Building Blue Futures: Empowering the next generation of ocean champions in small islands and developing countries

The world’s oceans are facing ever-greater resource extraction, pollution and habitat destruction, while also attracting ever-more entrepreneurial interests. At the same time, there are insufficient ‘blue skills’ to support a sustainable, well-informed ocean-based economy. To protect, restore and interact responsibly with the ocean, the world needs more people trained in ocean conservation, communication, research and technologies.

Many coastal communities, especially those in small islands and developing countries, suffer from a lack of educational, training and employment opportunities for its young people and scientists. Often, these are also the communities that suffer the most from unsustainable ocean interactions and the global lack of scientific understanding about our seas. 

In this context, we are developing training academies and international collaborations in the hopes of providing the next generation of scientists, technicians, entrepreneurs, communicators and policy-makers with the tools they need to navigate their own ocean-positive careers. Although in early stages, we believe these initiatives have the potential to support stronger ocean-based economies, foster greater cross-border collaborations and create more resilient coastal communities. 

In Madeira, we have already begun our journey towards this vision with the Blue Skills Academy (Academia Azul). The Blue Skills Academy is a Madeira-based initiative to help young people, particularly those from socially disadvantaged backgrounds, attain essential career skills related to the blue economy. Aligned with SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 4 (Quality Education) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) mission, the Academy addresses challenges of ocean pollution, climate change, invasive species, biodiversity loss and habitat destruction through vocational training. The Academy also redresses Madeira’s brain drain by inspiring young people to reimagine career opportunities within its extensive ocean territory. 

The Ocean Science in East Africa Network (OScEAN) is another program under development aimed at aiding skills and knowledge sharing, this time across the North-South divide. Designed in a partnership between MARE-Madeira and the IUCN and in line with priorities highlighted by the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA), this network and training program hopes to inspire the next generation of East African marine scientists. This initiative combines technical training and staff exchanges with leadership and community engagement, equipping emerging scientists across East Africa with the skills to address both local and global marine challenges. By prioritizing low-cost solutions and accessible research tools, OSsEAN seeks to democratize marine science, making quality research and monitoring attainable for more communities in Africa.

These two programs, working together, are an important step towards a more equitable future of knowledge sharing, skills training and ocean-positive activities in small islands and developing countries. We hope to inspire more regions and institutes to work with us or develop their own programs, helping create a global, connected community of ocean champions for generations to come.