EU-Funded OTTERS Project’s Submitted Action under "Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters" Charter Accepted

EU-Funded OTTERS Project’s Submitted Action Under "Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters" Charter Accepted

Yerevan, Armenia – October 10, 2023 – In support of the Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030’, the OTTERS project has now officially endorsed the Mission Charter. This marks a significant milestone in the journey towards a cleaner and more sustainable future for our planet’s vital aquatic ecosystems.

The OTTERS project, officially known as “Societal Transformation for Marine and Freshwater Stewardship through Scaling Up Citizen Science,” is led by the American University of Armenia’s (AUA) Acopian Center for the Environment. The project’s successful submission under the “Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters” Charter is a testament to its unwavering commitment to marine and freshwater conservation.

The acceptance of the OTTERS project action underscores its central role in addressing and supporting several critical objectives outlined within the “Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters” initiative:

Protect and Restore Ecosystems: OTTERS will actively contribute to the protection and restoration of marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity, aligning with the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030.
Eliminate Pollution: The project will work towards preventing and eliminating pollution in our oceans, seas, and waters, aligning with the EU Action Plan Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water, and Soil.
Promote Sustainable Blue Economy: by making it carbon-neutral and circular, aligning with the proposed European Climate Law and the holistic vision of the Sustainable Blue Economy Strategy.

In addition to these key objectives, the OTTERS project has committed to the following essential principles:

Supporting the EU Ocean knowledge system and adhering to the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principle for knowledge and data.
Engaging citizens actively in the decision-making process, fostering inclusivity and participation in shaping the future of our oceans and waters.
Mobilizing investments from both public and private sources to ensure the success of their initiatives.
Promoting knowledge sharing and collaboration with other contributors to the “Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters” Charter, fostering a collective approach to addressing environmental challenges.
Continuously monitoring and evaluating progress toward achieving the charter’s objectives, and adapting strategies as needed to steer actions effectively.

The OTTERS project’s ambitions have earned it a prominent place on the dedicated website for the Mission Charter Actions and will be included in Mission Ocean and Waters materials and tools. The OTTERS project may also be involved in major Mission fora and events, amplifying the project’s impact on a global scale.

The OTTERS project is poised to make a significant and lasting contribution to the protection and restoration of our precious marine and freshwater resources. The project’s acceptance into the “Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters” Charter reaffirms its dedication to a sustainable and resilient future for our planet’s waters.