A new global study into the relationship young people have with the ocean has revealed “huge gaps” in understanding how human actions can influence and impact upon it, revealing as much as 47% of 18 to 24-year-olds believe the ocean to still be in a healthy condition.

Launched by Back to Blue – an ocean health initiative developed by Economist Impact in collaboration with The Nippon Foundation – the study set out to garner a clearer picture on current levels of ‘ocean literacy’ among young people. 

By shedding light on this important issue – ascertaining the depth of understanding just how much human activity can impact upon the ocean and vice versa – the study’s authors hope their findings will influence educators and policymakers to address opportunities for ocean education currently being missed.

Results from the 3,500 respondents found that 75% of young people are concerned about the state of ocean health, with a higher level of concern among those in emerging countries which might reflect greater impacts from climate-change events such as rising sea levels and ocean acidification.

Yet, few young people acknowledge the actual state the ocean as almost half (47%) of the survey respondents think the ocean is still healthy. The Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and The Philippines are among some of the top countries that believe this, when each is struggling with plastic pollution, coral reef degradation and habitat loss.

While 75% of young people are concerned about the oceans’ health, 61% believe deforestation and other climate issues such as air pollution and freshwater scarcity should be prioritised over ocean conservation which indicates that young people do not fully fathom the dire conditions of the oceans. This is also evident in the fact that 50% of young people do not understand how the ocean impacts them and how they, in turn, impact the ocean.

Peter Thomson, UN Ocean Envoy said: “It is surprising and alarming to see so many young people misjudge the ocean’s health. This level of low ocean literacy risks hindering progress and funding for protecting our oceans. We must invest in educating young people about the importance of ocean health and how to safeguard it for the future.

“The ocean is one of the most overlooked and underfunded areas in global sustainability, yet its decline directly impacts how we live. We must remember that the ocean is silently dealing with sea level rise, soaring temperatures and acidity levels as well as irreversible threats to biodiversity because of human activity. The least we can do is understand it better and make it a priority to save.”

The survey further found that, while young people have some knowledge about the importance of the ocean in the Earth’s system – 61% think the ocean is important to clean air and water, 53% believe that the ocean plays an important role in regulating weather and climate change, and 50% think that the ocean positively impacts mental and physical well-being – actions and behaviours to directly engage with the ocean fall short. The study’s authors indicate that this might be due to lack of time, lack of transit access, and lack of opportunities.

Interestingly, around half of young people reply on print media, social media and film for ocean information, and only 3 in 10 respondents have turned to educational courses. This could suggest that educational curricula falls short so that marine science topics are needed more in national curricula. Geraldine Fauville, associate professor at the Department of Education, Communication and Learning of the University of Gothenburg, commented: “If teachers don’t know about the ocean, that’s not going to help. They also need to be ocean literate.”

Strengthened ocean literacy can be argued as pivotal for fostering a deeper understanding of the ocean’s multifaceted role, not only as a driver of local economic prosperity through industries like fisheries, tourism, and renewable energy but also as a critical buffer against climate change impacts.

A lack of this foundational knowledge risks delaying urgent policymaking and sourcing of funding as weak citizen or stakeholder pressure to reverse damage, will slow progress, perpetuating a vicious cycle of ocean neglect. 

Limited comprehension of the oceans’ endangered state – 50% did not understand how the ocean impacts them and how they impact the ocean – was also accompanied by little demand amongst young people for significant action or accountability from ocean stakeholders. The study found that less than half (46%) of young people want government action that will ensure the oceans health, and only 17% want to see corporations and businesses take increased responsibility. On a more positive note, 81% think that the ocean requires collective action.

The latter finding is increasingly concerning as the study also reveals that young people are significantly concerned about contaminating the ocean – chemical pollution (48%) and plastic pollution (50%) yet they do know where responsibility lies. Tackling ocean pollution is no easy feat, but private sector accountability will be paramount to its success via increased responsibility for the lifecycle of plastic products and chemical leaks in the process of production, the study authors argue.

Emma McKinley, ocean literacy expert and senior research fellow at Cardiff University said: “It’s incredibly interesting to see that some young people recognise that the ocean can have a role in addressing the impacts of climate change and that damaging ocean health is detrimental to this; yet, this study suggests that not all young people recognise the need to demand more action from governments and  the private sector to do more to prioritise ocean health.

“Given its roots in formal education, many ocean literacy initiatives are grounded in the importance of raising awareness and knowledge about ocean issues. Looking to the future, we must embrace diverse types of ocean knowledge and relationships to deliver ocean literacy as a societal outcome. If the ocean and the issues facing it were included more widely in education systems across the world, the more positive change we would see. Knowledge is one of our most powerful tools.”

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