WestMED and Marine Society of Libya Co-organise Second Coastal Awareness Initiative in Susa, Libya

The WestMED Initiative’s annual awareness campaign returned to Susa on 31 August 2026, bringing together local institutions, academics, volunteers, children and community members to promote marine environmental protection and sustainable coastal tourism.

Building on a successful first edition

Held under the theme “Protect Our Coast, Sustain Our Tourism,” the activity marked the second edition of the community awareness initiative, following the success of last year’s edition at Libya’s Hamama coast.

The 2026 activity was co-organised by the WestMED Libya National Hub and the Marine Biology Society of Libya, with the support of local institutions, academic organisations, civil society and volunteers.

The initiative aimed to raise awareness of the importance of protecting marine and coastal environments, encourage responsible behaviour towards coastal areas and strengthen community participation in safeguarding marine resources.

A particular focus was placed on children and young people, recognising their role in building a long-term culture of environmental responsibility.

Raising awareness of marine pollution

The morning programme featured an awareness seminar bringing together experts, academics, local stakeholders and community representatives.

Discussions addressed key challenges facing coastal areas, including marine litter, coastal pollution and sustainable environmental practices. Participants also explored the importance of sustainable coastal tourism and the role local communities can play in protecting coastal resources.

The seminar provided an opportunity to connect environmental awareness with practical action, highlighting the need for communities to take an active role in preserving the coast.

Children put the sea in focus

Children were at the heart of the initiative, taking part in awareness and creative activities centred on the marine environment.

Through drawing activities, they were encouraged to express their vision of a clean and healthy sea. The activities also aimed to strengthen children’s connection with their coastal surroundings and encourage them to see environmental protection as a shared responsibility.

From awareness to action at Susa Port

The programme moved from discussion to practical action in the afternoon, when volunteers, children, young people and community members joined a voluntary clean-up at Susa Port.

The clean-up helped remove waste from the coastal area while demonstrating the impact of collective community action. It also highlighted the importance of volunteering as a practical expression of environmental responsibility.

The activity reinforced a central message of the campaign: environmental volunteering should become more than an occasional response to pollution and develop into a lasting culture within coastal communities.

As one of the participants stated:
“Where awareness becomes behavior, behavior becomes culture, and culture becomes shared responsibility.”

Bringing local partners together

The initiative was supported by a broad group of local institutions and organisations, demonstrating the value of cooperation across different sectors.

Partners included Susa Municipality; the Faculty of Tourism and Archaeology at Omar Al-Mukhtar University; Susa Education Supervision; the Higher Institute of Science and Technology – Susa; the Apollonia Heritage and Culture Organization, as well as local experts, volunteers, organisers and authorities.

The cooperation reflected a shared commitment to protecting Libya’s coastal environment and promoting the sustainable use of coastal resources.

Turning awareness into lasting change

The second edition of the Susa initiative raised awareness of marine litter and environmental protection while encouraging voluntary participation and greater community involvement. It also created space for children and young people to engage directly with environmental issues and promoted sustainable approaches to coastal tourism.

Building on the positive experience of the first edition, this year’s activity further demonstrated how community-based initiatives can bring environmental awareness beyond the classroom and conference room and into practical action.

A key message emerging from the activity was that environmental volunteering should evolve from occasional campaigns into a lasting culture within coastal communities.

When a child helps clean their beach or draws the sea they dream of, they begin to understand that the sea and coastline are not simply places around them, but part of their identity and shared responsibility.

A continued commitment under WestMED

Although the Susa initiative took place over a single day, its ambition extends beyond the event itself. The activity sought to encourage a lasting change in attitudes and behaviour towards the marine environment.

The WestMED Libya National Hub, together with its partners, will continue to encourage initiatives that connect environmental awareness with volunteering, youth engagement, sustainable tourism and local community action.

The Susa activity therefore represents another practical step under the WestMED framework towards empowering coastal communities to become active partners in protecting Libya’s marine environment and ensuring the sustainable use of its coastal resources.

 

For more information contact Masauda Abuarosha (WestMED National Hub Libya): libya@westmed-initiative.ec.europe.au