Momentum Committee Member Graziella Spiteri champions ocean innovation at European Ocean Days

With a theme of moving the global conversation “from policies to concrete actions,” Momentum’s recently elected committee member Graziella Spiteri represented the party at the European Ocean Days conference. Set in Brussels, the event gathered global leaders, scientists, policymakers, NGOs, educators and friends of the ocean to shape the future of marine conservation.

A central focus of Spiteri’s visit was exploring new, EU-backed technological advancements designed to protect marine ecosystems. This included the newly announced OceanEye initiative, which aims to significantly reinforce global ocean observation. Another initiative is the Ocean Digital Twin, a collaborative platform that democratises marine data for everyone, from university students to the private sector. By allowing users to run predictive models, such as the CoCliCo project’s coastal infrastructure simulations, the platform empowers communities to estimate climate-related damage and proactively prevent habitat loss.

Momentum is encouraging professionals who may already be working in data-related fields, as well as new practitioners, to make use of these platforms. OceanEye and the Ocean Digital Twin are key tools for enabling collaboration between the private sector and conservation efforts.

Beyond technological innovation, the conference underscored the urgent need for ocean literacy. Spiteri engaged in crucial discussions about the “Blue Network,” which seeks to embed marine education into school curriculums and summer programs to engage youth as early as possible. She also connected with impactful NGOs like Fairseas to discuss broader advocacy efforts, particularly the ongoing push to expand the EU’s Marine Protected Areas.

A poignant highlight of the event was a unique virtual reality experience where attendees could “embody” a killer whale. The immersive session highlighted the stark contrast between the ocean’s natural peace and the disorienting stress of human-made noise pollution, serving as a powerful reminder of the real-world stakes of marine conservation.

Spiteri returns from the European Ocean Days conference equipped with valuable insights, innovative ideas, and new partnerships to further Momentum’s commitment to advocating for a healthier, more resilient blue planet.

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