Getting our hands dirty: JPI Oceans and JPI Climate beach clean-up

On Friday, 20th September 2024, JPI Oceans and JPI Climate teamed up for a joint beach clean-up as part of the #EUBeachCleanup campaign for World Cleanup Day. This global event, organised annually by the European Union in partnership with the United Nations and even the Smurfs, mobilises people across the world to clean up beaches, riverbanks, and other natural spaces. The aim is to raise awareness about marine pollution and how our everyday actions affect the health of our oceans. 

For this year’s event, our two JPIs chose to have a crack at the beach in Ostend, with both teams gathering equipped with gloves, rubbish bags, and a shared determination to rid the shore of litter and debris. Tools like the Debris Tracker and AWorld Act Now apps helped log and measure the waste collected, providing data for global environmental initiatives. This year, the JPIs removed 15 kg of waste from the beach. 

JPI Oceans also supported the #MakeEUBlue communication campaign led by EU4Ocean, helping to amplify the voices of Young Ocean Advocates participating in the initiative. 

In addition to the beach clean-up, the team visited the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) in Ostend for a tour of their latest technology for ocean observation. The visit offered an exclusive look at the new Long Range Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) Gobelijn, developed in collaboration with Maritime Robotics. Officially unveiled in May 2024, the USV Gobelijn represents a leap forward in marine research, allowing for remote-controlled ocean observation with a reduced carbon footprint over manned research vessels. Equipped with advanced sensors, Gobelijn can monitor marine ecosystems for extended periods, even deploying ocean gliders to collect oceanographic data. 

Together, the clean-up and the VLIZ visit—informally tagged "#Vlizit" served as a reminder of the importance of investing in marine science to meet the challenges and opportunities of our ocean, while also protecting it with concrete action, however small. It was a valuable team-building experience, as the JPIs collaborated in a very practical sense, while enjoying a sunny day outside the office. If this happens to inspire your own team building plans – you’re welcome!