Building a bottom-up replicable and inspiring model to strengthen local networks to drive National Awareness and Ocean Literacy

The ocean plays a vital role in sustaining life on Earth, yet its importance is often undervalued in public understanding and education. Achieving higher levels of ocean literacy and fostering public awareness requires tailored, inclusive approaches that respect the unique social, cultural, and administrative frameworks of each region. Spain’s decentralized educational system, where autonomous communities have authority over educational policies, presents both challenges and opportunities for cohesive ocean education. Our approach to ocean education involves not creating a single and centralized national network, but instead integrating efforts with existing local structures and resources to support schools and enhance “blue thinking” across the nation. Our model respects regional diversity while aligning with European standards, and highlights the collaborative network engaging schools, government bodies, NGOs, universities, and private companies to uplift local voices and increase ocean literacy.

Each region’s distinctive network structure reflects diverse approaches: consortium-based networks, private companies, NGO, research centres, or University coordination or leadership. We aim to integrate these unique regional efforts under a shared framework, but also facilitating schools in acquiring the European Union’s Blue Schools certificate. This alignment supports the Network of European Blue Schools initiative, promoting unified objectives and standards across all Member States.

Our bottom-up approach addresses the gap in official curricula, in which aquatic ecosystems are currently underrepresented. Embracing a multi-stakeholder model inspired by the Pentahelix framework, we bring together five key actors: educational institutions, research organizations, NGOs, government agencies, and the private sector. This collaborative model fosters a well-rounded understanding of marine environments by integrating diverse expertise and resources. Schools benefit from a robust support network, connecting them to vital resources, specialized knowledge, and materials for ocean education. Partnering with local stakeholders, we prioritize adapting existing resources to meet the unique needs of Spanish schools, ensuring accessibility in both Spanish and regional languages.

A crucial aspect of this inclusive model is enhancing local actors’ voices and creating strong connections with students. Schools are informed and inspired about the concept of Blue Schools, guided through the certification process, given access to scientifically accurate resources, and empowered to implement ocean literacy initiatives that resonate within their communities. The primary objective is to embed blue literacy (ocean and freshwater) in a transversal way into the fabric of school teaching and ultimately into curricula across Spain, nurturing a generation that understands and values marine ecosystems. By fostering strong, regionally integrated networks, we can work at the local level while acting nationally through the education regional Ministry, establishing Spain as a collaborative model for inclusive ocean education. This approach not only uplifts local actors and diversifies public awareness but also contributes to the broader EU goals of sustainable development and marine conservation. 

Moreover, the model is designed to be adaptable and replicable in other countries, enabling a shared framework that can be tailored to the educational, cultural, and linguistic needs of various regions. By doing so, we support a unified, cross-border effort to elevate ocean literacy and foster a sustainable relationship with marine ecosystems across Europe.