[Advocacy Report] Sport as a Gateway to Ocean Protection

An overview of the OSES Advocacy Report, a call to action for ocean sports organisations, educators, and policymakers across Europe.

WHAT IS THIS DOCUMENT?

The OSES Advocacy Report is the final publication of a three-year EU Erasmus+ project bringing together nine European organisations around a shared conviction: nautical sports can be a powerful platform for ocean conservation and environmental education. The document compiles the project’s findings, achievements, and field experience into a set of concrete recommendations, backed by four pilot interventions conducted in Malta, Spain, France, and Portugal.

WHY WAS IT WRITTEN?

Oceans are under severe pressure, overfishing, plastic pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss are accelerating. Despite this, the sport sector remains largely absent from marine protection strategies. OSES argues that water sports practitioners, who depend on healthy seas and spend more time in marine environments than almost anyone, are uniquely placed to observe, document, and advocate for ocean health. The report exists to make that potential systemic, by translating field results into actionable policy recommendations

WHO IS IT FOR?

The report is addressed to three levels of decision-makers:

• Local actors: surf schools, sailing clubs, NGOs, local councils, and scientific institutions involved in ocean sports or marine conservation.
• National bodies: sports federations, environmental agencies, and government ministries responsible for maritime and sport policy.
• European stakeholders: EU institutions, European sports federations, and organisations working at the intersection of sport, education, and environmental protection.

WHAT DOES IT CALL FOR?