OSES 4th Pilot intervention
Ocean Protection and Sport: Successful Awareness Days in Espinho
The fourth OSES (Ocean Sustainability through Education and Sport) awareness event took place on the vibrant beaches of Espinho, Portugal, on April 23rd and 24th, 2025. Organized with the support of the local surf club Green Coast and project partners (EMSEA, Surfrider Foundation), this two-day pilot intervention brought together young people, educators, and environmental advocates to explore the powerful connection between sport and ocean conservation. Since its launch in January 2023, the OSES project has aimed to educate the next generation about pressing environmental challenges using sport as a transformative tool for awareness and action.
A Day of Engagement and Learning
The first day opened with an introduction to the OSES project, setting the stage for reflection on some of the most urgent threats facing our oceans today — marine pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss.
In addition, participants, local schoolchildren, then took part in a series of interactive, science-based workshops. These included:
- Measuring water quality using simple field tools,
- Capturing shoreline images with the COASTSNAP system to support citizen science on coastal erosion,
- And sifting small portions of beach sand to identify and analyze potential microplastics, raising awareness of invisible yet pervasive marine pollutants.
These engaging, hands-on activities helped young participants understand their local environment and the importance of preserving it. By actively involving them in scientific observation, the day nurtured both curiosity and a sense of responsibility toward the ocean.
Day Two: Connecting Surfing with Sustainability
On the second day, the focus shifted to sport as a driver of awareness. The morning began with a supervised surf session, where ocean conservation was integrated into practice and discussion. Participants learned not just how to ride waves, but how to respect and protect the ecosystem that makes surfing possible.
After surfing, the group came together for a beach cleanup. Marine litter was collected, sorted, and categorized, allowing participants to better understand the sources and impacts of pollution on coastal environments. The cleanup was followed by a wrap-up session including post-activity surveys, designed to measure the impact of the intervention and the growth in environmental knowledge among attendees.
Inspiring Ocean Advocates Through Sport
This event once again confirmed that combining physical activity with environmental education is a powerful strategy for sparking engagement and change. Through the OSES project, young people are gaining the knowledge and tools to become ambassadors for sustainability — not just within their clubs, but in their communities at large.
As the project continues to unfold across Europe, the aim is clear: to embed these types of eco-conscious activities into every watersport club, spreading best practices and promoting a shared sense of stewardship for the ocean.
What’s Next?
Building on the momentum of the pilot events, the OSES team is now preparing for two key milestones:
- A Networking Workshop in June 2025, to be held in France, where project partners, educators, and sports federations will come together to exchange insights and communicate on the project’s best practices.
- And the Final Event in Brussels, planned for the end of 2025, where the results of the project will be presented to EU stakeholders, policymakers, and the broader public, highlighting the role of sport in advancing ocean sustainability.
Stay tuned and follow our journey at oses-project.org as we continue working to protect our oceans — one wave, one youth, and one action at a time.