Several months ago, images of a long silver streak on the water surface of the Bay of Biscay went viral on social media. The streak was created by an estimated 100,000 dead fish dumped by Dutch-owned trawler Margiris, one of the world’s largest fishing vessels.

French minister for the Sea Annick Girardin ordered an administrative inquiry into the incident when it became public in early February. It. occurred as a team of young European “maritime ambassadors” were meeting virtually in La Rochelle as part of France’s EU presidency – working with NGO Surfrider Europe.

The 106 ambassadors agreed on 11 recommendations, which were presented to Minister Girardin and her European counterparts.

Implementation of an EU-wide maritime surveillance and enforcement programme for the Common Fisheries Policy, and investment in reskilling of people employed in “disappearing” marine sectors were among the recommendations. The group also called for a marine Erasmus programme with a focus on education and employment.

The One Ocean Summit which Eurocean youth ambassadors addressed, including Ireland's ambassador Domonique Gillen

Ireland’s ambassador Domonique Gillen, a marine biologist who is involved with the Ocean Research and Conservation Association based in Cork, spoke to Wavelengths about how she took up marine science, and about the work of the newly created Eurocean Youth Network.