Understanding the ocean is essential to comprehending and protecting this planet on which we live.
Ocean literacy is an understanding of the ocean’s influence on you—and your influence on the ocean.
There are seven Essential Principles of Ocean Literacy. Explore them below!
The Ocean Literacy Principles were developed by hundreds of educators and scientists in the United States as a guide to teaching about the Ocean.
These principles are now being used as a framework in Europe to develop strategies towards the goal of an Ocean Literate society.
The ocean is the defining physical feature on our planet Earth—covering approximately 70 % of the planet’s surface.
There is one ocean with many ocean basins: North Pacific, South Pacific, North Atlantic, South Atlantic, Indian, Southern, and Arctic.
Many earth materials and biogeochemical cycles originate in the ocean.
The ocean is the largest reservoir of the rapidly cycling carbon on Earth.
The interaction of oceanic and atmospheric processes controls Earth’s weather and climate. For example, the heat transferred from the tropical ocean provides the energy that drives atmospheric circulation, including hurricanes, cyclones, and polar storms
Life started in the ocean. The millions of different species of organisms on Earth today are related by descent from common ancestors that evolved in the ocean.
The accumulation of oxygen in Earth’s atmosphere through photosynthesis was necessary for life to develop and be sustained on land.
Ocean life ranges in size from the smallest living things, microbes, to the largest animal on Earth, the blue whale.
The ocean provides a vast living space with diverse and unique ecosystems from the surface, through the water column, and down to and below the seafloor. For example, coral organisms facilitate an exceptionally biodiverse ecosystem
Humans have a complex relationship with the ocean. The ocean affects every human life. It supplies freshwater and oxygen, moderates the climate, influences our weather, and affects human health. Humans rely on the ocean for food and transportation. However, we often act in ways that are harmful to the ocean, including overfishing and polluting the ocean and land.
The ocean is the largest unexplored place on Earth—less than 5 % of it has been explored. The next generation of explorers and researchers will find great opportunities for discovery, innovation, and investigation.
Although the Mediterranean Sea is among the most important global biodiversity hotspots, it is also described as being “under siege” as a result of multiple human pressures on biodiversity, the functioning of marine ecosystems, and their capability for providing essential goods and services to human society.
Marine scientists and educators developed the “Mediterranean Sea Literacy” (MSL) guide adapted to the specificities of the Mediterranean region, presented here.
The MSL principles (7) and concepts (43), serving as guidance for research, education, informed decision-making, and improved citizens’ lifestyles, aim to contribute to environmental protection, conservation, and restoration of the Mediterranean Sea as well as to help to achieve a blue innovative and sustainable economy.
The Mediterranean Sea, semi-enclosed
by land of three continents, is part of one big ocean and has many unique features.
The Mediterranean Sea and its living organisms shape the features of the Mediterranean region and its adjacent landmasses.
The Mediterranean Sea has a major influence on the climate and weather of the Mediterranean region.
The Mediterranean Sea made the Mediterranean region habitable through its richness of life thus becoming the cradle of western civilization.
The Mediterranean Sea is a marine biodiversity hotspot, with a high level of endemism.
The culture, history, economy, lifestyle, health, and well-being of the peoples of the Mediterranean region are inextricably interconnected.
Although the Mediterranean Sea has been explored for centuries, it still remains largely unknown.
The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO promotes the dissemination and the use of ocean literacy materials and resources to schools and students from all around the world, manages an ocean literacy portal which acts as one-stop-shop for ocean literacy resources, and organizes training and capacity development activities in collaboration with other IOC-UNESCO units and with the Ocean Teacher Global Academy.
The I AM WATER Foundation missin is to help people to fall in love with the ocean. In this video the ocean advocate Peter Marshall and Hanli Prisloo explain the organization work and how it supports low income coastal communities.
Ms. Susannah Rodgers is the Director, Disability Advocate and Advisor, Ocean Ambassador, Public Speaker and Paralympic Gold medallist. She is an Ocean Ambassador for the Marine Conservation Society in the United Kingdom and tells how strong is her connection with the ocean.
Jacopo Pasotti is an award-winning journalist, photographer and writer. He is specialized on environmental and social reporting, with particular expertise on reporting from the field. In the latest years Mr. Jacopo Pasotti reported across Asia, Europe, North and South America, as well as the Arctic and Antarctica.
David Shneider is the Philanthropic Partnership Lead at TBA21 – Academy, a contemporary art organization and cultural ecosystem fostering a deeper relationship to the Ocean through the lens of art to inspire care and action. In this video, Shneider explains the work carried out by the TBA21 Academy.
Understanding the ocean is essential to comprehending and protecting this planet on which we live.