Protect our Coast, Sustain our Tourism | 2026 Edition, August 31 | Libya- marine conservation, community engagement and sustainable tourism together, building on the experience started in 2025 to support Libya’s blue economy and coastal resilience.
The WestMED National Hub in Libya, together with the Marine Biology Society of Libya, is hosting the 2026 edition of its annual one-day awareness and educational campaign, “Protect Our Coast, Sustain Our Tourism.”
Set along the Susa coast and inspired by Libya’s rich coastal heritage, the event aims to strengthen public understanding of marine environmental challenges and highlight how sustainable tourism can support coastal protection.
Event Highlights
Participants will join interactive activities that:
🌊 Build awareness of marine pollution and coastal degradation
🤝 Encourage community-driven conservation
🌱 Show how sustainable tourism can protect coastal ecosystems
The initiative aims to connect coastal protection with responsible tourism, helping safeguard Libya’s marine biodiversity and cultural heritage while supporting local livelihoods and new opportunities within the blue economy.
Building on the 2025 experience
The 2026 edition builds on the campaign launched in 2025 on the Hamama Coast, where environmental education was combined with practical community activities, including beach clean-ups, interactive activities for children and youth, and a scientific seminar on marine pollution, blue economy, sustainable marine resources and coastal ecotourism. The initiative generated further local participation and national media attention, helping create the foundations for a recurring campaign.
Discover the 2025 campaign on WestMED
2026 Featured Speakers
Faraj Eisay — Marine Biology Society of Libya
Dr. Ahmed Issa Faraj — Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Coastal Ecotourism and Sustainable Development
With contributions from:
Masauda Abuarosha — WestMED Libya
Sarah Almabruk — Marine Biology Society of Libya
This annual campaign is part of a broader effort to connect science, community and policy in support of Libya’s blue economy and coastal resilience.
Protecting our coastlines is not just an environmental obligation – it is a direct investment in Libya’s sustainable future.
More information about the 2026 initiative
Contact: Masauda Abuarosha — libya@westmed-initiative.ec.europa.eu
EDITOR’S NOTE: Connecting activities around a healthy coast
The coast should be viewed through a multifunctional and integrated perspective, where the environment remains at the core and different activities: fisheries, tourism, gastronomy, cultural heritage, conservation and local entrepreneurship that can connect and reinforce one another.
Fisheries and tourism are a clear example. A fishing community creates value not only through its catch: local seafood, traditional knowledge, gastronomy, boats and maritime culture can become part of the identity and experience of a coastal destination.
The opportunity is to connect these activities while keeping a healthy marine environment as their common foundation, generating economic value while strengthening the identity and resilience of coastal communities.
Protect our Coast, Sustain our Tourism | 2026 Edition, August 31 | Libya
