2025 Ocean Protection Ambassadors (EU) Ona Santisteban Uribarri's Reflections

This blog post was authored by Ona Santisteban Uribarri, a 2025 EarthEcho Ocean Protection Ambassador.

Through her campaign Fons Sense Rastre, Ona has raised awareness about the impacts of bottom trawling in MPAs, with a focus on the Mediterranean and Catalonia. The campaign combines education, public outreach, and policy advocacy to make the issue accessible to local communities and young people.

As part of the campaign, she created educational materials such as an interactive StoryMap and informational booklets, and shared the campaign’s messages through radio interviews, local events, and conference presentations. Youth engagement was a key component, with high school talks and participatory workshops that encouraged students to learn about bottom trawling and share their perspectives on ocean protection.

Beyond local action, the campaign reached the European level through engagement with key stakeholders and advocacy for stronger MPA protection and greater youth inclusion in ocean decision-making. This included the delivery of a hand-written letter, on behalf of Ocean Protection Ambassadors, to the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Ocean, urging action against bottom trawling in MPAs.

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“Being part of the Ocean Protection Ambassador program helped me turn my interest in ocean conservation into concrete action. Through my campaign, I learned from experts at local and European levels and then brought that knowledge back to my community. The program gave me the confidence, tools, and network to raise my voice, connect with others, and advocate for stronger ocean protection, especially as a young person.” - Ona Santisteban Uribarri

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