Joint activities for the protection of the Baltic Sea ecosystem will be carried out by the University of Gdańsk and the MARE Foundation under a cooperation agreement. On the university side, the Faculty of Oceanography and Geography and the Centre for Sustainable Development will be particularly involved in the cooperation. The first joint venture is the ‘Underwater Meadows’ project, aimed at reintroducing seagrass in the Baltic Sea area, in which the University of Gdańsk is a content partner.

The mission of the MARE Foundation is to protect marine ecosystems by striving for social and political change, raising awareness and ecological sensitivity, and implementing projects aimed at protecting the marine environment. Since its inception, the Foundation has initiated cross-sectoral cooperation for the protection of the Baltic Sea and has collaborated with scientists and experts in the field of marine ecosystems.

The maritime character of the University of Gdańsk is enshrined in its motto, In mari via tua (‘In the sea is your way’). It has been conducting oceanographic research since its inception and was for a long time the only university in Poland offering studies in oceanography. It employs many outstanding specialists in the field of marine research. The university is also the owner of the research vessel r/v Oceanograf, one of the most modern and best equipped vessels in Europe. Due to its location on the Gulf of Gdańsk, it naturally focuses on research in the Baltic Sea area.

The partnership between the MARE Foundation and the University of Gdańsk will enable the effective implementation of further measures aimed at protecting the Baltic Sea ecosystem, which is exposed to numerous threats related to human activity and climate change. On the part of the University, this is in line with the principle of social responsibility of science – as a university, we want not only to expand the boundaries of knowledge, but also to contribute in various ways to building a better future through activities aimed at sustainable development and the protection of the natural environment and cultural heritage.

As part of the cooperation, the Faculty of Oceanography and Geography of the University of Gdańsk will coordinate the substantive part of the ‘Underwater Meadows’ project implemented by the MARE Foundation, including the necessary scientific research. The aim of the project is to reintroduce seagrass (Zostera marina) in the Baltic Sea, in areas where it used to grow.