The National Sea Day established by Legislative Decree 229/2017 is celebrated on 11 April. “The National Day of the Sea is an important opportunity to raise awareness especially among young people on the importance of respect and knowledge of the sea, a resource of great value for the world and for Italy in particular”.
Italy has an important role from an environmental point of view: it is estimated that its marine ecosystems are responsible for the sequestration of 13.2 million tons of Blue Carbon per year, the highest value among EU member states in the Mediterranean Sea.
Furthermore, Italy has a huge Natural Capital, represented by its sea, its ecosystems and its biodiversity, which it must protect and manage effectively, to avoid loss and destruction. The benefits are not only in environmental terms but also in economic terms.
Furthermore, the sea is a cultural, scientific, recreational and economic resource that all citizens must know and become guardians of its conservation.
The concept of “citizenship of the sea” must be developed from an early age through specific activities, even in a particular times like these, in which the pandemic makes us stay at home and does not make us enjoy, as always, the spring by the sea.
Posi and Donia, the two characters conceived as part of the LIFE SEPOSSO European project coordinated by ISPRA, have the task of introducing young people to the Posidonia oceanica meadows, an exclusive habitat of the Mediterranean, extremely precious and protected but, unfortunately, a risk, also due to many human activities.
If you don’t already know them, read the adventures of Posi and Donia here: Discovering Posidonia oceanica meadows.pdf
The children of class III D of the “Principe di Piemonte” primary school in Rome (IC Padre Semeria), together with their teachers Barbara, Francesca and Elena, have created, for the National Sea Day, a new adventure for Posi and Donia and his little helpers: clean up the sea all together!
These children are already “citizens of the sea” indeed, as their “captain” says!
You can read the new adventure of Posi & Donia here (Italian only):
Posi & Donia e i loro piccoli amici Giornata_Nazionale_del_Mare.pdf
Posi & Donia and their little friends