Blue Hope at the Intersection of Education, Communication, and Networked Action

This presentation contributes to the "Indigenous Peoples: Knowledge Systems, Fisheries, and Environmental Challenges" panel by showcasing insights from a pilot project by the International Panel for Ocean Sustainability (IPOS) with partners in Costa Rica, and a transformative initiative in Brazil. Both are national level projects aimed at integrating knowledge of marginalized voices in the promotion of marine sustainability and equitable governance, those from early career ocean professionals and Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.

The Costa Rica pilot identifies challenges and opportunities for engaging Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) in ocean governance, focusing on small-scale fisherfolks. Fisherwomen are highlighted for their critical but often invisible roles in managing resources, sustaining livelihoods, and preserving cultural heritage. The project benefit from on-going participatory workshops, consultations, and capacity-building activities led by fisherfolk organizations, to upscale weaving of diverse knowledge systems into global ocean governance. By blending ILK with scientific perspectives, the project aims to contribute to inclusive and transformative ocean governance, aligned with the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and the UN Ocean Decade.

The Brazilian case study complements the Costa Rican pilot by applying Marine Learning Networks (MLNs) and Media and Information Ocean Literacy (MIOL) to empower stakeholders and foster transformative capacity. The Brazilian initiative, led by PainelMar, builds transformative capacities through educommunicative approaches. The Brazilian Ocean Horizon program (2019–2022) emphasized leadership, skills, and actions for transforming ocean governance, using MLNs and MIOL to empower early-career ocean professionals and civil society.

These projects embrace the overarching perspective of Blue Hope, emerging at the intersection of education, communication, and networked action. In Costa Rica, the project similarly engages small-scale fisherfolks through co-designed processes involving communities, policymakers, and scientists. This aligns with the Brazilian approach of enhancing community participation and enabling marginalized groups to influence policy. Both case studies highlight opportunities and challenges in integrating diverse knowledge systems and bridging divides between traditional and scientific knowledge.

These initiatives focus on building transformative capacities to address power asymmetries in ocean governance. By engaging youth and fisherfolk leaders and other marginalized groups, they aim to create a more balanced and inclusive governance framework. The Brazilian case highlights how education, communication and networking combined empowers communities, fostering participation in national marine policy. This complements the Costa Rican pilot's strategies, but also challenges and opportunities for weaving ILK into global science-policy-society interfaces, hopefully fostering inclusivity and equitability.

Ultimately, this presentation demonstrates how insights from the Costa Rican pilot and the Brazilian Ocean Horizon program can bridge deep blue social-ecological divides, fostering resilient and inclusive ocean governance. By integrating diverse knowledge systems, both projects contribute to the aspirations of the UN Ocean Decade—creating a transformative "ecosystem of partners" to advance ocean sustainability. These case studies illustrate how local practices and knowledge-sharing can inform broader governance frameworks, providing insights for international dialogues, including the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) and the evolving IPOS initiative.