One Ocean Week an endorsed activity by UN Ocean Decade

Picture shows logo and text "the science we need for the ocean we want"

One Ocean Week in Bergen is now one of the activities around the world that will contribute to improve the state of the ocean by 2030.

In 2021, the UN and UNESCO launched the UN Ocean Decade 2021-2030 - a ten-year plan to strengthen international collaboration on research and innovation to improve the state of the ocean. One Ocean Week in Bergen has now been recognized as part of the UN Ocean Decade.

Global visibility

The Year of the Ocean brings together actors around the world who have documented that they are working for a more sustainable ocean. The status means, among other things, that information about One Ocean Week will be available on Unesco's official pages for the Year of the Ocean www.oceandecade.org and promoted in their channels.

This is a step in the right direction towards achieving Havuken's ambition of becoming an annual international meeting point for the sea.

- A clean and fresh ocean is one of the most important prerequisites for achieving climate goals. Bergen is a world leader in marine industry and marine research. This is the best possible starting point for working on the UN Sustainable Development Goals. One Ocean Week is set to become the meeting place we need for the ocean we want. Collaboration to achieve the goals is crucial. Bergen is where it happens!" says Governing Mayor of Bergen, Christine Meyer.

Overview of Bryggen and the homecoming of Statsraad Lehmkuhl in April 2023
Bilde: Ann-Kristin Loodtz

- If Vestland County succeeds, Norway succeeds 

Jon Askeland, county mayor and chair of the steering group for One Ocean, Bergen Norway, is also clear that Western Norway has a crucial role to play in the sustainable management of the sea.

- Western Norway has all the prerequisites for success. A sustainable coastal community can continue to create the jobs of the future in the green shift. All 43 municipalities in our region are connected to the coast, fjord, sea and water. The ocean will play a crucial role globally, nationally and regionally. The ocean needs knowledge-based management. It is about creating solutions for the future's main source of the entire spectrum from food to energy. If we don't do it, who will? If Vestland County succeeds, Norway succeeds," says County Mayor Jon Askeland.

- "One Ocean Expedition is already a recognized part of the UN Ocean Decade, and now One Ocean Week has been given the same status," says Ole Reinert Berg-Olsen, Head of Communications.



- This shows that Bergen, Western Norway and the seaside nation of Norway are on the right track," says Vidar Aarhus, project manager at One Ocean, Bergen Norway.

This is One Ocean Week

One Ocean Week is a collaboration between One Ocean, Bergen Norway and partners, with support from the City of Bergen and Vestland County Council. One Ocean Week took place for the first time in 2023, with 150 events, meetings and cultural activities taking place over seven days.

The dates for next year`s One Ocean Week are 13.-19th of April. Read more about the plans here.

The week is an annual event, and the dates have already been set for each year ut to, and including, 2030:

2023: April 15-21
2024: April 13-19
2025: April 07-11
2026: April 13-17
2027: April 19-23
2028: April 24-28
2029: April 14-20
2030: April 6-12

Picture shows the logo for United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development


"This publication is endorsed by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development as a Decade Activity. Use of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development logo by a non-UN entity does not imply the endorsement of the United Nations of such entity, its products or services, or of its planned activities. For more information please access:https://forum.oceandecade.org/page/disclaimer"