Love to Protect: Ocean Literacy in the Mediterranean

3 December 2025. From 18:00 To 19:30 | Conference | English | Palau Macaya, Barcelona

“We protect what we love, and we love what we know.” These words by the legendary French Oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau resonate powerfully in the Mediterranean, a region deeply bound to the sea by culture, history, and economy. Despite the Mediterranean’s vital ecological and social importance, awareness of how our daily actions impact the marine environment remains limited. Ocean literacy—the understanding of the ocean’s influence on us and our influence on the ocean—is still underdeveloped across the region. Without it, efforts to safeguard marine biodiversity and promote sustainable coastal development face serious obstacles. Strengthening ocean literacy is essential to reconnect people with the sea and to foster a shared responsibility for its future.

Making ocean literacy more than just a concept requires people who can involve local communities and turn knowledge into practical action. Laura Khatib, co-founder of Guardians of the Blue in Byblos, Lebanon, is doing just that. Her work to connect people with the sea and promote sustainable practices shows how local efforts can help protect the Mediterranean’s marine environment.

With a background in development economics and a passion for the sea, Khatib is leading efforts to establish a new marine protected area, organise scuba diving cleanups, and promote sustainable seafood practices to mitigate invasive species like lionfish. Through her NGO, she engages youth, divers, and local communities in protecting marine biodiversity while sharing stunning visuals of Lebanon’s marine life. She also contributes to global initiatives, including the ECOP Programme of the UN Ocean Decade, IOC/UNESCO Ocean Literacy, and EMSEA, giving a fresh voice to Mediterranean marine stewardship.

Fifth session of the Med Dialogues + 2030 5th edition.

At the Palau Macaya, Pg. de Sant Joan, 108, Barcelona.

Free entrance with prior registration.