Establishing a National Ocean Literacy Network: a case study from the Island of Ireland, and the evolution of the Irish Ocean Literacy Network (IOLN) from 2016 to 2024.

As an island, the combined area of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland is encircled by the Irish Sea, the Celtic Sea, and the vast Atlantic Ocean, a maritime expanse that shapes the weather, economy, and very identity of the people. The Republic of Ireland alone possesses a marine territory of approximately 880,000 km², nearly ten times the size of its terrestrial area. Its coastline, extending over 3,000 km, reflects the essence of its island nature, with 40% of the population residing within 5 km of the Ocean (CSO, 2016). These factors should provide ideal conditions for a strong marine identity amongst members of society. With individuals having a good understanding, sense of value and empathy for the ocean and our marine spaces and life.  Between 2012-2015, several national and European initiatives such as Sea for Society and Harnessing our Ocean Wealth, created the momentum and support to form an Irish Ocean Literacy Network (IOLN), which would work towards the vision of achieving an ocean-literate society across the island of Ireland. Starting in 2016, the IOLN aspired to serve as a central contact and dissemination point, supporting initiatives and collaboration opportunities among its members and providing a platform for engagement with relevant stakeholders. Over the last eight years, the Network has been transformed from an informal organisation into a company limited by guarantee (CLG). In 2021, an external review of the Network was conducted, and feedback on its structure and actions was provided by 24 members. In response to this review, along with input from the steering committee, a new strategy, vision, mission, and governance structure for the Network was established. This newly formalised Network aims to develop an all-island community of practice, focusing on local initiatives that respond to a range of drivers, such as climate change, population growth, loss of habitat and biodiversity, sea-level rise, blue growth initiatives, and collaborative actions to influence marine policies. The Network’s approach has also evolved from the traditional science-based ocean literacy definition, first developed in the 2000s (NMEA, 2020), to a more multifaceted definition based on human–ocean connections within the social sciences (Kinley et al., 2023). This presentation will outline the evolution of the IOLN and its journey over the last eight years. It will explore the role National Networks can play within and beyond the Ocean Decade. It will provide examples and recommendations to help inform other like-minded communities who would like to establish Ocean Literacy Networks in their country or region.