Romania has joined the international IOI Ocean Academy network, an initiative of the International Ocean Institute dedicated to fostering ocean literacy and facilitating public access to relevant scientific information about the ocean, seas, and coastal areas.
IOI Ocean Academy Romania took shape following the signing on April 20, 2026 of the agreement with the International Ocean Institute and is coordinated by Cristina Ciobotariu (AECP) and Teodor Musat (GeoEcoMar), with the support of specialists and partners involved in marine research, protection and governance. The initiative is aimed at students and students, researchers, academics, specialists, representatives of environmental organisations and professionals involved in coastal management, the blue economy and marine governance.
By providing accessible information based on scientific evidence, IOI Ocean Academy Romania aims to create a bridge between scientific research, administration, economy and civil society, facilitating a better understanding of processes such as climate change, pollution, coastal erosion, loss of biodiversity or the development of the blue economy, that may be difficult to understand for those who do not belong to the scientific community.
To this end, IOI Ocean Academy Romania has organized an inaugural course titled "Introduction to the Protection of Coastal and Marine Ecosystems for a Sustainable Blue Economy in Romania," which is being held online, free of charge, in Romanian, from July 24 to August 9, 2026.
In the first part of the course, the lecturers addressed the relationship between ocean and life on Earth, ocean literacy, protection of coastal and marine ecosystems, governance of the Black Sea, pollution, sustainable use of resources and the role of communities in protecting the environment. So far, participants have had the opportunity to meet Teodor Mușat (GeoEcoMar), who spoke about "Our One Ocean – a place of wonder, beauty, and danger, critically important for life on Earth / The Blue Economy (Blue Growth, Blue Sectors)"; Bianca Pavel (GeoEcoMar), with her presentation "The Danube Delta: conservation vs. local needs"; Marian Paiu (Mare Nostrum NGO), who spoke about "Pollution, waste, and everyday responsibility"; Denisa Tanasă (ICAR TOURS Constanța), who presented "Coastal tourism, jobs, and sustainable development"; Dezimira Stoe (ICDEAPA Galați) and Cristina Munteanu (WWF Romania), with the presentation "Sustainable fishing, aquaculture, and community livelihoods"; Sergiu Lupu (ANMB), with "Black Sea geopolitics: region, security, and safety at sea"; and Cristina Ciobotariu (AECP), with "Ocean governance (UN SDGs, the Ocean Decade, and IOC-UNESCO) / Black Sea geopolitics: region, security, and safety at sea”.
In the upcoming sessions, presentations will be given by Adrian Stănică (GeoEcoMar), who will speak on "Coastal erosion and beach management"; Tatiana Begun (GeoEcoMar) and Adrian Teacă (GeoEcoMar), on "Marine protected areas and environmental degradation"; and Cristina Ciobotariu (AECP), on "Stakeholder engagement and local community participation."
IOI Ocean Academy Romania is part of the international "IOI Ocean Academy – Ocean Knowledge for All" program, recognized as an action under the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, coordinated by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO.
This first edition marks the beginning of a long-term educational initiative. Further courses and activities dedicated to ocean literacy, the protection of the Black Sea, and the sustainable development of coastal regions will follow.
Stay tuned for information on future editions, speakers, topics, and registration details.
