ECOP Colombia: A First Look at Strengthening the Nation’s Sustainable Maritime Capacity through Science, Training, and Professional Development in the Context of the UN Ocean Decade

Traditional barriers to public engagement in sustainable ocean practices often stem from a lack of awareness, education, and most important inclusion of the general society. In Colombia, this can be linked to a scarcity of economic as well as educational resources that are available in Spanish. Additionally, only around 4% of Colombians are proficient in English, which inhibits access to the majority of the world’s published ocean scientific literature and dialogue [1]. These factors preclude access to educational and employment opportunities and international sustainability initiatives such as the UN Ocean Decade. For many, such lack of exposure gives rise to an inability to internalize the impact of individual actions on the health of marine ecosystems, for better or for worse. This leads to a disengaged citizenry unable to recognize their belonging and place in a sustainable ocean future.

To address these challenges, a Colombian National Node of the Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOP) Programme of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development was established in November 2024. The Node seeks to improve Colombians’ relationship with the ocean by accelerating the sustainable use of Colombia’s coastal, riverine, and maritime resources through grassroots scientific discovery, technology innovation, training, mentoring, ocean literacy initiatives, and public outreach.

In this work, we describe the activities conducted during the first six months of the Node’s existence. These include multiple meetings to establish the organization, mission, vision, and potential working groups; the design and application of a survey to identify the challenges and needs faced by Colombian ECOPs; and, based on the results, the development of a strategy to address these issues through collaborative efforts. The goal is to build and strengthen a network where professionals, stakeholders, and societal actors can participate with a common objective: to understand and protect our oceans and their resources while incorporating the needs of coastal and underrepresented communities.

[1]https://web.archive.org/web/20140508065205/http://www.colombiestad.gov.co/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=353&Itemid=90