaration as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. “Marine biologist Manu San Félix and Spanish double Olympic champion Theresa Zabell, among other speakers, will help us understand the real situation of this plant, and we will also discuss the need for its actual protection and regeneration,” explains Martínez Beneyto.

Also on Friday morning, the forum will delve into the necessity of environmental outreach and social awareness thanks to the participation of Sol de la Quadra-Salcedo and Ana Alemany.

In the afternoon, the Forum will continue and focus on the "future of the Mediterranean," to understand how climate change will affect our marine environment. For this, Puri Canals, coordinator of the Global Network of MPA Manager Networks from The Ocean Foundation, and Silvia Frías, a climate change researcher at Eurecat, will be present. This round table will be moderated by journalist and eco-influencer Ana de Santos.

Later, Victoria Turner, Director of Education at Blue Marine Foundation, will present the new interactive educational platform called “The Sea We Breathe,” an innovative educational journey where virtual reality meets environmental activism. Narrated in its original language by the iconic Helena Bonham Carter, 'The Sea We Breathe VR' harnesses the power of WebXR to immerse children in the urgent issue of climate change. This application is not just another virtual reality game; it is a transformative educational tool designed to enlighten young minds about the crucial role oceans play in mitigating climate change.

This year, the inspiring conference will be led by Óscar Camps, a Spanish activist and entrepreneur, founder of the NGO “Open Arms,” which has been rescuing people fleeing war, persecution, and poverty through the dangerous crossing of the Mediterranean since 2015, providing help at sea to save lives.

“There can be no climate justice or environmental justice without social justice, which is why this year we considered it pertinent to highlight the humanitarian crisis that manifests every day in the waters of the Mediterranean. One cannot talk about sustainability without considering the human aspect,” stated Antonio Martínez Beneyto.

During the weekend, the Forum will continue in the northern Pitiusa, where visits to the posidonia meadows extending between Ibiza and Formentera will take place. On Saturday, there will be an excursion departing from Marina Ibiza on the 100% electric school sailboat “Galaxie” from the organization True World, and there will also be a workshop on underwater photography conducted by members of the Audiovisual Contest for the Conservation of the Balearic Sea (MARE).

On Sunday, using the same vessel, biologist Eva María García Ortiz will conduct a guided tour explaining what the posidonia meadow is and its significance for our islands.

Both activities are open to the public and free of charge, but since there is a maximum capacity of 12 people, prior registration is essential at foromarinoibizayformentera@gmail.com.

The coordinator of the Marine Forum has also already announced the dates for events that will take place in Mallorca on October 11, and in Formentera on the 25th of the same month. “In Mallorca, we will hold a day bringing together all the key players involved in the fishing world to discuss illegal fishing and a project called Calant Xarxes, which aims to unite different stakeholders with diverse interests within this sector. Meanwhile, in Formentera, we want to bring together in one space projects from organizations in the islands that have the sea as the main focus, along with the business and economic sector of the islands, just as we will with Menorca.”